Pecos wilderness

When are you going? There is still lots of snow in the Pecos right now. When I was there two weeks ago, the snow line was around 10,500 ft on north and east facing slopes. Above 10,800 ft, you will need snowshoes and be comfortable navigating off trail/ finding snow covered trail. Also, they got 15 inches of snow last weekend…

I visited lake Katherine, but declined to summit Santa Fe Baldy. Lake Katherine was still frozen under 3ft of snow when I was there. There were still huge overhanging cornices on the summit ridge and lots of steep snow above treeline. As far as visiting lake Katherine via the west loop of 251, I advise against it. Getting off the ridge between Santa Fe Baldy and point 11773 involved a 4th class downclimb and long sketchy glissade down a gully to avoid the overhanging cornice and steep snowfield where the actual trail goes over the ridge.

Below 10,500 however, you can make a nice trip without snowshoes.

As to your other questions:
– No bear canister required. I just sleep with my food.
– No permits
– Fires allowed unless fire ban. No fires in lake basins or near streams.

I dont have experience when it comes to navigate off trail covered with snow, I am going this coming Monday, or Tuesday.
I was planing to do the pink and yellow track, but now I wont do the Yellow one. What do you think about the pink route?
I dont have the actual park map ( which I will get in from the park office when getting there), so I dont have the trail numbers, but this is using Garmin basecamp.
I am open to any suggestions, I want something suitable for 4 days.
What about Stewart lake and Johnson lake?
I dont have Snowshoes btw.

Thanks again for your great advise.

Here is a link to the image:

http://postimg.org/image/u33m6809f/

this us the routes

I just got back from there, Planned my trails to be below 10500 feet. All clear of snow for most part, except little here and there. Great information.

Did you try making it to Lake Katherine? I am heading to Stewart Lake next week and I am wondering if the snow situation will be any better by June 5 or so.