Section 5 new map | Finisher page example | Thru-R podcast interview

and speaking at Los Alamos Mountaineers on October 28th

Author

Pam Neely
October 19, 2025

Map of the new Section 5

This will take about 12-15 miles of road walking off Section 5. Some of the trails are rough, but as the current route still works just fine, I’ll be able to offer “the easy way” (aka, the forest roads, which many people like) and “the hard way” which will be more remote.

Note that some of the trails in the new section 5 may still feel like roads to some people - they’re wide, and a few of them do see vehicle traffic, though rarely (and for most, they’re not supposed to see traffic at all, but the off-roaders are good at getting around blockades). These new trails/roads are nowhere near as traveled as FR 442, FR 439, FR 438 or FR 478. That said, even when most thru-hikers go through the current section 5, they see one or two vehicles at most. But options are good. This new Section 5 also preserves the best of the old Section 5, like La Cueva field and lake and the Connector. It’s also got some terrific views.

The documentation / description / photos etc of the existing section 5 are on the website. And, of course, in the guidebook. Please note this new Section 5 still needs a couple of refinements I want to make. I am pushing myself to get them done before the roads close in this area in early December so I can redo the guidebook over this winter.

Here are a few photos:

Along trail 121 “Rio Chiquito Trail”. This is such a nice walk. It’s right by Rio Chiquito the whole way.

The beaver’s work along Trail 121 is fantastic. By the way, you knew that “beaver fever” is giardia, right? Blaming the beavers for giardia is unfair. Their contribution to the giardia problem is almost trivial compared to say, cattle.

East of the Rio Chiquito bridge on FR 437. The new section 5 goes right through Rio Chiquito campground.

A very partial view from La Cueva Peak.

The 35-minute podcast interview I did with Thru-R’s Carol “Cheer” Coyne came out last week. Listen to it here.

A sampler of the new finisher pages

Big thanks to Casey and Alan Kaplan for saying it was okay to post this. They finished the thru-hike this August, and were the people who discovered that Taos Town Hall sometimes offers overnight extended parking. ✨✨✨

This is the first of at least ten of these finisher pages. I’ll add more the next newsletter, and share them on social media if each finisher is okay with that.

If you did the thru-hike and would like your own finisher page, please reply to this email and let me know. There’s a surprise gift in it for you.

More details here. Lots of new photos and videos to show you. And I get to hear everyone’s feedback and questions and ideas - it’s a win-win.

Where are the Trek videos?

The vlog Lauren Roerick did while she hiked the Santa Fe to Taos Thru-Hike is reportedly very close to being released. Really.

Thanks for reading to the end.

Cheers,

Pam Neely

Founder and Creator of the Route, The Santa Fe to Taos Thru-Hike

PS: If you happen to be in ABQ on November 6th, I’ll be tabling (“showcasing” in this case) at Adventure Pitch Fest. Tickets are free and available from their information page. Swing by for some free merch.