Backpacking The Pecos Wilderness

In 1964 Congress designated nearly 200,000 acres of land near Pecos, New Mexico as the Pecos Wilderness. In 1980 an additional 55,000 acres were added bringing the total to 223,667 acres of unspoilt wilderness. The wilderness extends through two Ranger Districts in the Santa Fe National Forest and into the Carson National Forest to the north. Within the boundaries of this expansive area are several landmarks including Truchas Peak which tops of at 13,103 feet, and the southern stretch of the Rocky Mountains.

The terrain varies from open meadows in the Pecos River Valley to the steep canyons of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range. Wildlife ranges from deer and elk to big horn sheep, turkeys and grouse. It is not uncommon to run into cattle in the wilderness either, as some ranchers are permitted to graze their cattle in areas of the wilderness.

There are 15 lakes, and eight major streams to sustain both plant and animal habitat, including the native Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout.

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• The Southwest Backpacker
• backpacking new mexico
• backpacking adventure
• Pecos Wilderness
• Winsor Trail
• Winsor Trailhead
• Santa Fe Natioinal Forest
• Stewart Lake
• Lake Katherine
• Carson National Forest
• Sangre de Cristo Mountains
• climbing
• mountain
• canyon
• beautiful
• nature
• hiking
• outdoors

[planofire1972]

Oh one more thing. When are the raspberries in season?

[CrazyTaileZ]

@planofire1972 You will probably encounter rain but no snow until mid to late Oct. Day temps will probably be in the 70's and night temps in the 40's... mabey upper 30's closer to Lake Katherine. Raspberries are usually ready for the pickins in mid July to the end of August so you might not see any. The fire restrictions for the Pecos Wilderness have been lifted too so you can fry up those fish over a campfire! Yeah! Good luck my friend and I hope you have a great trip!

[planofire1972]

Great Video!! Dont hold it against me but Im from Texas and have been hiking for about 6 years. This will be our first trip into New Mexico. We are thinking bout hiking out of winsor TH in the last week of Sept. of 2011 hiking on up to Stewart Lake then on up to Katherine in a 3 day 4 night trip. Any advice on fishing? Bait? Also how bout weather in late Sept? Rain? Snow?

[CrazyTaileZ]

@planofire1972 Thank you! Sounds like you have a very well thought out plan for hiking in the Pecos Wilderness. Winsor Trail this time of year is nice and especially at the end of the month, you will get to see the leaves on the trees changing color. There is only about a 3 week period to see that too. Fishing should be good @ Stewart Lake. I'd bring a "Kast-Master" lure or a Panther Martin (yellow w/ rred dots). I have not had a good oppertunity to fish Katherine.

[promaster185]

Your videos are great. and i really like it that you put the name of the location on the screen. Thank you for taking the time to run the camera

[CrazyTaileZ]

@promaster185 Thanks for the great comment! Since many of the places that I go backpacking is not known to most of the USA or the world for that matter, I think putting the name of each location or area is important so if anyone who may want to journey to these places will have somthing to go by. I appreciate you taking the time to watch my videos my friend!

[CrazyTaileZ]

@OsitoTejano Thank you! I have not yet been to the Chama Canyon Wilderness but I have it down as one of the wilderness areas on my "list of epic adventures". This has been a rough year to get out backpacking with the dry conditions (as you know) so I might have to wait on the Chama Canyon Wilderness until next summer but I definately will get there and post a video of the adventure. I'm glad you enjoy watching my videos and I'll have a new video posted of the South San Juan area in a few days.

[OsitoTejano]

Wow, You guys go to all my favorite huants, It sends chills up my spine watching your vids, Love it! Have you been out to the Chama Canyon Wilderness?

[CrazyTaileZ]

@theyounglinggig A 5 day round trip total. 1st day from Winsor Creek T.H. to Stewart Lk. 2nd day to Johnson Lk. 3rd day to Horsetheif Meadow. 4th day to Pecos Baldy Lk., and 5th day back to Panchuera C.G. About 26 total miles. There is fish in those lakes too! I agree, the snow should all be melted by the end of May. Went in June to South San Juan Wilderness in southern CO. (higher laditude), and the trails above 10,500ft were covered in 3ft of snow. Post holeing with a backpack is unplesant. .

[theyounglinggig]

@CrazyTaileZ 5 day round trip or 5 days in 5 days out because if you mean 5 days round trip that sound like what i would like to do and oh ya by the end of may the snow is all gonna be gone I would bet you could get away with it now with how horrible of a snow season this was