I inexplicably misplaced the card from my camera last August...and inexplicably found it earlier this week! I thought I would post some photos from my Sierra Blanca Peak hike that were on it. FWIW, while the trail begins in the N.F., the actual peak is on the Mescalero Apache reservation and technically you're supposed to have a "permit" to enter onto the land, but I doubt any tribal cop is going to chase you down at 11,500 ft.
Emerging from the forest on the "Crest Trail (No. 25)" in the Wilderness Area, overlooking Ski Apache
The Peak first comes into view as you approach "Lookout Mountain," the highest point on N.F. land
The best way to The Peak is to skirt Lookout Mountain to the left (East) but I climbed to the top for the hell of it
Here is the fence that marks the boundary between the N.F. and the Reservation. You can hike all the way up that service road to this point if you want but that sucks. Much better to go through the forest.
After dropping down into the saddle between Lookout Mountain and The Peak, climb up the steep slope to a "false summit."
At the top of the false summit, eyeing the remainder of the summit ridge
Some windows to the east along the summit ridge:
The actual trail is just below the summit ridge to the West. The vertical faces which you will see next are on the other side.
On top of another false summit, looking back at the summit ridge. You can see some of the aforementioned steep face on the right.
Looking back towards the saddle and Lookout Mountain. Nogal Peak (~9,500') in the distance.
On the summit, looking north towards the Capitan Mountains. Billy-the-Kid would ride through the gap on the left side on his way from Lincoln to Ft. Sumner.
Looking west now towards Three Rivers N.R.A. and Tularosa Basin. There is more of a gut-buster trail up from Three Rivers I would like to do someday.
Looking north to the Valley of Fires, the remains of an ancient lava flow and important piece of history to the Sacramentos.
Looking southwest to White Sands, in the upper 1/3 of the image. One of the great natural wonders of NM.
Looking south towards the Sacramento Escarpment. Cloudcroft, Alamogordo, and Sunspot are in this direction. The drive from Cloudcroft to Sunspot is beautiful if you ever get the chance.
Time to head back down the NW ridge.
The deep spruce-fir forest
Looking down the Three Rivers drainage
Here is a view of the difficulties you bypass by staying along the NW ridge. There are some 3rd/4th class scrambles up some of the gullies on the left. It's a quicker and more challenging climb but not as scenic.
I took the shortcut through Ski Apache on the way down and ran into some friends
Here's a view of The Peak from afar. This is taken from Lone Tree Ranch, the camp located in the Capitan Mountains. I worked at Lone Tree every summer throughout college. It is right at the mouth of the aforementioned "Capitan Gap."
It is not the toughest hike as far as peak bagging goes, but it is very scenic and challenging nonetheless. If you are in decent shape, set aside a day to give it a shot next time you're in the area.
Emerging from the forest on the "Crest Trail (No. 25)" in the Wilderness Area, overlooking Ski Apache
The Peak first comes into view as you approach "Lookout Mountain," the highest point on N.F. land
The best way to The Peak is to skirt Lookout Mountain to the left (East) but I climbed to the top for the hell of it
Here is the fence that marks the boundary between the N.F. and the Reservation. You can hike all the way up that service road to this point if you want but that sucks. Much better to go through the forest.
After dropping down into the saddle between Lookout Mountain and The Peak, climb up the steep slope to a "false summit."
At the top of the false summit, eyeing the remainder of the summit ridge
Some windows to the east along the summit ridge:
The actual trail is just below the summit ridge to the West. The vertical faces which you will see next are on the other side.
On top of another false summit, looking back at the summit ridge. You can see some of the aforementioned steep face on the right.
Looking back towards the saddle and Lookout Mountain. Nogal Peak (~9,500') in the distance.
On the summit, looking north towards the Capitan Mountains. Billy-the-Kid would ride through the gap on the left side on his way from Lincoln to Ft. Sumner.
Looking west now towards Three Rivers N.R.A. and Tularosa Basin. There is more of a gut-buster trail up from Three Rivers I would like to do someday.
Looking north to the Valley of Fires, the remains of an ancient lava flow and important piece of history to the Sacramentos.
Looking southwest to White Sands, in the upper 1/3 of the image. One of the great natural wonders of NM.
Looking south towards the Sacramento Escarpment. Cloudcroft, Alamogordo, and Sunspot are in this direction. The drive from Cloudcroft to Sunspot is beautiful if you ever get the chance.
Time to head back down the NW ridge.
The deep spruce-fir forest
Looking down the Three Rivers drainage
Here is a view of the difficulties you bypass by staying along the NW ridge. There are some 3rd/4th class scrambles up some of the gullies on the left. It's a quicker and more challenging climb but not as scenic.
I took the shortcut through Ski Apache on the way down and ran into some friends
Here's a view of The Peak from afar. This is taken from Lone Tree Ranch, the camp located in the Capitan Mountains. I worked at Lone Tree every summer throughout college. It is right at the mouth of the aforementioned "Capitan Gap."
It is not the toughest hike as far as peak bagging goes, but it is very scenic and challenging nonetheless. If you are in decent shape, set aside a day to give it a shot next time you're in the area.