Cave of the Winds. Photo by Craig Martin

PEEC News:

Trail expert Craig Martin will lead a hike to the local Cave of the Winds Saturday, May 14. The two-mile hike includes 500 feet of elevation gain and a bit of a scramble to reach the cave entrance. This hike, organized by the Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) is one of many events to help people get outside and enjoy nature.

To visit the Cave of the Winds with Martin, register online at www.peecnature.org. Meet Martin and other hikers at 10:15 a.m. Saturday, May 14. Bring water, snacks, hat, sunscreen, and good hiking shoes or boots.

Martin is the former Open Space Specialist for the County of Los Alamos. He is a writer, musician and avid hiker. His books such as Los Alamos Place Names,Valle Grande, A History of the Baca Location No. 1, and 100 Hikes in New Mexico have helped preserve the history of the area and acquaint people with the importance of the landscape and its uses. The Los Alamos Trails app is a result of his many years of exploring.

Hikers will meet at 10:15 a.m. at the Los Alamos Nature Center at 2600 Canyon Road and carpool to the trailhead. Registration is required. Attendance is free for PEEC members and $5 for non-members. For more information about this and other Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) programs, visit www.peecnature.org, email programs@peecnature.org or call 505.662.0460.

PEEC was founded in 2000 to serve the community of Los Alamos. It offers people of all ages a way to enrich their lives by strengthening their connections to our canyons, mesas, mountains, and skies. PEEC operates the Los Alamos Nature Center at 2600 Canyon Road, holds regular programs and events, and hosts a number of interest groups from birding to hiking to butterfly watching. PEEC activities are open to everyone; however, members receive exclusive benefits such as discounts on programs and merchandise. Annual memberships start at $35. To learn more, visit www.peecnature.org.