Anyone familiar with Mesa Alto near Abiquiu

[Source3]

Laura (wife) and I are renting a house near Abiquiu for a few days for a little get away later this month. She wants to go find the upper portion of the Ojito Trail. Has anyone ever explored Mesa Alto? Here is a link of our planned route. May be a slight issue with snow so we may need to come into FR 77 from the west rather than the south.

Mesa Alta, NM - Google Maps

The backup plan is to hike the Ojito trail from the bottom near the Chama River.

 

[Source3]

Ok, to get the route to show up:

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[juane]

Tsping

Andrew,
You might consider hiking to Tsping- a late prehistoric pueblo located just above Canones.
The approach is from above and you need a permit from the FS ranger station in Youngsville.
You can get it over the phone.
Well worth it.

 

[Pyro-boy]

I have hiked from the bottom (from the rio chama) up to Mesa Alta. The trail is part of the continental divide trail system and was well marked. As of today there is not much snow up on the top.

Vince

 

[Source3]

Andrew,
You might consider hiking to Tsping- a late prehistoric pueblo located just above Canones.
The approach is from above and you need a permit from the FS ranger station in Youngsville.
You can get it over the phone.
Well worth it.

Ahh, to the south. Perhaps I can go north one day and south the other. Thanks!!

I have hiked from the bottom (from the rio chama) up to Mesa Alta. The trail is part of the continental divide trail system and was well marked. As of today there is not much snow up on the top.

Vince

Do you think the trail will be obvious from the top? If Laura feels like getting out for a hike rather than driving, our alternative plan is to hike Ojito from the bottom. We have checked out the bottom trailhead while we were getting ready to kayak the small stretch of the Chama River.

We also may take the mountain bikes too, just depends if we get snow.

 

[Pyro-boy]

Ahh, to the south. Perhaps I can go north one day and south the other. Thanks!!



Do you think the trail will be obvious from the top? If Laura feels like getting out for a hike rather than driving, our alternative plan is to hike Ojito from the bottom. We have checked out the bottom trailhead while we were getting ready to kayak the small stretch of the Chama River.

We also may take the mountain bikes too, just depends if we get snow.

The trail goes along an old logging road before it heads down into the canyon. There is/was a post with flagging and the Divide trail markers on it. I think you should be able to find it.

Vince

 

[evanz80]

Andrew,
You might consider hiking to Tsping- a late prehistoric pueblo located just above Canones.
The approach is from above and you need a permit from the FS ranger station in Youngsville.
You can get it over the phone.
Well worth it.

Andrew -

Definitely consider this for another trip. I saw this on one of my first outings with the club. Juane (our resident archaeologist at the time) led a tour. The hike was fairly strenuous, which keeps the traffic to a minimum. The ruins were amazing and huge. It spread over several acres. Very impressive. As Juane said, well worth it!

 

[Source3]

Trip Details and Photos

This was the first real trip in the FJ40, so I am going to note some mileage details for future reference. Then pics.

Mileage details: filled stock tank and aux tank before leaving Corrales. I estimated a total of 35 gallons. Averaged 58mph on highway (Speedometer reads 55mph). Traveled a total of 421 miles (includes on and off highway). Estimated 5 gallons remaining after returning to Corrales. Calculated best guest mileage: 13.5 mpg. On the highway at 2500rpm = 58.5mph with 33" tires and 4spd tranny. I did add ten gallons in Espanola into aux tanks after it ran dry. But never used it.


View from the house we rented:

Down near the lake:

Road to Ghost Ranch

Hiking lower Ortiz Trail:

Heading up Alta Mesa

 

[DanS HJ-45]

My goodness your 40 looks good there.

Beautiful! That's more snow than we've got in Idaho Spings!

Dan