[NMCCSC] Outing to Valles Caldera National Preserve, Sat., Feb. 2

[Sam via NMCCSCeGroup]

Hello Skiers,

I will lead a Ski Club outing to the Valles Caldera National Preserve (VCNP) on Saturday, Feb. 2. The VCNP is located on NM-4 between Los Alamos and Jemez Springs.

The Coyote Call Trailhead is closed until the parking is plowed, and parking is not allowed along the shoulder. If parking has been plowed by Sat. morning and there is adequate parking for our vehicles, we will ski in the Coyote Call area across the highway from Valle Grande. If the parking has not been plowed, we will drive two miles on a plowed dirt road to the visitor center in the west end of Valle Grande. The road may be snow packed, and all-wheel drive vehicles or 4WD vehicles are recommended.

The following tour classes will be available:

1. Class I -- Easy tours with lengths up to about 4 miles RT with very little elevation change (maybe 200 feet). In the Coyote Call area the tours will be near the highway in meadows. If we ski from the the visitor center, skiing will be in the west end of Valle Grande in huge meadows. There may be one groomed trail that some can ski.

2. Class I+ -- Somewhat more difficult and longer tours. At Coyote Call, these skiers could ski the 3-mile loop trail with an elevation change of 400 feet. If the loop is skied clockwise, the grade on the east side is moderately steep and skins would be helpful, but are not required. The two long sides of the loop are not steep and the west side slopes are not as steep as those on the side. In Valle Grande, they may ski longer tours or go toward South Mountain.

3. Class II -- These skiers may ski anywhere in the area. They could ski to South Mountain and go up as far as they can ski. The round trip to the top is 11 miles in length, and the elevation change is about 1300 feet.

I will be leading the Class I tours. No formal beginner class is planned, but the skiing in the valle is very easy. Very little experience is needed to ski here.

There is presently no fee to enter the VCNP.


To help with planning, please let me know by email if you plan to go. samgbeard at msn.com<mailto:samgbeard at msn.com>

Meet at 8:30 on the west side of the Target store at the intersection of Paseo del Norte and I-25N. We can also meet people at about 8:50 at the Home Depot west of Bernalillo. Skiers from Santa Fe or Los Alamos should meet us at the Coyote Call Trailhead or at the visitor center at about 10:30.

Dress warmly and bring lunch, drinks, snacks, sun screen and your ski equipment. If you plan to ride with another driver, bring $15 for car expenses.

We should return to Albuquerque by about 4:30.

Email me if you have questions.

Sam
505-828-0673





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