I may have found a place for a meetup in the Santa Fe area if there is enough interest. It's located in the
Galisteo Basin Preserve, a 13,500 acre combination of conservation easements and marketable homesites east of town. It was a working ranch until the
Commonweal Conservancy bought it in 2003. With 30+/- miles of hike & bike trail in place, plus some equestrian routes, and a goal of 50 in total, GBP is the largest publicly accessible private trail network in the West. (Santa Fe is also an
IMBA Silver Level ride destination.) It is conveniently located for day trips to
Santa Fe;
Bandelier National Monument;
Valles Caldera National Preserve, site of a significant volcanic explosion 1.25 million ya; the Sangre de Cristo mountain range (the Rocky Mountains, aka the Sangres, plunge below the surface just north of the Galisteo Basin);
Los Alamos, home to the Manhattan Project; and a variety of other sites in northern NM.
Taos and the Taos Ski Valley are feasible though it makes for a long day.
This would be the first time Commonweal has opened its property to an event like this. Space would be limited although I haven't had any concrete discussions about the number of visitors Commonweal would allow. It would be primitive camping in piñon-juniper terrain though we'd add some porta-potties and maybe an event tent, depending on cost.
I have two questions for the membership: (1) how many people are interested and (b) what is a workable time for it to happen if there is enough interest. Right now is particularly sweet as the temps are dropping, the nights are cool and the
Albuquerque International Balloon Festival is underway for sightseeing. Spring also has the advantage of cooler temps. There are two major events in Santa Fe during the summer, the
International Folk Art Market in July and the
Santa Fe Indian Market in August, both of which draw worldwide attention. However, the temps will be at their peaks so PJ terrain may not be the most comfortable camping. (Seasonal rains in August can make a big difference.)
Otherwise, all is good if you want some time outside and a visit to the hood.
-d-