[NMCCSC] South Mountain - Valles Caldera Report

[Dave Gabel via NMCCSCeGroup]

Nine NMCCSC members and friends participated in the South Mountain ski outing on Sunday. Unfortunately, although it was obvious the road in to the Visitor's Center had been plowed the day before (the berm had already set up like concrete), the gates were closed until 11:00 a.m. "so they could finish plowing".
Looking for alternative parking we first scouted the 'Missing Link Trail' parking. It had been commandeered by a squad of utility vehicles - probably downed power line due to the Saturday winds. Further down the road we did find adequate parking for our vehicles at the 'Coyote Call Link Trail' to access the Caldera. This added over a mile each way to the intended ski. Although we did get twelve miles in, energy levels and time constraints wisely suggested a turn-around prior to making the peak. Covering the same distance but starting on-time from the Visitor's Center would have had us on the top of the Mountain.
The snow on the flats was plenty deep to cover vegetation. Wind had removed most of the new snow but left enough that we were neither skiing on crust/ice, nor breaking trail through deep, new snow; very good conditions for some kick and glide. Ruthanne and Claudia led us on a rabbit chase across the flats. Winds were calm for the majority of our ski across the flats - picking up as we skied into the narrowing valley at the base of South Mountain. Once we got to the trees at the base we were in deeper snow and the trailbreaking truly commenced. Again, Ruthanne and Claudia led the charge while the rest of us followed at a somewhat slower pace, grateful for the track. The snow was only sticky in the one area of the climb that has a south-facing, open slope. The return trip made us all keenly aware of the vastness of the Preserve (you can read between the lines).
The day was made complete with a stop at Los Ojos for food, beverages and a warm fire.
Participants: Dave Gabel, Claudia Bergsohn, Ruthanne Hamrick, Bet Gendron, Eric Russell, Carol Meincke, Rich Besser, Ellen Bauman and Peter Marks.
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