Hiking Around Jack's Creek

Our campsite at Jack's Creek

It's a hard life but someone has to do it...

Before departing Santa Fe we had a nice Memorial Day cookout with my cousin Carolann and her new husband Larry.  They were married just a few months ago and it was great seeing the happy couple.  Quite a feast was put on for us – grilled hot dogs and hamburgers, potato salad, green chili cold slaw (never had that before but it is New Mexico) and get this – homemade shortcake by Carolann with the best strawberries I have had this season and fresh whipped cream.  Good thing we had some serious hiking planned.

Homemade strawberry shortcake with Carolann and Larry

Our short drive the next day from Santa Fe to Jack’s Creek Campground went from clear blue skies to light rain to heavier rain then sleet and even a bit of snow as we approached the campground.  Amazing what 1500 feet of elevation gain can do where the weather is concerned!  We set up camp in a light rain and spent the afternoon listening to the rain on the RV and enjoying the beauty of the mountains.  That green chili cheese soup we planned for dinner turned out to be a very good idea as the temperature in the RV was down to 58 degrees by early evening.

Up on Round Mountain before the rain

After a chilly night snuggled in down throws (and with Maya) we woke up to a very cloudy morning but no rain falling.  We decided to toss the rain gear in our packs and go for it even though we were pretty sure rain would find us sometime during the day.  We left from the trailhead at Jack’s Creek and hiked up Round Mountain.  The trail was beautiful but steep climbing nearly 1,000 feet to a high mountain meadow.

Following the trail into a gorgeous Aspen grove

 Once we were near the top of Round Mountain the trail divided and we split off to walk the trail to Jack’s Creek.  We met a group of three backpackers (from Tyler, Texas as it turned out) coming out of the wilderness.  All of them were in their late twenties or so and one of them was suffering from the altitude and looking pretty sick.  So his buddies were hiking down with him. The rest of their group had continued on to Pecos Baldy and beyond as a five-day trip had been planned. 

Both David and I could relate to having altitude sickness as we both have endured it a few times in our younger years – your head feels like it will explode and usually you feel so sick at your stomach – not fun at all.  The only thing that helps is plenty of rest at a lower altitude.  One of the good things about growing older is the common sense it provides.  Age has benefited us with the wisdom to take it easy our first few days out when we are above 10,000 feet.   

Maya running through the meadow with muddy paws

We hiked on a bit farther but the clouds were getting heavier so we turned around before we reached Jack’s Creek and took shelter under pines and furs to eat our lunch, just in case.  On the way back to camp we ran into another group of backpackers, this time a group of about 12 high school students from the World College at Montezuma, NM, a boarding school with international students.  They were coming down after a 10-day end-of-school trip in the Pecos and we were the first people they had seen their whole time out.  Maya was quite popular and received many, many pets despite the fact that she was one muddy dog.

Iris in the rain.

The high meadows were filled with blooming iris.

Just as we were leaving the World College kids a cold rain started pelting down.  Ponchos were quickly put on and we all departed, the kids for their last night out at a campsite on Round Mountain and us for our RV.  We were so happy to have Silver waiting for us – a dry place to cook and sleep with warm, dry clothes inside.  I so appreciate our RV on rainy days.  I can remember cooking in the rain and going to sleep wet and cold too many times.  

Wild strawberries blooming along Cave Creek

It should be a good year for berries as we saw them blooming all over the mountains.

As we arrived at the trailhead we ran into our Tyler backpackers.  They were huddled under the roof of the bathroom, cold and miserable.  Their car was another 4 miles away at Irongate Campground.  David decided to take pity on them and drive them over to Irongate as it would have been a long and rainy uphill hike for them as tired as they were.  Maya and I washed off our muddy feet and headed to the RV for dry towels and clothes and started making dinner.  Did I mention how much I love Silver?

More wildflowers along the Cave Creek Trail

The next day dawned without a cloud in the sky and we planned to take it easy after our rainy, 9-plus-mile trek of the previous day.  We hiked along the Pecos River for a short while and then up the Cave Creek Trail where there actually are caves. The wildflowers were lovely near the creek which the trail followed closely.  

We reached a creek crossing but the logs didn’t look very stable and the creek was running heavy with rain and snow melt so we continued on straight.  Here the trail became much steeper and we were just thinking of turning back about the time that David slipped on the wet rocks and went tumbling.  It wasn’t a serious fall – hurt pride and a skinned elbow but being behind him and seeing it happen, it could have been so much worse.  Those rocks were jagged and slippery and David stopped sliding only a few feet before he could have plunged into the very cold waters of Cave Creek.  As it was we returned to the campground for some R & R and enjoyed the beautiful afternoon sunshine.  All's well that ends well.

Walking in fields of gold up on Hamilton Mesa

I have been so pleased that Maya and David and I too, for that matter, have been able to do the longer hikes.  I had been a little worried about Maya but she is doing great as long as we start slow and have a few rests along the way. And a day off every few days is good too, for all of us.  

A stop for lunch and rest near the top of Hamilton Mesa

Almost asleep - a nap after lunch is always a good thing

Friday we had another day of perfect weather and went for a long hike on Hamilton Mesa.  The views on the mesa of the surrounding Pecos peaks are spectacular.  Within a couple of miles, you get a good view of almost the whole Pecos Wilderness.  It was a great way to end our stay at Jack’s Creek. 

Looking north on Hamilton Mesa -- The Truchas Peaks

Saturday we were back in Santa Fe to resupply and get cleaned up as the car and the RV were pretty filthy after a few days of rain and muddy roads.  It is Sunday evening and groceries have been bought; people, dog, and RV are clean (didn’t get to the muddy car yet), mass quantities of New Mexican food have been consumed and we are ready for another trip to the forest.  We plan on staying in one of the forest campgrounds on the northern edge of the Pecos Wilderness until Friday and then we will move on to Red River.  Most likely we won’t have Internet or phone in the forest, so it will be next weekend before the next blog.  Eventually I will have more to report on than taking hikes in the forest and eating, but right now, we are really enjoying doing just that!

Green Chili Cheese enchiladas, posole, beans and sopapillas at La Choza.  Yum!

David’s Stats:

Days Hiked  3 
Total Miles Hiked    22.07
Ave. Miles per Day      7.36
Total Elevation Gain    3,519
Ave. Elevation Gain per day  1,173