The Second Highest Peak in New Mexico Multi-cache

Truchas Peak or South Truchas Peak is the second highest peak in New Mexico at 13102 feet, behind Wheeler, and ahead of nearby Santa Fe Baldy. It is located where Sante Fe National Forest and Carson National Forest meet, which is in the Pecos wilderness area of the (southern) Sangre de Cristo mountains. The view from the top is incredible - and in some directions you will see little or nothing man-made.

This is a two-stage multi-cache. There is no container hidden at the first stage. Read below to find out how you must extract a distance and bearing from a set of rocks at the peak, and use this to calculate the second stage coordinates.

Truchas Peak or South Truchas Peak is the second highest peak in New Mexico at 13102 feet, behind Wheeler, and ahead of nearby Santa Fe Baldy. It is located in Carson National Forest, which is in the Pecos wilderness area of the (southern) Sangre de Cristo mountains. The view from the top is incredible - and in some directions you will see little or nothing man-made. Despite this, it is visited infrequently - possibly because it is somewhat remote and difficult to do as a day-hike. It is not even listed in many books of New Mexico hikes. This is why the Truchas Peaks make an excellent geocache.

The mountains can be accessed by a day-hike, or by a multi-day hike. Afternoon thunderstorms are very common, so start as early as possible, and plan to be off the ridge system by about 1pm and in any case leave immediately if thunderclouds are approaching. It takes some time to get off the ridge system down into the safety of the trees, so watch carefully and plan ahead.

The Pecos Wilderness Area has some restrictions, which you should familiarize yourself with - no motor-powered vehicles, no camping near water sources, no open fires when there is fire danger, etc. For more information, contact:
Pecos Wilderness office, Santa Fe National Forest:
1474 Rodeo Road
Santa Fe, NM 87505
Phone:(505) 438-7840
Fax:(505) 438-7834

This is a two stage multi-cache. However, due to the need for the first stage to be at the peak of South Truchas and be available regardless of snow cover year-round, there really is no suitable hiding spot for a container there. Also, due to this being a designated wilderness area, leaving a container behind is prohibited. So, to complete the first stage, you must extract a compass bearing and distance from a set of rocks at the peak. At the posted coordinates - the summit of South Truchas - near the east side of the peak you will find a boulder about 75cm long. At the base of this boulder you will find two distinct embedded white quartz rocks (they aren't going anywhere any time soon). You need to measure the distance between the highest points of these rocks and the compass bearing from the highest point of the larger rock to the highest point of the smaller. I suggest you use a compass with degree tick marks and measuring tape, and take precision measurements.
compass bearing from highest point of the larger rock to the highest point of the smaller = A.
distance in millimeters between the highest points of these rocks = B.
Stage two coordinates are:
North 35 degrees, 44 + ((3 * A) + 90)/1000 minutes
West 105 degrees, 49 + ((3 * B) + 23)/1000 minutes

These coordinates will take you to the second & final stage of this cache. Find the microcache hidden there. It is only big enough for a log, so bring your own pen. It is a long way on the map between stage one and two, but you will have no trouble driving to stage two with any vehicle, and its an easy stroll from the trailhead to the cache location. If you opt for stage two coordinate verification, normally one of our team members will respond to your email within a few hours (assuming it is not sent in the middle of the night). However, feel free to make prior arrangements with us as to the day and time, an we promise a turn-around time of mere minutes. Also, if internet access between stage one and two is problematic, contact our team and we will figure out some sort of special arrangement.

For extra credit, find Quemado falls (near Truchas) and post a picture of yourself there.

Directions:

To day-hike:

Approaching from the west:

The difficultly in access via the Quemdo trail is driving to the trailhead. You will be using unmarked, dirt trails/roads - you will need a 4 wheel drive vehicle with high ground clearance. For the last few miles you might want a GPS in tracking mode, or atleast a decent map and compass. Sometimes rain storms can wash out the trails/roads - if this happens you may be able to find an alternate route, or come back another day. There is no "parking lot" at the trailhead - just pull off the road as far as possible. Turning around to leave will be difficult - you may want to be thinking about this as you select a parking spot. Of course if your vehicle can't handle the last few miles you can hike them instead - but then you might want to make it a two day trip.

One word of caution - I have heard accounts of cars at the Quemado trailhead being vandalized and/or burglarized in the past. It has not happened when I have been around, and I have also heard the problem has become less severe lately - but I don't really know, so no guarantees. In any case, I advise against leaving valuables in your vehicle.

The Quemado Creek trailhead is about 20 miles northeast of the town of Espanola. If you are driving from Santa Fe, drive east to Espanola on U.S. Highway 285. At Espanola turn onto State Highway 76 and head north to the town of Truchas. At Truchas, State Highway 76 turns north - leave the highway at this point and take a smaller road through the town, which will go through the town and become a dirt road heading into the mountains. About 3/4 of a mile after this road becomes a dirt road you will cross a creek, and then about 500' further there will be a fork - go right. Initially you will be going south, then the road will turn west, then south and finally east again. About a mile further is the Quemado Creek trailhead.

Another route from the west is to start at Borrego Mesa. I have never used it, so have little information to offer, other than I understand it is a longer hike. If you are looking for another route from the west, I suggest you call the Ranger station in Espanola and ask about it.

Multi-day hikes:

There are also approaches from the south and north that are probably easier to do as a two or multi-day hike. I have never used them, but have heard others say these are good routes.

South: Jack's Creek campground, use trail 25, then 257, then 251 past Trail Riders wall to Truchas

North: From Santa Barbara campground in Kit Carson National Forest take trail 24, then trail 25, then turn west at No Fish Lake to Truchas

Please consider (whether or not you take advantage of the optional stage two coordinate check) posting a picture of yourself at the summit, showing the conditions, and describing the ascent route you took, what was most challenging about it, etc. We are particularly interested to hear what it is like to climb Truchas in mid-winter. Of course this is not a requirement - just a request.