Expeditionists Adventure to New Mexico

Day 1

7:30 a.m. - Depart Dallas and drive to Ute Reservoir, NM.
4:30 p.m. - Upon arrival, set up camp and enjoy a snack before heading down to the lake for some water time. Return and prep our first meal over an open fire before some solo time for journaling and reflection.
10:30 p.m. - Lights out.

Day 2

7:30 a.m. - Breakfast and breakdown camp before heading out.
12:00 p.m. - Arrive in Pecos National Historic Park for a bit of history before heading up the road to our put-in point near Cowles.
3:45-4:00 p.m. - Organize and pack our gear before heading off for a mile or two to camp along the trail.
5/5:30 p.m. - Set up camp, gather and filter water, cook dinner.
7:00 p.m. - As the light slowly creeps behind the mountain, campers will head down to the water for solo reflections on day two before a community circle to close out the night with reflections, appreciations and story-telling. Potential for some night-one s’mores is always an option.
10:30 p.m. - Lights out.

Day 3 - 5

7:15/30 a.m. - Morning stretches and breathing exercises, followed by some hearty breakfast meals and camp breakdown.
8:30 a.m. - trail map review and goal-setting for the day before hitting the trail, slowly making our way to one of our destination lakes - Lake Katherine or Stewart Lake.
12:00 p.m. Arrival to the camp site; set up camp and spend the remainder of the afternoon relaxing, checking in, fishing the high-mountain lakes (fly fishing or rod and reel), or sitting and taking in a good book.
4:30/5:00 p.m. - Start on dinner and filter water before evening reflections and journaling.
8:30-10:0 p.m. - Campfire reflections as a team along with ghost stories and a potential sing-along.

Day 6

7:30 a.m. - Breakdown camp, near the van, and grab some breakfast before heading down the hill into Santa Fe for a day in the city.
9:30 a.m. - Arrive in the center of Santa Fe’s historic district and head out for a few hours of sightseeing - historic landmarks, Santa Fe Plaza, The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi and, of course, a visit to the Loretto Chapel to see the “Miraculous Staircase.”
2:00 p.m. - Head to Valles Caldera National Preserve for some awe-inspiring views before arriving at Jemez Falls Campground for some much-needed falls showering and an evening of campfire stories, dinner over an open fire and, of course, s’more s’mores.
10:30 p.m. - Lights out.

Day 7

7:30 a.m. - Wake up and fix breakfast before heading out to visit the American Indian Pueblos at Bandelier National Monument
10:30 a.m. - Arrive at Bandelier and refill the waters before heading out on a 3-hour guided hike to learn about the rich history of the area.
2:00 p.m. - Head back toward Jemez Falls but stop along the way at Las Conchas Trailhead area for an afternoon of fishing and relaxing along the banks of the creek.
5:45/6:00 p.m. - With dinner on ice, we’ll head back to the campsite for an evening of learning to cook fresh fish over an open fire. We’ll cap the evening with daily reflections and journaling before sitting around the fire and sharing appreciations.
10:30 p.m. - Light’s out!

Day 8 & 9

6:45-7:30 a.m. - Wake up, breakdown camp, and eat breakfast before hopping in the van and heading to Rio Grande Gorge State Park for day one on the rapids.
8:45/9:00 a.m. - Hit the rapids with one of our guides from New Wave Rafting for a 4-5 hour adventure.
3:30 p.m. - Head back to camp and rest along the banks of the Rio Grande River for some swimming, fishing and relaxing before making dinner. (For day 8, we’ll set up camp along the Rio Grande River after our first day on the rapids)
5:45/6:00 p.m. - Cook dinner along the bank of the river before washing up and heading off on an evening hike.
8:30 p.m. - Solo time for journaling and reflecting before group appreciations and card games along the river.
10:30 p.m. - lights out

NOTE: on day nine we’ll leave in the afternoon after we get done on the rapids and make the 3 1/2 hour drive back down to Ute Reservoir.

Day 10

8:00 a.m. - Wake up and snag some breakfast after breaking down camp for the last time before piling into the van for the final stretch home.
5:00 p.m. - Pull into Dallas for family reunions and hugs goodbye.