NM Fall Colors?

Regional discussion and conditions reports for the Great American Southwest. Please post partners requests and trip plans in the Southwest US Climbing Partners section.
User Avatar
jfrishmanIII

 
Posts: 255
Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2006 9:02 pm
Thanked: 36 times in 26 posts

NM Fall Colors?

by jfrishmanIII » Mon Sep 24, 2012 8:00 pm

There's a ton of updates from Colorado, but it's hard to find reports on New Mexico fall color conditions, so let's share what we've got! This is Big Tesuque from the top of the quad at Ski Santa Fe, yesterday September 23. Nearing peak, but still a good number of green patches, more green the lower you go.

Image

Anyone been up in the Jemez lately? Chama area and Hwy 64? Pecos Wilderness, Taylor, Sandias, Manzanos, further south? I'm planning some outings in the next few weeks, so any updates from the NM crew will be appreciated!

User Avatar
Sarah Simon

 
Posts: 937
Joined: Tue Jan 02, 2007 12:01 am
Thanked: 240 times in 108 posts

Re: NM Fall Colors?

by Sarah Simon » Mon Sep 24, 2012 8:44 pm

I just visited Wheeler, Walter, Old Mike, Simpson, Frazer & Bull-of-the-Woods and the aspen were POPPING, just going bonkers, in the Taos Ski Valley area. Great visit!

Image
Go climb a mountain

The following user would like to thank Sarah Simon for this post
jfrishmanIII

User Avatar
jfrishmanIII

 
Posts: 255
Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2006 9:02 pm
Thanked: 36 times in 26 posts

Re: NM Fall Colors?

by jfrishmanIII » Sat Sep 29, 2012 6:05 pm

I was just out at Hamilton Mesa in the Pecos Wilderness: some good color, but the upper Pecos has a ways to go. I'd say it's around 30% in the aspens. Next weekend will probably be fantastic. The riparian trees and oaks in the Pecos canyon were looking very nice.

User Avatar
jfrishmanIII

 
Posts: 255
Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2006 9:02 pm
Thanked: 36 times in 26 posts

Re: NM Fall Colors?

by jfrishmanIII » Wed Oct 03, 2012 4:57 pm

Northern New Mexico update: It looks like the high-altitude groves on the west slopes of the Sangres are at or passing peak, with bare areas showing up at the top elevations. The upper Pecos Valley (Hamilton Mesa area) was around 35-40% on Saturday, should be great this weekend. The Pecos Canyon had beautiful colors in the oaks and undergrowth. The Tusas Mountains east of Chama (Hwy 64 and forest roads near the CO border) are gorgeous, 40-50% changed, with lots of oranges and reds but a good reservoir of green still to change; that area should be great for another week or so too. Lots of nice oak color on Hwy 64 too. The northern Jemez had some nice groves, but less change and maybe somewhat duller colors up there. Cottonwoods in the Chama valley are just starting, maybe 5%.

C'mon, I know there are Albuquerqueans on SP: how are the Sandias looking?

no avatar
lmseid

 
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2012 7:36 am
Thanked: 1 time in 1 post

Re: NM Fall Colors?

by lmseid » Thu Oct 11, 2012 7:57 am

Just visited East Manzanos last wednesday (10/3) before the Balloon Fiesta crowds came in.
It was a little early for the maples, but a FS guy said he thought it'd be a quick turnaround this year. There was a freeze last friday night...
DSC_1428-small.jpg
near fourth of july campground
DSC_1428-small.jpg (793.66 KiB) Viewed 4621 times

The following user would like to thank lmseid for this post
jfrishmanIII


Return to Southwest (AZ, NM, NV, TX)

 


  • Related topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests