Jicarita Peak

We climbed Jicarita Peak (12,835 feet) two days ago in the most northern zone of the Pecos Wilderness. It is the premier high country hike on the east side of the Pecos Wilderness near Las Vegas. Here is a picture of us from the top of the peak with the Truchas Peaks in the background:


I took these pix with my cell phone, which explains some of the difficulty I had getting a properly framed shot at times. I'm so excited that I've finally invested in a proper fancy digital SLR camera. It should arrive later this week. Once it does, all crappy photos will be my own fault.

Spook got to go even though this is the floyderdog blog, because he is a perfectly well-behaved hiking partner. He didn't even pretend to misbehave when we observed three bighorn sheep from 30 yards' distance.

Here's the one picture I did not take. There is a story regarding this photo that embodies the very miracle of the internet. I searched Google for a suitable panoramic shot of the Pecos Wilderness so as to show my three readers more or less what Jicarita Peak looks like from a distance. I quickly found the picture. Upon investigating the picture, it turns out that it is part of a promotional website for Talon de Gato Farm in Apodaca, NM. By pure coincidence, their specialty at this farm is pimientos de Padron, a classic Spanish tapa treat and a favorite of mine. I got permission to use this photo. Your should check out their website here and buy some pimientos from them at the Santa Fe Farmer's Market in about a month. This photo shows the north end of the Pecos Wilderness from the west side. Jicarita Peak is the high, pyramidal peak on the left side of the photo. Click on the photo for detail:

Here is a pretty good cellphone shot of some Columbines and Serpent Lake high along the route to Jicarita Peak:

Some Columbines:


Here's final approach to Jicarita Peak. This shows roughly the last 300 vertical feet of the climb out of the 2400 vertical feet from the trailhead five miles distant.


Spook is proving to be the finest hiking dog I've ever known. He stays with the group at all times. He doesn't bark like a lunatic at people or wildlife. He doesn't run off chasing rabbits, elk, or bighorn sheep. He lies down for a nap promptly when we take a break. He's half genius and half dog (i.e. idiot).


Spook again. Here he is taking a drink from a snow field at about 12,500 feet.