Pecos Wilderness snow June 2015?

Big snow dumps can occur in spring too, but currently the Santa Fe basin area is only at 85%

http://m.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/storm-delivers-snow-high-winds/article_e79e4862-192a-5be7-afd3-80443982fdf8.html?mode=jqm

Last year it was 108% and I started hitting snow towards Pecos Baldy lake (not too bad and at least jacks should have Memorial Day parties cutting any snow on that part). Hikers were still attempting loops. The other segment to Panchuelta is not as travelled; also the area uphill from Panchuelta is somewhat burnt causing one young thru-hiker to termporaiy skip the Skyline between Pecos Baldy Lk and Windsor. Call to see if they've cleared that portion (they cleared Jacks Ck actual this past June).

Thanks for sharing your experiences with this. Mid-July 2014 we went through on Skyline (PB Lake to Horsethief) and yes there are some big burned areas. But it had been pretty well cleared of fallen trees by then. Depressing to see the forest all burned up, but also interesting and different; fireweed everywhere, longer sight distances across the hillsides, and charcoal for some of the younger kids to clown around with. We encountered no snow at all. Not even the "permanent" patch by the top of East Pecos Baldy–all gone.

I plan to keep an eye on the conditions over the next few months. We usually try to schedule this trip by some time in January but we might need to hold off this year until later in the spring to see what the conditions turn out to be. Of course, if the area catches fire again like 2013 then we'll have to do something else anyway. But it really is a lovely route.

I did a loop this past June from the 10th through the 13th, Jack's Creek to Pecos Baldy Lake to Truchas Lakes to Beatty's and back to Jack's Creek. It was actually pretty iffy at the higher elevations. It was fine up to Pecos Baldy Lake, but Trailrider's Wall had some pretty deep snowdrifts, as did the Truchas Lakes area. Passable for a snow-inexperienced Texas boy like me, but barely. A person I ran into that week said that the Skyline Trail around Stewart Lake was still under deep snow. If you're planning a trip this early in the season, I'd make some alternative plans, eg Gila Wilderness, White Mountain Wilderness, or maybe the Eagle Rock Loop in Arkansas.

Unless it is a truly epic snow year I think you could do all or most of the route by mid-June. Its possible there might be enough snow on the loop that you won't complete it, no worries just do an out and back trip. Worst case scenario would still be cooler then most other options.

By the way I may be up there so feel free to PM me if you want me to send you an update in June.

Just to add to what Luke said, even with unlikely large amt of snow on the trail via Jacks Ck., someone will have cut through the snow by Memorial Day Wkd. Heck, I've been that person postholing and bulldozing for an informal group. After that … horses, trail crews, etc…

Good to know that enough folks go up there around Memorial Day to at least make a trail. By mid-to late-June then even if there is snow on Trailriders Wall maybe it would be passable around on the Skyline to the west. I appreciate all the local information. If the schedule works out as usual we'll probably still shoot for July but it helps that earlier in June may at least be a possibility. And after last summer with *no snow at all anywhere* (!) I may be in trouble with the kids if I can't deliver at least some snow to play in this year.

Thanks again,

Mina

I will be watching this thread too as I think my normal out west trip window in august/September won't work this year and I may have to do a trip in June when most of my normal destinations will be still covered in snow. Pecos wilderness is at the top of my list if the trip is in mid June like it looks like it might have to be.

I'm also planning to be there in later June (starting 27th or 28th) with my 8 year old and then heading to the Weminuche while his brother is at Philmont.