Cerro Pedernal at dawn on the wonderful drive up to this one. 1 AUGUST 2026 W5N/SE-005 Elevation: 10,620′ Route: Old forestry roads Hike Distance: 2.3 miles round trip Elevation Gain: 300′ Navigation: Tricky* Steepness: Gentle Vehicle: Passenger car Road: Excellent dirt roads Cell Coverage: None from Verizon * Landmarks are obscured by the trees. TheContinue reading “Cerro de la Garita”
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Palomas Peak
Palomas Peak from New Mexico Highway 165. The Pennsylvanian Age limestone layers provide cliffs for rock climbers 25 JULY 2026 W5N/SI-010 Elevation: 8,684′ Route: Forest Service Trail Hike Distance: 3.75 miles round trip Elevation Gain: 700′ Navigation: Easy Steepness: Steep in places Vehicle: Passenger car* Road: Good dirt road Cell Coverage: Excellent Verizon *NM HighwayContinue reading “Palomas Peak”
San Pedro Mountain
The station looking north. That’s Redondo Peak and the Valles Caldera just past my chair. 18 JULY 2026 W5N/SI-012 Elevation: 8,241′ Route: Mining roads & cross country Hike Distance: 2.1 miles round trip Elevation Gain: 900′ Navigation: Not difficult Steepness: Steep in places Vehicle: High clearance 4WD suggested Road: Rough dirt Cell Coverage: Excellent VerizonContinue reading “San Pedro Mountain”
Protected: The Lightning Field
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Los Griegos
Looking like something Van Gogh painted, these sunflowers are either Mule’s Ears (Wyethia arizonica) or Arrow Leaf Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata) – both obviously in the sunflower family, but hard to tell apart. 20 JUNE 2026 W5N/SE-012 Elevation: 10,118′ Route: 4WD track and good use trail Hike Distance: 4.0 miles round trip Elevation Gain: 930′ (includesContinue reading “Los Griegos”
Peralta Ridge
Looking north across the amazing Valles Grande – the 8,000′ high center of the Valles Grande Caldera to Chicoma Mountain. 6 JUNE 2026 W5N/SE-015 Elevation: 9,941′ Route: Cross country Hike Distance: .66 miles round trip Elevation Gain: 125′ Navigation: Easy Steepness: Gentle Vehicle: Passenger car* Road: Good dirt road* Cell Coverage: Excellent Verizon *The roadContinue reading “Peralta Ridge”
Summit 9,420′
Hard to find a view through the trees on this one. Looking west to Chicoma Mountain and the Valles Caldera. 31 MAY 2026 W5N/PW-020 Elevation: 9,420′ Route: Good trail Hike Distance: 2.25 miles round trip Elevation Gain: 700′ Navigation: Easy Steepness: Moderate Vehicle: Passenger car* Road: Paved highway Cell Coverage: Excellent Verizon $10 day useContinue reading “Summit 9,420′”
Saint Peter’s Dome
New Mexico Locust (Robinia neomexicana) on the way up to the fire lookout tower in the background.. 24 MAY 2026 W5N/SE-035 Elevation: 8,465′ Route: Fire road Hike Distance: 2 miles round trip Elevation Gain: 375′ Navigation: Easy* Steepness: Gentle Vehicle: High clearance suggested Road: Dirt road Cell Coverage: Excellent Verizon *navigating the forest service roadsContinue reading “Saint Peter’s Dome”
Davenport Hill
Scarlett Hedgehog just starting to bloom in a rock garden full of this glorious cacti. 25 APRIL 2026 W7A/AE-041 Elevation: 7,808′ Route: Cross country Hike Distance: 1.1 mile round trip Elevation Gain: 650′ Navigation: A bit tricky on the descent Steepness: Gentle to moderate Vehicle: Passenger car* Road: Dirt road Cell Coverage: Excellent Verizon *RoadContinue reading “Davenport Hill”
Willow Springs Butte
Looking south across the eponymous raceway to the hazy San Gabriel Mountains. Whitedog is visible below. 22 MARCH 2026 W6/ND-328 Elevation: 3,297′ Route: Cross country Hike Distance: .8 miles round trip Elevation Gain: 500′ Navigation: A slight twist* Steepness: Steep Vehicle: Passenger car Road: Good dirt road Cell Coverage: Excellent Verizon Hike basics This entireContinue reading “Willow Springs Butte”