Reprise

    • NNML day 26, October 14, Wednesday
  • Start S8 mile 75.4, trailhead near Aspen Basin
  • End S8 mile 92.0 Santa Fe Plaza
  • Miles walked: 16.6

After several months I finally return to finish my hike. Yesterday I took the Rail Runner train to Santa Fe, and the free Blue Bus 255 up to the ski area, and camped overnight at the no-fee Aspen Basin campground.

Aspens are in full fall color, and fallen leaves make a golden trail.

I encounter no mountain bikes on this popular downhill biking section of Winsor Trail, due to the late season and being a weekday. Later, on Saddleback Trail, the tread has a deep V-groove in places from bike use.

On La Piedra Trail, the rocks are small, so to build switchbacks wire cages are used, filled with stone.

Tesuque Creek has plenty of water this month.

From La Piedra Trail I can just make out Santa Fe and colorful tribal lands in the distance.

The Dale Ball trail networks and narrow Gonzales Road take me to Santa Fe River Park along Alameda Road, with scattered artwork.

The Santa Fe River has plenty of water, replenished from recent rains.

Nearing Santa Fe Plaza, the route goes past a museum, cathedral, and historic hotel.

Finally, I reach the Plaza, at trail’s end. What a trip! Celebratory enchies follow.

Finished audiobook Radicalized, by Cory Doctorow. This collection of novellas has one of my favorite: “Unauthorized Bread”.

CDT Segment 86 Fall 2026

Arriving at the southern terminus of my adopted section of the Continental Divide Trail at mid-morning, I start hiking trail-south, and clear drains and remove downed trees from the trail.

Piñon (a variety of pine) are all brown, either from an exceptionally dry winter and summer, or from some disease. Here you can see the bands of brown and green on the mountainside, the brown being piñon and the green juniper. Are the piñons dead, or will any survive to next year?

Over the years of maintaining my section, I have mostly cleared piñon, and juniper has tended not to fall and block trails. Gradually the percentage of juniper along this section of trail has greatly increased.

When piñon falls here, it is usually a break at the base of the tree at ground level, and does not pull up a root ball.

The southern terminus was in good shape, and just needs a few cairns added to mark the way. I hiked until late, and reached the terminus at dusk, and set up camp.

Twenty five drains were cleared, and 46 blowdowns removed— a full day.

All of the water sources that were running when I first adopted this segment are no longer functioning, and I am not sure cattle are grazing anymore. I will need to pack in my own water, or cache water somewhere, on future visits.

Hiking back the next day to the northern terminus, I proceed to Pie Town. My slice this visit is apple pie New Mexico style, with piñon and mild green chile.

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Valle de Oro Fall 2026

NMVFO returns to Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge to pull weeds.

Recent rains have encouraged new weed growth, but wet ground makes weeds easier to pull out of the ground with the root intact. We start by removing kochia near a overflow drain near the visitor center, which takes half a day. Here is a before and after:

Lunch was at the performance stage area to the west of the visitor center. Barn swallows really enjoy the metal roofs at the refuge for their nests, now vacant.

Later we remove kochia and Russian thistle along a bike path from the visitor center to 2nd Street, for as far as we had time.

What a pleasant day to pull weeds with friends!