Roadmap Or Hike To a Painting™

Day Pack Painting has been great this Summer, especially in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.  This picture and the accompanying painting were done off the Windsor Trail.  I elected to pick the trail up at 10,350 feet above Sea Level, just below Ski Santa Fe.  You can actually see some of the ski runs on the mountain behind me, that is Muerte on the right, a great ride!  My focus on this trip was to hike in about a mile, that is the equivalent of 260 feet in elevation, a far cry from 5,000 feet, but still equivalent to climbing a 26 story building.  It was still Summer, but there was just a hint of fall color in some of the Aspens.  I found a high country meadow by hiking off the trail a bit. and was set up and painting in just a few minutes.  If you take time to read my Day Pack Painting article, you will get a full outline of my Plein Air Kit, as well as the approach I call; "Hike To A Painting".

The Windsor Trail, in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains above Santa Fe, New Mexico is 23 miles in length out and back .  The trail starts in Tesuque, New Mexico, down in the valley, and would take 12 hours to hike round trip.  As I noted above though, I started up at Ski Santa Fe.  My goal was to be in the Aspens and catch some high country vistas.  For those who want to see the full route, go to All Trails and search for Tesuque Peak via Windsor Trail.  There are many trails to explore throughout the Santa Fe National Forest that crisscross the Windsor, so take some time to plan the ideal route for your hike.  Have fun!