Blue Mountain

Blue Mountain from the gate off Highway 80

4 FEBRUARY 2023 W5N/PL-008

Elevation:	5,774′
Route:	Cross country
Hike Distance:	2.3 miles round trip
Elevation Gain:	950′
Navigation:	Easy
Steepness:	Moderate
Vehicle:	High clearance suggested
Road:	Dirt
Cell Coverage:	Good (Verizon), APRS Excellent

On my way to Cassie’s little adobe casita in north-central New Mexico I decided to try a new route that took me a way I had never been before in my life — along Interstate 10 through Tuscon and Las Cruces. Saturday morning found me at a funky Air BnB in Wilcox, Arizona. I had my sights set on Granite Gap Mountain (W5N/PL-020), a mountain that appeared to be accessible within BLM land.

As I drove down Highway 80 off the 10, I found that both sides of the road were fenced and gated. I followed a law enforcement ranger for a few miles before they pulled over. When I got to where I hoped to leave the Highway 80 and stash Whitedog out of view of the highway at the end of a dirt road, I found an abandoned mine there that was fenced with a locked gate. I did not relish the idea of leaving my fully packed car on the highway in plain sight, so I turned around figuring that I’d scrub this idea.

After a few miles I came upon the ranger I’d been following who had been joined by another law enforcement unit. I pulled up and asked a very nice young woman – officer Avila – if hiking was allowed in the area. She said unequivocally yes, it was. However she warned there was a lot of law enforcement in the area because of human and drug trafficking and the individuals they pursued could be dangerous and unpredictable. I explained the SOTA program and she said “How cool!” After talking a bit more, Officer Avila said there was a gate up ahead that led to Granite Gap and that was an area that was fairly safe. I thanked her profusely for the information and wished her safety and luck.

The gate turned out to be only latched and not locked. I figured I would try one of the other peaks I had scoped out earlier in that area. As it turned out Officer Avila parked at that gate and stayed there most of the time of my activation as I could easily see from most of the hike. What a gal!

I parked in the saddle between Blue Mountain and Granite Peak by a large water tank. the hike was short and moderately steep along animal trails through some wonderful Sonoran desert landscape. It had been freezing overnight so the rattlesnake danger was minimal and the walking was very comfortable. This turned out to be an very enjoyable first-time activation of this seldom visited spot. There was a huge rock cairn on the summit.

My very first QSO was a summit-to-summit with KT0A in South Dakota. Christian F4WBN boomed in from France next. All in all, this turned out to be a very fun activation from what was essentially a punt from the get-go