I forget how Zach and I met right now, but we’ve been trail riding together for a number of years, and I associate many of my burliest (and my most enjoyable) rides in Santa Fe with him!

An former cross country racer in Durango and a firefighter in Los Alamos, he’s a veritable precision machine on a bike, too. On our bikepacking trip along the Colorado Trail together some time ago, Ecuadorian leyenda Michael Dammer nicknamed him the ‘Capitan‘ – which is saying something, given how formidable of a rider Michael is too. As a fan of Formula 1 in my younger years, I liken him to the Frenchman Alain Prost, aka the ‘The Professor’, thanks to both his quiet consistency and the clinical skill he invariably displays in his riding. He climbs like no one else I know, redefining what I consider to be rideable by magically cleaning the very techiest of moves without so much as a murmur or a quickened breath – or so it would seem. Yet, he’s so very humble to ride with too!

Anyway, I always try and meet up with Zach when I visit Santa Fe and this time around, I’m thrilled that he was able to carve out some time for a local overnighter together.

This is a variation of a theme from the loop I rode with Tim recently – it retraces the same route out to Grasshopper Canyon, but includes a side hike to the tippy top of quartz-veined Shaggy Peak, a coffee outside with quite splendid views of its peak, and a full power backcountry return to town, via Arroyo Hondo and St John’s Arroyo. In short, I can’t imagine a finer, more immersive, and more varied overnighter straight out of the front door. And, if you want to hit up some high country mesa action on the way back, you can always return via Fangio and Rowe too, as per the route with Tim (post in the grid below).

Climbing out of Santa Fe. This is actually my evening view, as I’ve been camping in the forest most nights that I’ve been here.

Zach deployed his Trek Stache for the ride, which has been hanging dormant for a while. It didn’t take much to get it up and running – I always thought these 29+ monster hardtails seemed like great bikes!

And so the bike pushes begin! And if Zach is pushing, you know it’s steep!

After taking Dog Park, a favourite trail out of the city, we traced the watershed boundary.

Re-upping on H2O in Apache Canyon.

The Jones SWB, also sporting 29+, a tyre size that’s so well suited to New Mexico.

Current setup is very dialled and includes:

• Tailfin Cargo Aeropack
• Buckhorn custom framebag with zip repair by Tribulus
• Coupla Tailfin top tube packs
• Front rack to support rollbag/foam mattress
• Capacity for 4.5L in bottles.
• 29×3.25 Duro Crux up front and 29×2.8 Ikon Plus at the back
• Tranz-X dropper seat post

Looking up, the weather had started to take on a more ominous tone. When we’d checked forecast, the promised weather was so good that we’d decided to forgo our tents… Hmm.

Such a fine bed of needles and pines. Movie-set-perfect.

I’ve been accused of underplaying hike-a-bikes in the past so consider this fair warning.

Leaving the bikes, we hiked up to Shaggy Peak, 2700m, which turned out to be both a longer and more rewarding undertaking than we were expecting.

Such astounding rock, quartz, and lichen… such patterns!

This particular kryptonite-like vein of quartz blew our minds.

The final segment of the hike involved some clambering on boulders, rewarding our determination with grand views across the Sangre de Cristo range and out to Fangio and Rowe Mesas, where Tim and I rode recently.

We duly signed the visitor’s book.

Then we scrambled back down and retrieved our bikes, swooping through the high country forest of West Chile trail to slabbier and more deserty Grasshopper Canyon.

Again, the forecast insisted we’d be rolling out our sleeping mats below a beautiful and clear night. We weren’t so sure…

Some more pushing…

Some more riding…

This is rock, juniper, piñon and cacti country.

Despite the lightning and occasional rolls of thunder, we did indeed enjoy a wonderfully clear night when we parked up our bikes in the late afternoon. Apparently, Santa Fe was pummelled with rain, which made it especially fortuitous.

Cowboy camping without packing a tarp in reserve is full commitment!

Saying good morning to the neighbours.

Soft focus is my preference these days…

It was chilly in the early hours but that first light on the tippy top of Shaggy Peak – highlighting the point that we’d hike up to the day before – and the clear skies surrounding it meant we’d soon be toasty warm again.

Zach found a perfect porthole for his sunrise brew with a view…

A raven cruised overhead, perhaps squawking “you boys sure picked a fine spot for a morning coffee.”

There is goes, that sun again!

Abracadabra! GSI pot scourer wipes chocolaty porridge clean away! I have mentioned how obsessed I am with this camping kitchen appliance?

Then, we strolled over to the other side of the ridge. Whilst the view of 1-25 below and the murmur of its traffic brought us back to human reality, we took great delight sitting on a rock that was bathed in sunlight. From there, we could really appreciate how far with timber extends into the mountains, with occasional outcrops of rocky shelves and nothing much more than that.

The textures here in New Mexico never cease to fascinate me.

Another cupful of valuable water was devoted to a second brew, before it was time to get rolling. I toasted the good times ahead with my Woods Cyclery compadres in Dorset this summer. The Santa Fe National Forest and the Purbeck Hills are amongst my very favourite places to roam on a bike with friends.

Just one protracted hike-a-bike remained before us, right up to 2900m, before a rowdy descent back to Apache Canyon.

Such primo singletrack, yet not another rider in sight. In fact, we hadn’t seen anyone except some hikers early the day before.

Our trail flitted in and out of the ponderosas, revealing vistas of what was becoming our focal point for this ride, Shaggy Peak.

One last push, one last view, then it was time to hop on the Arroyo Hondo trail network.

A turkey feather found a home in my Moleskin, but not before I’d dropped it in my nut butter jar.

St John’s Trail guided us straight into Santa Fe.

Zach invited me to a classic green chile and cheese burger at Shake to replenish our empty tanks. What a tasty finish to a truly fantastic ride. Thank you Zach!

And finally, back at the Prius. Aka, my travelling storage unit/home!

Field  Notes

We took a couple of days, with a fairly full day’s riding on Day 1. Its distance is relatively short… but don’t let that mislead you! And we were back in town by midday. It’s an easier day but still has some steep pushes. Further caveat: Zach rides fast and I have to work hard to keep up!

I marked on our water points but these are seasonal.

Camping spots abound but making it to the rocks above Grasshopper Canyon Trailhead promises fantastic morning views. With a late start or longer itinerary, Apache Canyon would make a fine spot too.

Also, be sure to pack light!

The  Route

As long as you’re up for a hike a bike or three, I’m not sure I’d change anything. Except adding in a side hike out to Glorieta Baldy, the perfect bonus foot pilgrimages, given that both peaks are visible throughout the ride.

If you’re after a challenging ride that leaves straight out of the city, this is the one!

All photos taken on the little Fuji x100v and processed to taste.

Thanks for reading, and do drop some words in the comments if you feel the urge!