Santa Fe is at 7,000′ altitude, which I’m now acclimatized to, and the ski area is at 10,300. Lake Peak, where I wanted to hike to today, July 15, 2007, has it’s summit at 12,409′. It’s only a 2 mile hike from the parking lot, according to the GPS, but that’s as the crow flies at altitude. Figuring the angle of the climb, it’s probably between 3 & 4 miles on the ground. From the ski area, look up the new “Millenium” lift and follow it about ½ way, then angle off to the left into the woods for the final ascent. Turn right on the ridge and follow it out of this picture to the top of Deception Peak…………..

No one told me that there’s a “Deception Peak” at 12,370′ that you hafta go past to get to the real peak. It’s only about 100 - 150 yards from one to the other, but what a walk. Deception is in the center, and Lake Peak out of sight to the left…………..

Once you get to Deception Peak, it looks like a fairly easy stroll over to Lake Peak, doesn’t it ?? Tut - tut, remember the last picture ?? That ridge is narrow, it’s a long way down, and part of it you have no choice…..gotta tip toe across the narrow part…………

I met several nice folks up there - just like San Jacinto, there’s a traffic jam at the peak. This old fella in the blue is 77 years old, and walked away from me…..slowly but surely. Sigh. His friend is a little eccentric, but the flute music sounded kinda neat up there………..

Yup, the trail goes just left of center, around those rocks and makes a hard left in front of the tree. This was much worse than it looks. You’re actually hanging over a LOT of space as you traverse the corner. You don’t want to slip or let go. What Fun ! ! !…………

I went 1st, then the flute player (can’t remember his name) followed. You can just barely see his buddy below him. This is looking just about straight down…………

Now, some serious bouldering to get back on the ridge. It’s too steep and loose to go around the side………

Once again, it’s steeper and rougher than it looks from a distance………..

And now for the fun part. Keep in mind that this is nearly 12,400 feet up, and the icy wind was screaming across the ridge. See his hat ?? Good thing it was tied on…………

We all made it safely, hiked past ½ dozen picnic-ers, and ol’ Lar stands proudly on the summit at 12,409 feet. This is a new personal record for me, and probably the last one. I’ve only been to 11,200′ in a small plane; San Jacinto, that I climbed last August is 10,839′; and the Bristlecone Pine forest near Bishop, CA was at 11,400′, but I drove up to about 11,000′ in the Diesel Dodge. Mt. Santa Fe Baldy is behind me, with the Truchas mountains beyond that, in the Pecos Wilderness Area. All the crying and moaning aside, this was a spectacularly beautiful hike, and well worth the effort. (shoulda done it on Saturday, tho)………

On the return I met 2 pleasant young couples having a picnic, and here Justin poses on a part of the ridge………..

Looking to the south, down into the Santa Fe watershed, (closed to the public) you can see that it’s quite a ways down - straight down………..

And down the other side to Nambé Lake - another looooong way down.

All the way up, and all along the ridge in protected areas were many kinds of flowers. Neat…………….

Coming back down was a long, long way. 2 hours worth, and a real thigh burner. Going up only took about 3½ hours, but most were faster than me. Lar.

Posted: September 30th, 2007 under 07-7-15 Lake Peak, 08 New Mexico.
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