Pecos Wilderness snow update and route suggestions

Drive-wise you'll have to budget about an hour off I-25 at the Pecos or Glorietta Pass exit and have the freshest driver take over. Some winding roads especially after Terraro but there's plenty of scenic parking areas north of Pecos. I'll be there a day or 2 after you but probably sticking to the Pecos-Jacks area. Personally expect some lingering, maybe heavy, snow drifts but it's been rain through the NM mtns.

I've spent some time with Caltopo, which is pretty impressive. Looking at the recent Modis images, I don't see much snow. The resolution is low and I don't have much experience with it, but it looks green up to around 11,400 ft.

Here's the map: http://caltopo.com/m/6T53

Started melting fast but there's still some lingering snow. A heat wave has made made it a bit muggy (some actual chaff – bring shorts as I had to stop early), but fire danger is low. pic of some lingering snow yesterday but pretty high

Greener as I've seen in awhile so my suggestion is just go before thunderstorm season. Also watch those times on locked gates (lock between 2200 and 06 to deter vandalism on vehicles).

Ed: add label

I just got back today. Had wonderful weather, just a little warm sometimes. We were able to make it up to east Pecos baldy peak.

Here's a pano:

https://photosynth.net/view/6150bcf1-4702-4b47-b766-a7b1af9e5bd2

Steven according to your caltopo map it looks like you took the old Windsor trail (261) that was abandoned by the forest service from Cowles to Stewart lake. Did you use that trail and if so was it in good enough shape an eight year old could handle it. Thanks.

Galen, we did not go out to Stewart Lake. Since the snow has almost completely melted, we did the following:
Day 1: Panchuela trailhead to Jacks creek area northwest of round mountain via 288 and 259 (Dockweiler). These trails were in decent shape but were still challenging as we had just driven in from sea level.
Day 2: jacks creek to baldy lake via 257 (jacks creek trail). Then summited east baldy peak and returned to the lake for the night.
Day 3: From the lake we went north on the skyline trail (251) for a while and had lunch, then returned to the lake along 164. 164 has been abandoned and we had to do a lot of sidehilling and there were some treacherous bits getting to the pass. However, between the lake and the pass, 164 is fine and the pass is the best place to see sheep. Then we came back down jacks creek trail to 25 and worked our way back over to Panchuela.

Sorry I can't give you specific info on your route, but from our experience on this trip, I would be inclined to avoid any abandoned trail with an 8 year old.

Thanks! Glad you had a good trip. We're heading up Friday for a long weekend