SantaFe.com

It’s not as mean-looking as the Truchas Peaks to the north nor as accessible as Atalaya Mountain. It’s gentle, rounded form seems to disappear into the landscape, but every now and then I notice the mustache of spruce trees stretching across the mountain’s bare western face and wonder, “How do those trees hang on up there?” Then I forget the mountain again, as though Santa Fe Baldy, a mountain I’ve loved my entire life, is nothing but a 12,622 foot hill.

A friend of mine once climbed Baldy in March, and came back down on skis. Two weeks later a couple friends of his snowboarded and skied...

Wednesday, May 21, 2008
by Toner Mitchell • SantaFe.com

Maybe we’re not Colorado, but Santa Fe offers no shortage of rewarding day hikes, from easy to challenging, depending on terrain, altitude, and one’s wilderness experience and level of fitness. For a comprehensive description of 60 terrific hikes (including maps), check out the sixth edition of Day Hikes in the Santa Fe Area, authored by the Northern New Mexico Group of the Sierra Club. What constitutes a satisfying outdoors experience is highly subjective, but here are ten hikes of varying grades of difficulty, and varying degrees of beauty and remoteness. From high desert mesas to rugged...

Monday, March 31, 2008
by Michael French • SantaFe.com

Santa Fe is surrounded by Mountains, Cliffs and Canyons so it is a great destination for rock climbing. The weather in the Santa Fe area allows for year around climbing, even in the middle of winter you can climb on a sunny day. There are many established rock climbing areas in Northern New Mexico which are an easy drive from Santa Fe. Climbers from beginners to experts can find an area nearby that fits their skill level.

White Rock is town neighboring Los Alamos with cliffs developed for rock climbing. The 30 to 70 feet high cliffs of White Rock Canyon overlook the Rio Grande providing...

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

On January 11th 2008, Sir Edmund Hillary, first-time summiter of Everest, philosopher and philanthropist, passed away with barely a whisper in the press. A gentle giant, after his 1953 climb thrilled the world and earned him knighthood from Queen Elizabeth, the self-effacing beekeeper from New Zealand dedicated much of his life to serving the needs of the Sherpa people of Nepal. He raised funds to build hospitals, local clinics, schools and water systems, and made over 150 trips to Nepal to oversee his work.

Friday, February 1, 2008
by Bob Shaffer • SantaFe.com

Okay, I admit it. I like pavement. I like air conditioning and cold water. I also like adventure. If you can relate, Kasha-Katuwe is the outdoor adventure for you. Known in English as Tent Rocks, this national monument is an easy drive south of Santa Fe on Cochiti Pueblo land. The last segment of road is dirt washboard that makes pavement lovers like me feel as if they’ve really gone off to do something daring.

A one-mile trail loops through the park and is even and smooth. The day I visited there was a woman making the trek in stilettos (really) and while I wouldn’t necessarily recommend...

Tuesday, January 15, 2008
by AnnMarie McLaughlin • SantaFe.com