Acknowledgements

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I would like to thank my wife and son for helping me and giving me the opportunity to work on this book. This is the work that I absolutely love to do.  It is my passion.  Without their support, this would not have been possible.  My son tagged along on many of the hikes, and my wife’s financial support while I played in the woods was crucial.  She knows that I am not a nine to five type of person, and that this is the work that I was meant to do.  Thanks for your understanding honey, and your company on some of the hikes Nate.

 

Next, I would like to thank my loyal YouTube subscribers.  Their support for my photography and video was special to me and urged my on to continue my quest of creating a guidebook/YouTube guide that coincide to give people the most information about the Pecos Wilderness as possible.

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Introduction

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The Pecos Wilderness is in Northern New Mexico, and it is the second largest wilderness area in New Mexico after the Gila Wilderness.  It encompasses a large area of the Santa Fe National Forest and a smaller area of the Carson National Forest on the north end of the wilderness.  The total area of the wilderness is 223,667 acres.  The main geological feature of the area is the Sangre De Christo mountain range.  It is the Southernmost sub-range of the Rocky Mountains.  The highest mountain in the entire wilderness is South Truchas Peak at 13,102 feet (3,993 m).  It is also the second highest peak in the state of New Mexico.  The Pecos Wilderness contains many peaks that are over 12,000 ft, and in fact, it has entire ridgelines that are over 12,000 ft in elevation above sea level.  The next main geographic feature is the Pecos River.  This river and its tributaries drain greater than one half of the wilderness.  The wilderness contains small amounts of lower elevation forest such a mix of Pinion Pine and Juniper all the way up to subalpine Engelman Spruce forest and high elevation alpine peaks that rise above timberline.  Large herds of elk, deer, and bighorn sheep call the Pecos their home.  If you have a quick eye and you are lucky, you may see a black bear or a mountain lion too.  Beautiful wildflowers will add a splash of color to your hike including some rare species such as lady slipper orchids, fairy slipper orchids and the Holy Ghost Ipomopsis that grows nowhere else in the world.  To connect all this diversity to hikers, the wilderness contains a system of trails that extends over 400 miles.  Overall, the Pecos Wilderness contains some of the best hiking in the state of New Mexico, and in my opinion is one of the lesser known great hiking and backpacking areas in the entire nation.

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Additional Information

Please be aware that when you read through this trail guide that it is incomplete.  I know this, and it is because of fires, forest closures, and a move to California that I was never able to complete the book.  So, I'm putting what I do have onto my website so that I can share this information with those who may be interested.  I may update the information from time to time when it is procured.  Also, I was not able to copy over photos, charts, and my maps to the website, because my memory storage in gigabytes i full, so that information is missing too.  That being said, I hope that all who read this information and trail descriptions find it helpful.

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Background Information

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Safety

The key to being safe in any wilderness is to be prepared.  This includes dressing appropriately and having the necessary supplies and gear to match the conditions of the hiking trip that you are going to take.  Typically, the gear needed in the Pecos Wilderness is listed in my backpacking checklist (below).  This is the checklist that I use to make sure that I bring everything that I need to stay safe and well prepared when on the trail.

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Backpacking Checklist

 Kits & Tools

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☐  Survival Kit

1. Lightweight Knife

2. Bic Lighter

3. Extra Cordage

4. Iodine Tablets

5. Space Blanket

 

☐  Gear Repair Kits

1. Duct Tape

2. Super Glue

3. Air Mat Repair Kit

4. Sewing Kit – Needle & Thread

 

☐  Electronics Kit

1. Power Bank

2. USB cords

3. Head Lamp

4. Phone

5. Camera Equipment

 

☐  Tools

1. Waterproof Wallet

2. Sit Pad

3. Trekking Poles

4. Pack Liner

5. Umbrella

6. Rain Cover

7. Guidebook (optional)

8. Notebook (optional)

 

☐  First Aid Kit

1. Rx Meds

2. Ibuprofen

3. Benadryl

4. Imodium

5. Leukotape/Medical Tape/moleskin

6. Neoprene Knee Braces (optional)

7. Body Glide/Chafing Powder

8. Antiseptic Wipes

9. Band aides

10. Gauze

11. Safety Pin

12. Tweezers (Swiss Army Knife?)

13. Sunscreen*

14. Insect Repellant