I regret to have to conclude this story on a grim note, but the next day our backpack out of a spiritual wilderness experience was soured by what awaited at the end ... my friend's Trailduster had been broken in to through the vent wing, and they were looted of several hundred dollars worth of belongings - in the middle of beautiful nowhere, at the end of a long and very poor road, at midweek. Incredibly, my Mustang just outside town was untouched although tire tracks hinted that it had been "cased". The State Police in Espanola told us that the Truchas locals are a pretty nasty and crooked lot with no love lost for Gringos, and car breaking and vandalism are Standard Operating Procedure. Therefore, having written this account of a beautiful climbing trip, I cannot honestly recommend this route to anyone. I would suggest approaching these lovely and worthy peaks from the Pecos River headwaters to the east, where the natives do not seem to have a bad reputation.
 
Bob Michael
Brown Bear Mountaineering Club
Denver, Colorado


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