Nice little ascent that clocked in at around 12.4 miles from my starting point at the top of FR 161. Parking for about six vehicles (or more if they're doubled up in each spot). Saw few people. Area is being used for logging. Cool temps, an interesting kind of heat intensity at the top (more burning than the sun feels in southern NM) with rain starting at about 3 pm, an hour earlier than originally forecasted. Be mindful of this in the rainy season and try to be below the treeline an hour before the storms are expected to start.
MHL - May 27, 2017 7:00 pm Date Climbed: May 21, 2017
Jicarita Peak
The trail was buried in snow on this date and I got only as far as Serpent Lake. The trail up to the lake is surprisingly mellow and well blazed in most places. Still, navigating through the trees on snow is more time consuming than usual. The lake was ice-free, but the ridge above was entirely encased in snow. Lots more detail at the New Mexico Meanders blog.
birdhead - Jul 24, 2016 11:55 am Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2016
From Alamitos Trailhead
Pretty easy hike up to the summit. Nice views of Truchas peaks. A thunderstorm quickly materialized on the summit and sent us running from lighting down to tree line. Took a cross-country route most of the way back to stay within the trees.
wbass - Nov 25, 2012 10:24 pm Date Climbed: Nov 18, 2012
Jicarita Secret
This might be one of the best kept secrets of all the Southern Sangre de Cristos. Though not difficult, the light traffic and exceptional views more than make up for that. Epic wind and cold made it even more dramatic.
aggiegeog - Oct 13, 2010 10:41 pm Date Climbed: Oct 1, 2010
Finally made it
Had tried a few times in May but turned back due to snow; fall is definitely my favorite time of the year to hike. The weather was perfect though I did wish I had a jacket up on the ridge, sunscreen would have also been smart.
Got a late start, 10am, as I had not planned to climb that day. I was moving pretty well up until around 12,000ft when I began to feel the altitude. Reached the ridge a bit after noon and the summit around 1:20. Took advantage of the thrones to get out of the wind and eat some lunch. As I made the final approach I was afforded an awesome view of Trampas Peak with spectacular fall foliage. I had not known there were flags up there until I got there, a nice touch. Got back to the car at 4pm.
Solo trip, Alamitos Trailhead, 3.5 up 2.5 down
dandrew - Jul 11, 2010 1:16 am Date Climbed: Jul 10, 2010
Monsoon season afternoon ascent
Arrived at the trailhead at noon to dark clouds. I figured I would hike only a little ways up the trail and then turn around. Clouds began to disappear and I was able to summit by 2:30 pm. Windy. Nice views. Lots of wildflowers.
strudolyubov - Oct 12, 2009 1:22 pm Date Climbed: Oct 11, 2009
Jicarita from Alamitos TH
Hiked up Jicarita and its eastern sub-peak from Alamitos TH (FR 161). Great views of the Truchas Group.
boisedoc - Jun 4, 2008 3:14 am Date Climbed: May 25, 2008
lots of snow
camped at the trailhead. Got into snow after about a half a mile of hiking and then had a snowshoe bushwhack to above treeline. The final walk to the summit was clear of snow. One of the least steep mountains I have ever climbed. Good views of the Truchas and also toward Wheeler Peak.
We took a group of about 42 up and summited. We left the trailhead at about 6:30 and summited around 10:40. It was awesome. It was kind of muddy along several parts of the way and the switchbacks almost claimed us several times, but we summited on our first try and thats all that matters. A member of our group "left his mark" on the summit as well. Kudos to whoever built the thrones! They were most appreciated!
Route Climbed: from Serpent Lake Date Climbed: June 2003
Finally...this thing stopped me twice before, but the third time was the charm. Richard Cote and I bulled our way through deep snowdrifts below timberline and across the long, windswept ridge to the top. Kudos to whoever put those rock chairs up there on top.
charms - May 21, 2003 3:53 pm Date Climbed: Mar 3, 2006
Route Climbed: Alamitos Trailhead / Serpent Lake Tr. Date Climbed: September 2, 2002
I camped at the trailhead and had a huge cookout with my family. My wife, aunt, uncle, and cousin began the climb at about 9:00 am. My uncle had minor signs of altitude sickness, but I did not recognize those symptoms. I have since learned those symptoms and take them very seriously. We reached the saddle at about 12:00 pm. My uncle (an ex-marine) was dragging along behind us. He made the very wise decision to turn around and my aunt escorted him down. My wife and cousin joined me the rest of the way. We reached the summit at about 2:00 pm. We took a 20 minute rest, then I began worrying about my uncle's altitude sickness. I believe that though I was the most experienced among us, I was still too unexperienced to recognize how serious his condition was earlier. I soon made this rationalization. We rushed back down knowing that every step we took without seeing him was another step that he had made it back down on his own power. We reached the trailhead after a grueling descent because of the worrying we were doing. My uncle slept off his altitude sickness at 9000 ft, which he fully recovered from. The trip sounded like so much fun, that my dad asked to go back with us the next time.
Update: My dad accompanied my wife and I on another attempt on June 1, 2003, but due to the large snow drifts and an early morning thunderstorm we were turned back about half way to the summit.
Another update: I have been wanting to climb Jicarita in the winter for quite sometime, I finally accomplished it this May 3, 2006. Check out some pics here.
NickyGoesPlaces - Jul 23, 2024 4:55 pm Date Climbed: Jul 19, 2024
FR 161 to Santa Barbara ridge to Jicarita PeakNice little ascent that clocked in at around 12.4 miles from my starting point at the top of FR 161. Parking for about six vehicles (or more if they're doubled up in each spot). Saw few people. Area is being used for logging. Cool temps, an interesting kind of heat intensity at the top (more burning than the sun feels in southern NM) with rain starting at about 3 pm, an hour earlier than originally forecasted. Be mindful of this in the rainy season and try to be below the treeline an hour before the storms are expected to start.
MHL - May 27, 2017 7:00 pm Date Climbed: May 21, 2017
Jicarita PeakThe trail was buried in snow on this date and I got only as far as Serpent Lake. The trail up to the lake is surprisingly mellow and well blazed in most places. Still, navigating through the trees on snow is more time consuming than usual. The lake was ice-free, but the ridge above was entirely encased in snow. Lots more detail at the New Mexico Meanders blog.
birdhead - Jul 24, 2016 11:55 am Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2016
From Alamitos TrailheadPretty easy hike up to the summit. Nice views of Truchas peaks. A thunderstorm quickly materialized on the summit and sent us running from lighting down to tree line. Took a cross-country route most of the way back to stay within the trees.
wbass - Nov 25, 2012 10:24 pm Date Climbed: Nov 18, 2012
Jicarita SecretThis might be one of the best kept secrets of all the Southern Sangre de Cristos. Though not difficult, the light traffic and exceptional views more than make up for that. Epic wind and cold made it even more dramatic.
aggiegeog - Oct 13, 2010 10:41 pm Date Climbed: Oct 1, 2010
Finally made itHad tried a few times in May but turned back due to snow; fall is definitely my favorite time of the year to hike. The weather was perfect though I did wish I had a jacket up on the ridge, sunscreen would have also been smart.
Got a late start, 10am, as I had not planned to climb that day. I was moving pretty well up until around 12,000ft when I began to feel the altitude. Reached the ridge a bit after noon and the summit around 1:20. Took advantage of the thrones to get out of the wind and eat some lunch. As I made the final approach I was afforded an awesome view of Trampas Peak with spectacular fall foliage. I had not known there were flags up there until I got there, a nice touch. Got back to the car at 4pm.
Solo trip, Alamitos Trailhead, 3.5 up 2.5 down
dandrew - Jul 11, 2010 1:16 am Date Climbed: Jul 10, 2010
Monsoon season afternoon ascentArrived at the trailhead at noon to dark clouds. I figured I would hike only a little ways up the trail and then turn around. Clouds began to disappear and I was able to summit by 2:30 pm. Windy. Nice views. Lots of wildflowers.
strudolyubov - Oct 12, 2009 1:22 pm Date Climbed: Oct 11, 2009
Jicarita from Alamitos THHiked up Jicarita and its eastern sub-peak from Alamitos TH (FR 161). Great views of the Truchas Group.
boisedoc - Jun 4, 2008 3:14 am Date Climbed: May 25, 2008
lots of snowcamped at the trailhead. Got into snow after about a half a mile of hiking and then had a snowshoe bushwhack to above treeline. The final walk to the summit was clear of snow. One of the least steep mountains I have ever climbed. Good views of the Truchas and also toward Wheeler Peak.
Midlife Mountaineer - Jul 20, 2006 2:56 am Date Climbed: Jul 18, 2006
Not to be deniedAvoided a thunderstorm which came pretty close. Nice mountain with great views of Truchas group.
skorpeo - Nov 1, 2005 12:24 am
Route Climbed: serpent Lake Date Climbed: 1998,1999I hiked up Jicarita a couple of times when I lived nearby. It's an excellent, easy hike with a reward of stunning views.
I recall it only taking two hours(I lived at 7000 feet at the time). Once I ran into a massive herd of bighorn sheep.
paper bag - Aug 7, 2004 6:11 pm
Date Climbed: July 29, 2004We took a group of about 42 up and summited. We left the trailhead at about 6:30 and summited around 10:40. It was awesome. It was kind of muddy along several parts of the way and the switchbacks almost claimed us several times, but we summited on our first try and thats all that matters. A member of our group "left his mark" on the summit as well. Kudos to whoever built the thrones! They were most appreciated!
sbkelley - Jan 23, 2004 1:18 pm
Route Climbed: from Serpent Lake Date Climbed: June 2003Finally...this thing stopped me twice before, but the third time was the charm. Richard Cote and I bulled our way through deep snowdrifts below timberline and across the long, windswept ridge to the top. Kudos to whoever put those rock chairs up there on top.
charms - May 21, 2003 3:53 pm Date Climbed: Mar 3, 2006
Route Climbed: Alamitos Trailhead / Serpent Lake Tr. Date Climbed: September 2, 2002I camped at the trailhead and had a huge cookout with my family. My wife, aunt, uncle, and cousin began the climb at about 9:00 am. My uncle had minor signs of altitude sickness, but I did not recognize those symptoms. I have since learned those symptoms and take them very seriously. We reached the saddle at about 12:00 pm. My uncle (an ex-marine) was dragging along behind us. He made the very wise decision to turn around and my aunt escorted him down. My wife and cousin joined me the rest of the way. We reached the summit at about 2:00 pm. We took a 20 minute rest, then I began worrying about my uncle's altitude sickness. I believe that though I was the most experienced among us, I was still too unexperienced to recognize how serious his condition was earlier. I soon made this rationalization. We rushed back down knowing that every step we took without seeing him was another step that he had made it back down on his own power. We reached the trailhead after a grueling descent because of the worrying we were doing. My uncle slept off his altitude sickness at 9000 ft, which he fully recovered from. The trip sounded like so much fun, that my dad asked to go back with us the next time.
Update: My dad accompanied my wife and I on another attempt on June 1, 2003, but due to the large snow drifts and an early morning thunderstorm we were turned back about half way to the summit.
Another update: I have been wanting to climb Jicarita in the winter for quite sometime, I finally accomplished it this May 3, 2006. Check out some pics here.