Greg Lewandowski

Mountain Snowshoeing

The Williams Lake trail has ample parking, is easy to locate, and starts behind the Bavarian Inn near the Taos ski area. The trail is well used that travels, more or less, in a direct line to Williams Lake. In the winter time you will occasionally see cross country ski tracks going off the trail but the trail itself is well packed by snowshoers and hikers. One way will take about one and a half to two hours with approximately 800 feet of elevation gain starting at about 10,200 feet. The hike isn't overly strenuous but it will increase the heart rate and pushing yourself at that elevation could cause some shortness of breath. Stopping frequently to take in the spectacular

Snow shoe trails this time of year tend to end just where it starts to get interesting. Packing down one to two feet of snow, plowing through fresh drifts, and trying to see the semblance of a trail is a laborious and time consuming act. Of course you have the company of snow covered pines along with various forms of snow and ice sculpted for their wild beauty to keep you company. Then there is the occasional glimpse of a snow capped peak outlined against the crystal blue sky that helps to keep the legs moving forward.

The trees are thinning out, the sunlight is getting brighter and the skies are starting to open up. Even my backpack feels lighter as I reach the top of Hamilton Mesa. The hike will continue for miles without any steep climbing; mostly flat, some rolling hills and views that I dream about.

Hamilton Mesa - Late Fall

The four mile dirt road to the Iron Gate trailhead has to be taken seriously. Lined with ruts, pot holes, boulders and vast bottomless holes it takes 30 minutes of bone jarring driving to reach the trail head. I'm drawn to the solitude of Hamilton Mesa, a vast open area at 9800 feet. The mesa offers massive mountain vistas to the east along with steep terraced hills and dark valleys to the west and south. There is a light dusting of snow as I begin my climb. The sky is a clear blue, entirely cloudless. I set my GPS and double check my equipment as Luna darts ahead watching for anything that might move.

Panchuela creek, like many other creeks and rivers in the Pecos Wilderness winds its way through forest, over plateaus and at the base of mountains. This one is not a long creek and will quickly branch off to form others. It has it's notoriety for marking the beginning of trail 259 which will lead up to Pecos Baldy. At this time of year it's shallow and flows gently across rocks and boulders.