LV-FIT Hike Report
Arroyo Del Tajo - Socorro Region
2022-04-06
Hike Distance (mi): 5.3Elevation Change (ft): 300
Total Uphill (ft): 370
Total Downhill (ft): 370
Report:
On Wednesday April 6, Los Volcanes Fitness Center began the 2022 hiking season with the Arroyo Del Tajo hike which is along the Quebradas Backcountry Byway near Socorro. 17 happy senior hikers, and one youngster, Jared, left LVFIT at about 8:15 and headed south on Old Coors to I-25 at Isleta Pueblo. We continued south to Lemitar exit, then to Escondido Lake then finally, the Quebradas Backcountry Byway where we traveled about 12 miles to the trailhead which was a wide spot in the road.
This hike follows an arroyo west, meandering in this Upper Chihuahuan Desert landscape often filled with blooming Ocotillo Cactus and always wonderful geologic features: ‘ridges of alternating bands of red and yellow sandstone, red and purple shale, and white to gray limestone’ https://www.go-newmexico.com/Quebradas-Back-Country-Byway/# We followed the arroyo for about two and a half miles toward our lunch spot until our trail went through a small slot in the rock to the bottom of huge canyon!
The hike description warned of a pool of water that is sometimes at the entrance, and may be impassable…but not for these intrepid hikers!! Some made the one foot “Splash & Dash”, others scaled the right side of the slot, and others went up, around and through a passage on the left…a few decided to park it and enjoy the luxury of a lunch with a view and less stress.
In the canyon, the walls seemed to rise a hundred feet? I’m not sure how tall, but in one of the walls, a hive of bees was spotted and Joyce has fabulous pictures of this treasure! See the link! At the west end of the canyon, we all found seating for lunch and the canyon opened with western views to the Rio Grande Valley. Just beautiful! This was our turn around spot, we retraced our steps to the van. Hike mileage 6 miles. Hiking time about 4.5 hours. The wind blew across our road all the way home in the van but we arrived safe and sound back at LVFIT by about 4:45.
Joyce O’Connell took pictures of our hike and as usual, her creative style and unique perspective helps me re-live the day in photos. Thank you, Joyce! Thank you to Jared Watsa, for driving us safely to and from our hike destination. And for being the Sweep on our hike! We know Jared as the young man with a big smile, behind the counter at PDFIT who helps us with EVERYTHING!
Such a nice group of hikers: fun, adventurous, and we love ice cream!
Web Album 1 Name: Fitness Centers Web Album
Web Album 1 Link: link
Hike Report Status: Published
Hike Leader(s): Cindy McConnell
Hike Coordinator(s):