Caldera Rim Trip Report SCooter Peak EAST SIDE
South Rim
Date: April 4, 2007 Purpose: Walk the actual rim to assess a route and acquire data on difficulty of building and maintaining a trail. Ken Kutac flagged a way to get up the east slope of Scooter Peak (aka Sawyer’s Dome). USGS Topographic Map: Bland Participants: Dorothy Hoard, Yvonne Delamater Equipment: Garmin Global Positioning System Model GPS 12; digital camera Olympus Camedia C-3000; notebooks. Methodology: I obtained a permit to enter VCNP land, agreeing to give two weeks notice for proposed field trips, to write a final report, and keep a time list for their volunteer log. Although the VCNP owns the north half of Scooter Peak, this trip was entirely on the Bandelier side. Conclusions: My grandsons and I had previously spent a lot of time on the slopes of Scooter Peak. We never found a decent route on the east slope; it was steep, covered in deadfall, and we often encounter cliffy sections. In summary, Ken’s route is a vast improvement. It has a gradual gentle grade, surprisingly little deadfall and no rock outcrops. Trip Report: Introduction: The boundary fence between Bandelier National Monument and the VCNP on the east slope of Scooter Peak is on the actual rim. The fence line is a nightmare, with massive rocks on the base and steep, brushy, and rocky sections the rest of the way. We had also come down midway on the east slope and midway on the south slope. All those left much to be desired as a route for a trail (although the logging was interesting near the base of the south slope). An alternate route from the Cerro Grande Trailhead to Scooter Pass could be on FR289 Dome Road, but walking on packed dirt roads is not a particularly pleasant experience. Ken Kutac found and flagged a better way up the east side. There is a good logging road trail on the west side down to Scooter Pass. Description:. We parked at the intersection of State Road 4 and FR 289 Dome Road, then headed west toward the elk exclosure at the base of the slope. Ken had previously shown Yvonne his flagging. We angled up the slope through the dense forest, although deadfall was not excessive. The slope was not steep and it is not a long distance. Patches of snow remained and we had to maneuver through them, but otherwise the trip was uneventful. Prior to 2000, the boundary between the VCNP and Bandelier was on the crown of the south slope of Scooter Peak. The fence was never removed after Bandelier acquired the adjacent Alamo headwaters tract. Much of the barbed wire has fallen, so we had no problem finding a place to cross. The fence was the only object of interest (if it can be called that) on the climb.
Ken Kutac flagged a route up the densely wooded slope. Here is the abandoned fence that used to mark the boundary between Bandelier and the old Baca Location No. 1.
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The slope becomes less steep higher on the little mountain.
South Rim
Ken’s route did not go to the summit, but to a meadow on the south facing slope. We had both been to the summit several times, so did not go up. Instead we went down the south slope and encountered massive deadfall, boulder fields, and steep slopes.
Then we walked back on the Dome Road. It made us appreciate Ken’s route all the more. Informant: Dorothy Hoard. Time - 9:30 to 12:00.
The undistinguished slope where we had to use a compass
The meadow at the top of the flagging; this is not the summit. Scooter Peak does not have distinctive views. Rabbit Ridge on the horizon is about the best it can do.
Deadfall littered our way on the trip down the south slope. Yvonne was intrigued by the cliffbush that grew where the sun penetrated the forest.
April 4, 2007 Scooter Peak. Rim = red, vehicle roads = purple, logging road trails = dark green, our route = bright green. 2
