Nambe Loop Traditional Geocache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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A cache near the Santa Fe ski area, north of Lake Peak and above Nambe Lake.
Warning Note: This cache can only be reached by a strenuous, high altitude hike requiring route finding skills and good fitness. The shortest route to the cache and back will require more than 7 miles of hiking and over 2500’ of elevation gain, all at altitudes above 10,000’. Cold temperatures and violent weather can develop quickly in these high mountains, even on what seems like the fairest day. Please plan accordingly.
There are a number of ways to reach this cache. Here’s one…
Park at Santa Fe Ski Area (~ 10,300’) and hike to Lake Peak (12,400’). Drop down the ridge north (not east) of Lake Peak on a faint trail to a saddle at about 12,100’. The cache is in this area.
After finding the cache, you could return to Lake Peak and head back the way you came.
Or, for another way back, return the few feet to the saddle’s low point and find a faint track heading westerly down steep, wooded slopes. Descend this steep track to the desolate and beautiful cirque (~ 11,600’) above Nambe Lake. Boulder/scree hop down a bit farther to verdant Nambe Lake (11,400’) and return to the ski area parking lot via the Nambe Lake (400) and Winsor (254) trails.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Purpx bhg efbhgujvpx'f cvpgher bs gur pnpur fvgr.