Santa Fe County Highpoint Trip Report
Date: June 14, 2003
Author: Walt O’Neil
From US 84 and 285 take Highway 475 east, being careful where it turns twice in
the city. Go about 16 miles to just shy of the ski area, where a well marked
Winsor Trail #254 sign appears at the trailhead.
From the large parking lot head up the trail to the Wilderness Boundary at 0.5 mile,
where there is a sign in register. The trail gradually descends to the
Nambe River, then climbs to the junction with trail 251. Go left and switchback
to the saddle, where the trail descends to Katherine Lake at 11,600 feet.
Go left at the saddle where there is no trail but miraculously appears heading up
the rocks. It is easy to follow to the peak. After the first false summit you
can see the peak but there is another false summit to cross first. There's a
large cairn but no register was found. A benchmark lies to the north about 25
feet with an arrow pointing close to the cairn with the words "reference mark".
There was a staring match between a dog and a marmot close to the HP, with the
marmot making all the noise.
Climb statistics: Time up 4 hours 12 minutes. Time down 3 hours 18 minutes.
Time on peak 27 minutes. Net elevation gain 2,322 feet.