Tetilla Peak

Posted bywringmasterPosted inUncategorized

Tetilla Mountain at dawn looking very much like its namesake

7 FEBRUARY 2026 W5N/SE-044

Two Stars – a nice summit. I’d do it again. Recommended.
Elevation:7,201′
Route: Cross country
Hike Distance: 1.75 miles round trip*
Elevation Gain: 525′
Navigation: Easy
Steepness: Moderate
Vehicle: High clearance, all terrain tires recommended
Road: Dirt road
Cell Coverage: Excellent Verizon
Your mileage will vary depending on where you park.

Our plans changed at the last minute and suddenly my pre-super bowl Saturday opened up. I did what I love to do: left the casita in the dark before dawn on an adventure to a new place!

My new mountain romance is with the Caja del Rio Plateau, or simply The Caja. I set my sights on a new approach – from the south end. Fred KT5X says “there are no ‘roads’ to Tetilla Peak” and this is true. There are some tracks that get you close, but keep in mind Fred’s warning about the sharp volcanic rock in the area.

I parked off one of these side tracks. I’m sure I could’ve gotten closer given that Whitedog the Tacoma has good tires and 4wd, but it was a beautiful dawn and I was ready to hike. Here is the driving route I took to that side track to the left (west).

Also take note of Fred’s warning about footwear. Besides the sharp volcanic rock there are some vicious cacti low to the ground. I was wearing some La Sportiva Nucleo high top boots and a spine from one of these little devils managed to puncture both boot and sock.

On the way up I passed this curious installment:

Click to enlarge

It appears to be some kind of groundwater or well monitor, but that’s just a guess.

There was a register on the summit – something you don’t find too often in New Mexico. It only went back to 2024 but I saw Fred KT5X’s sign in.

The hiking is otherwise open and easy. The summit commands a lovely view and it was easy to set up three masts for support of my doublet. Radio conditions were very good with Christian in France booming in at an honest-to-God s9. I had pileups on 20m and 15m happily populated by all the usual suspects.

I wrapped it up and headed down to do Colorado Peak (W5N/SE-050) next.

The station with Cochiti Reservoir in the background.
Cochiti Reservoir. Perhaps Bear Springs Mountain behind?
Looking west towards Santa Fe and the Sangre de Christo.
Looking south to the Sandia Crest and San Pedro Mountains.
Looking northwest to Chicoma Mountain and next on the day’s list, Colorado Peak.
The main mast and the north mast of the doublet. Note the rollup J-pole attached to the main mast.

Here are my SOTA summit ratings

Here are some cool links to Summits on the Air (SOTA)

KG6MZS Summit Index by Year

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Published by wringmaster

I'm a graphic artist in the movie business. When I was a kid I got interested in astronomy. When it would get too cloudy to observe the heavens, my buddy and I would sit at the VFO of his Hallicrafters S 38c like safe crackers trying to coax faraway signals out of that humble radio. My love of astronomy and radio survive to this day fifty+ years later.

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