Hike Leader: Beth Corwin
Hike Date: July 30, 2021 - August 1, 2021
Hike Distance: 15.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 5,084 feet
The Columbine-Hondo Wilderness is a special place protecting another pocket of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and it is often neglected in favor of the more popular Wheeler Peak Wilderness just to the south. Proportionately speaking, anyways.
Our wonderful leader Beth Corwin led this backpacking trip, bringing some of our fellow club members into new terrain en route to the beautiful, treeless summit of Gold Hill. Many thanks are owed to Beth for the effort in organizing and leading such a hike!
Gold Hill, the fifth highest peak in New Mexico, is located in the Columbine-Hondo Wilderness north of Taos. The most commonly used route to Gold Hill is a dayhike from the Taos Ski Valley, which lies to the south of Gold Hill. The goal of this trip was to summit from the less-used northwestern approach, starting at the Columbine Campground east of Questa. Summiting from this direction on a dayhike is only for the most advanced hikers: a round trip of at least 14 miles and 5,000 feet of gain and loss, depending on the route you take. Our three day backpack broke this into more manageable chunks.
The forecast for our weekend called for heavy rain both Saturday and Sunday, introducing the possibility that lightning risk might prevent us from reaching the top.
Friday afternoon we hiked south from the campground along three creeks: Columbine Creek, then Placer Fork, then Willow Fork. The weather was good with only light sprinkles, and the creek drainages were filled with lush and beautiful vegetation due to this year's robust monsoon season. Berries and wildflowers abounded, along with a remarkable variety of edible and poisonous mushrooms of all shapes, colors, and sizes.
Photo: David D.
Photo: David D.
Photo: David D.
The Placer Fork Trail crosses the creek many times. We never removed our boots, but they got wet a few times. Poles were helpful.
Photo: David D.
Once we turned onto the Willow Fork Trail, we left the stream crossings behind and ascended steeply into aspen forest. Hoping to shorten our summit hike the next day, we hiked up to about 10,100 feet where Willow Fork disappeared underground. In order to find a flatter spot that still had water, we backtracked to around 9,900 feet and made camp. (We found out the next day that Willow Fork re-appeared further up the valley, so one could make camp at a higher elevation than we did.)
Photo: Beth C.
Hoping to beat the storm, we left camp at 7:00 am the next morning with daypacks. After a mile or so of hiking we entered beautiful meadows with the creek running through them, then an extremely steep drainage that rose more than 500 feet in a third of a mile. We had wondered whether this section would require scrambling or exposure, but were surprised to discover a straightforward ascent through rocks, grass and flowers.
Photo: David D.
Above that was a steep, grassy rise above tree line to the Lobo Peak Trail. Heading north toward Gold Hill, we were now on the high ridgeline with big views in all directions.
Photo: David D.
We reached the summit at 10:30 as the clouds were starting to build.
Photo: David D.
After a quick snack and a few moments to enjoy the view, we began our rapid descent and made it back to tree line without seeing lightning. Not long after we reached our camp it began to rain steadily and we spent most of Saturday afternoon and evening hunkered down in our tents. By morning the rain had stopped. We put on our wet boots, packed up our wet tents, and hiked out in nice weather and high spirits.
Photo: David D.