The Plains of San Augustine - March 25, 2005 - Member Trip Report
| Hike Name: | The Plains of San Augustine |
|---|---|
| Country: | United States |
| State: | New Mexico |
| Trip Rating: |  |
| Trip Date: | March 25, 2005 |
| Duration: | 3 days, 8 hours |
| Trail Conditions: | Excellent |
| Trail Traffic: | None |
| Trip Weather: | Sunny, Partly Sunny |
| Trip Winds: | Light |
| Trip Precipitation: | None |
| Trip Temperature: | High: 61-70, Low: 31-40 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Trip Report: | We arrived at our jump-off location outside of Datil Friday morning. We got out of the car and enjoyed the sunshine while munching the last of a McDonald's breakfast and looking at a map. There are no actual trails in this area, so we determined that we would follow cattle or game trails that led roughly the direction we wanted to go. About 10:00 we shouldered our packs and marched off heading south. The entire area has been settled on and off for over 400 years, so there are ruins everywhere. We had lunch at a fallen down railroad station from the late 1800's, and pushed on for the mountains we saw in the distance. We got to the edge of the Plains about 3:30, and decided it would be a fine camping spot, since we had plenty of water available in a stock tank. Had a few cups of coffee with Bailey's and did some star gazing until about 10:00 There is NO light polution in this area, and the sky is absolutely amazing. On day 2 we headed east down the edge of the Plains intending to get close enough to see the VLA telescopes. I have seen several concerts out there, and it is a great location. Had lunch at an abandoned ranch house with a calf for a lunch guest. We thought he was going to follow us around for the rest of the trip, but he only lasted a few hundred yards before he wandered off to find momma. Finished the days hiking within sight of the VLA, and dined on two steaks which I had brought frozen in dry ice. Nothing better than good steaks under a New Mexico night sky. On day 3, we started working back west down the north edge of the Plains, headed for the car. Watered up at a windmill filled stock tank (remember those windmills as a water source) about 10:30 and walked slowly back toward the car, savoring the beautiful weather. The scenery was great, and we could see mountain ranges 80 miles away. We picked up a herd of cows about 2:00 that were headed back to the same windmill we were, so we let them break trail to scare off the rattlesnakes, of which we had seen several. Broke for a snack about 4:00, and finally hit the car just before dark. We retrieved a six-pack which had been cooling in the stock tank for three days, and enjoyed a few brews before we loaded up into the car and headed out. This is a great trip for scenery, with almost no vertical rise in the entire thing. Makes for a lazy and memorable camp, especially the night sky. Total distance covered: 23.6 miles |
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