Santa Fe Fastpack

2025 dates coming soon!

SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO

For a fifth consecutive year, I (Rickey Gates here) will be offering a five-day run starting in historic downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico. The route will leave the high desert and move into the higher forests and peaks of the Pecos Wilderness that make up the backdrop of this Northern New Mexico landscape. This trip is being offered as a running/fast-packing hybrid as an opportunity to both experience the love of trail running but also become familiar with a simple and fast-paced camping style known as “fast-packing”. The first two days and nights will be spent running and car-camping while the final three days and two nights will be self-sustained fast-packing.

In 2017, I spent five months traversing the United States on foot (and standup paddle board 🤷‍♂️). The 3700-mile epic taught me a lot about packing light and moving swiftly across deserts, mountains and plains. I learned how to “multi-tool” several items in my pack to save on weight, shop for high-energy food that can be found in most grocery stores and read maps and terrain to optimize my route and distance. In offering this trip, I would like to pass this knowledge on to you.

Mileage - we will cover roughly 10-20 miles per day. The first two days and nights will be vehicle-assisted running - this will allow for swifter travel and safety-testing of gear (ie. if you’re not sure which of the two rain jackets you should bring - bring them both!). On the evening of the second night, we’ll go over gear and pack up for three days and two nights of fast packing. We will be covering roughly the same daily mileage over the next three days.

Smart phone navigation - though most of us carry a smart phone with us on our runs or hikes it doesn’t mean that our knowledge and ability have caught up with the potential of the technology. Over the course of the trip, I will be teaching proper smart-phone usage which will include the downloading of maps and gpx files, battery saving techniques and tracking ability. I encourage you to purchase and familiarize yourself with the mapping application GAIA GPS.

Gear - one of the biggest obstacles for fast packing is having the right gear and knowing how to use it. If done right, trimming a pack’s weight down to the 10-20lb range can allow one to move swiftly and safely across challenging terrain all while sleeping and eating well at night. You can bring your own gear (I can consult if you want to take the opportunity to buy gear), or you can rent gear from me.

Gear list:

• Each guest will receive a Salomon S-lab Skin Pack ($165 value) which will be appropriate for the first two days of running.

• 20L to 30L Pack (Salomon, Ultimate Direction, Osprey, UltrAspire )

• Sleeping bag (Enlightened Equipment, REI, Zpacks)

• Sleeping bag liner - not required but nice to have (REI)

• Sleeping pad (Thermarest, Klymit, Nemo)

• Shelter - (Hyperlite Mountain Gear, full list with reviews)

• hiking/running poles - (Salomon, Black Diamond)

• smart phone - This is your light, navigation, camera and more (for safety’s sake, I will have a physical map, compass and an additional light). please bring a small battery pack/bank if you have one.

• cook set - we will have individual items and group items. Group items that I will provide: stove, fuel, big pot. I will also provide you with spork and cup.

• Clothing - three pairs of socks, tights, shorts, short and long sleeve shirt, base layer, rain jacket, light puffy jacket, underwear, hat, gloves, sunglasses, sunscreen,

• one or two pairs of running shoes

• I will be carrying an InReach (satellite communication), first aid kit, paper map, repair kit (for fabric, sleeping pads, poles, etc.). You are welcome to bring any of these items as well, but rest assured that I will have them covered.

Fitness - distance covered will be 10 to 20 miles per day. We will start in Santa Fe at an elevation of 7,000ft and climb to over 12,000ft. If you would like to preview the route, it can be found on GAIA or STRAVA.

Sample Itinerary

• Day 0 - meet in Santa Fe for dinner to review gear, go over logistics

• Day 1 - 16-miles, 3,500ft. elevation gain

• Day 2 - 17-miles, 3,500ft. elevation gain

• Day 3 - 10-miles, 4,000ft. elevation gain

• Day 4 - 13-miles, 3,500ft. elevation gain

• Day 5 - 14-miles, 2,000ft. elevation gain, return to Santa Fe (1hr drive), mid-afternoon lunch. Flights can be arranged for the evening of this final day out of Santa Fe or Albuquerque.

Getting there and away - Santa Fe (SAF) is a small, convenient airport just 10 minutes from downtown (Uber/Lift/Taxi). Albuquerque (ABQ) is much larger and often times cheaper - one hour from Santa Fe (There are shuttles that go from ABQ to downtown Santa Fe as well as a commuter train called the Rail Runner).

Where to stay - Santa Fe has many options for lodging that can accommodate everybody from the budget backpacker to the luxury traveler. A few suggestions can be found here:

• $ - Santa Fe International Hostel - traditional style hostel located just a few minutes from downtown.

• $$ - El Rey Court Hotel - hip, Route-66 style hotel/motel with a swimming pool and cocktail bar.

• $$$ - La Fonda - Historic Southwestern-style hotel offering art-filled rooms, plus courtyard dining & rooftop views.

• $$$ - Ten Thousand Waves - “In the tradition of the Japanese ryokan, a few lucky guests are able to stay overnight just a short walk to the spa. You're surrounded by twenty acres of pinons and junipers, yet downtown is only ten minutes away.”

Things to do in Santa Fe - Founded in 1610, Santa Fe is the oldest capitol in the United States, with a deep history shared by Native Americans, Spanish, Mexicans and Americans. Renowned for its Pueblo-style architecture and creative arts, Santa Fe makes a great launching point for a wild, backcountry adventure. Come early or stay late - you. won’t be disappointed. Some suggestions for things to do in Santa Fe include:

• Atalaya/Picacho - this 12-mile run will give you both a taste of downtown and the foothills above Santa Fe.

• Ten Thousand Waves - a Japanese style spa/onsen with outdoor hot pools.

• Meow Wolf - “Meow Wolf creates immersive and interactive experiences that transport audiences of all ages into fantastic realms of story and exploration. This includes art installations, video and music production, and extended reality content.” Check out their music/concert schedule for an evening experience.

• Canyon Road - featuring one of the highest densities of art galleries in the country - Canyon Road provides an opportunity for a pleasant stroll through one of Santa Fe’s oldest neighborhoods.

• Santa Fe Plaza and Downtown - features shops, classic Puebloan architecture and Native American artisan creations.

• Georgia O’Keefe Museum - The “Mother of American Modernism” made New Mexico her home starting in 1929. Over the next fifty years, her paintings of skulls, flowers and landscapes became synonymous with the South West.

Cost - The 2024 cost for this Santa Fe Fast adventure is $1600. This includes all meals during the five days on trail, dinner on Day 0 and a mid afternoon lunch on the final day. Additional cost might include renting gear (shelter, sleeping bag, hiking poles, etc.). Guests are responsible for their own lodging while in Santa Fe. The group size will be limited to 10-12 people.

Fires - Drought and forest fires are now a concern when planning a trip in the high desert of the American West. Regrettably, I was forced to cancel one trip and move another trip to Southern Colorado in 2022 during the May/June fire season. I am positioning this trip at a later date to coincide with the monsoon season. In the event that drought/fires cause a severe disruption to the trip, I will again offer an alternative in Southern Colorado or a full refund.