"How soon can I do the trail?"
Short answer: Probably late April.
Longer answer: Read it here on the new trail conditions blog. 🎉
Estimating 2026 finisher counts
I am getting a lot of messages from people telling that they’re doing the SF2T Trail this year. I am also getting a lot of SF2T membership sales. Given what I’m seeing, I am expecting at least 300 people to do the full route of the SF2T Trail this year. Here’s my calculations on that.
I am sharing this information with both the Santa Fe and Carson National Forests, and with strategic people in Santa Fe, Taos, and in between. For context, about 300 people finish the Long Trail in Vermont every year. About 500 do the Colorado Trail from end to end.
There is a new registration form on the Santa Fe to Taos Trail website. People are voluntarily filling it out, but I am also going to add people who have emailed me or commented on social media posts that they are planning to go and when. I will take this info and make it into a bar chart so we can all see which parts of the season might be most crowded.
If you are at the planning stage (not the day dreaming phase), please complete the form. There will be a monthly raffle as a thank you for signing up.
Just reply to this email with whichever number cover you like best, or vote on this page. If you reply to this email, feel free to include some feedback. 😉
I know these are small, and thus a little hard to see. But these thumbnails are how most people will first encounter the cover when they’re browsing online.
Guided hikes packages have changed
If you were on any of the guided hikes calls this week, thank you. I’ve gotten some great feedback and have made the following changes:
Largest group size will be 10 people. So eight clients and two guides. This meets the Leave No Trace guideline of not having groups larger than 10 people for overnight trips.
Smallest group size is four people. I am open to doing paid, guided full route trips with just four people. It will cost a little extra - $3,500 instead of the standard $3,000.
I am adding an 11th day. This added day will be on the north half of the full-route trips, in Carson National Forest. So all trips are now 11 days. They had been ten days before. The original itinerary was a little rushed through Carson, so after some feedback, I fixed it. This means I can offer fewer hikes this year, but I’m okay with that.
Trip dates are open. So if you want a specific date, I will try to make that work. Especially for the four-person trips. Email me ([email protected]) or use the contact form if you want to book what is basically a private guided trip.
I am probably cancelling the “South Half” trips from Santa Fe Plaza to Santa Barbara. There just doesn’t seem to be a lot of interest in the south half trips. Though if you are interested, I can still do a south half trip. I could also do a slower full route trip where we take a rest day at Panchuela (one-third of the way) and at Sipapu (two-thirds of the way).
If you want a customized trip, please reach out. Maybe a digital detox trip (no phones)? An astronomy trip? (Santa Fe and Taos just got national recognition for our dark skies). A photography trip? What would light you up with joy for a trip theme? Think about it, then let me know.
NM SAR ESCAPE on April 27-29
We’re signed up for a table at NM SAR ESCAPE on Friday, April 24 to Sunday, April 26 in Glorieta, NM. That’s about a 20-minute drive east from Santa Fe. I am looking for volunteers to help with the table.
I am working with NM SAR on getting a few free tickets. If they can’t give us a few free tickets (💯 understand if they can’t…), I will work with volunteers to cover the $100 per day ticket cost. There are free trainings at ESCAPE, and even two field certifications. So if you’ve wanted to officially join a SAR team, here’s your chance to get the certification needed to do that.
The weekend after ESCAPE we’ve got a table at the Santa Fe Watershed’s Love Your Watershed event in Santa Fe. (This is the covert announcement about us now having a Calendar on the SF2T Trail website. 🤫 )
This is also a reminder for Pam that every time she adds another thing to the website, redesigning it becomes more and more of a priority…
P.S.: We have a new board member. More about that soon. He’s awesome. I’m so proud. Big win for project let’s-make-this-a-proper-organization”
P.P.S.: I took a closer look at the Rio Grande Trail’s orange alignment (one of the three alignments they are soliciting feedback on for getting a route between Santa Fe and Taos designated for the RGT). They didn’t just use the route of the SF2T Trail: They’re using my gpx files. Here’s one of 34 examples I’ve documented:
On the more positive note, I am learning good things in my RGT Commissioner outreach. I see outlines of a way forward to a future I want (one that does not involve the RGT using the SF2T Trail route). Stay tuned for the details on that.
You can still leave feedback on the RGT Santa Fe to Taos alignments survey. The SF2T Trail supports the West/Purple alignment. “West is best.”
P.P.P.S.: ✨Shout out to the universe: I would like this, please. Or something similar.✨
I requested two interns through the SF Office of Economic Development’s “SFPS WBL internship program”. Fingers crossed. Would be great to have an office so they don’t have to come to my house. That’s ok (sort of) with me… but might be kinda weird for them.
P.P.P.P.S: If the interns don’t work out, I will need ground support this year. It will involve a lot of driving packages to Tres Ritos, delivering parking placards to SF2T members, bringing books to local bookstores and more. This is potentially paid, but if you’re willing to volunteer, I can at least pay for your gas. We may also have an opportunity to make a little money or at least be helpful by offering some shuttle services. Please reply if you are interested.
