Other than having the longest takeoff roll that I've ever had in a piston airplane, my stock 170A handled the elevation just fine. It's definitely doable without having a tricked out STOL bush plane if you take the proper precautions and operate conservatively. I'll post more on my planning and decision making process (ha!) if anyone is interested.
The NMPA is just starting to get some legs and they are working to get some legislation passed in New Mexico that would relieve property owners of any liability if their land is open for recreational use (including, but not limited to backcountry airstrips.) This could be something folks could use to bring similar laws to other states. It's a real sore spot for me that Texas has so much beautiful, varied and remote land, including two national parks, a national seashore, several national grasslands and national forests, but for the most part it isn't accessible by airplane.
Anyway, this will be one to put on the calendar for next year (and I'll probably return on my own sometime before then).
Next time I'll close the door and hide the cooler.
9500' MSL over the Manzano Mountains
Negrito Airstrip.
