***Please carefully read the entire posting before signing up ***

Truly the hidden gem and a valuable one at that for Albuquerque’s Open Space is Golden Open Space (GOS) east of the Sandias. First acquired by the city in 1964, by the early 2000s a network of hiking trails was born in the park. Our Humanist Society of New Mexico Hiking Special Interest Group adventure will explore a loop and a pigtail that encompasses the most easily accessible parts of GOS.

HIKING ADVENTURE: Recommended for those used to longer desert hikes. Our outing will explore the mesa tops at GOS plus an arroyo trek. We’ll go to La Madera Road off of NM 14. The approximately 5-mile route afoot gains 400 feet elevation over the duration of the hike, moving flat along the mesa, descending into Arroyo Seco and ascending to the backside of the loop returning to the trailhead. Beautiful multicolored layers of sedimentary rock abound along the way, framed by the Sandias, Ortiz and Sen Pedro Mts.

SIGNUP: See this Meetup link to register.

MEETING PLACE AND CARPOOL: Let’s meet at Smith’s Tramway and Central in the SW corner of the parking lot and travel together.

Please keep cell phones silenced during our hike. No dogs.

CANCEL: The promise of rain or adverse weather and road conditions will cancel this event.

IMPORTANT: If you sign up, please remember that the leader has you on a list and you have a responsibility to keep him informed of your plans so as not to cause delays and confusion on the day of the hike if you don’t join us at the meeting place. This can be done by text or call to his phone or comments on the Meetup posting.

Questions? Contact Derek 310-870-3133.