Last year, I drove past Abiquiu, NM, on my way to see the Monastery in the Desert up in the Chama River Canyon. Coming over a hill and around a curve, I was suddenly fronted with a huge, imposing monolith to the south…………

I was instantly fascinated, and after returning home, I started research and found it to be Cerro Pedernal. I did a scouting trip a little later, then a week after that, I climbed this monster, and it was probably the most satisfying climb of my career. It was wonderful, and is documented in my Pedernal blog.

In January, I made an attempt at Placer Peak in the Ortiz Mountains, between Santa Fe and Albu-Quirky…………

Didn’t make it, and had to turn back about 2/3 of the way up, so it’s still on the list “to do.” Anyway, on the way back down, from an altitude of around 8,000 feet or so, far in the distance was this huge mountain sticking up that reminded me for all the world of Pedernal…………..

Fascinating ! ! ! Hmmm………..due west, looks like,” I thought. Hmmm……….again. Between this and the mess I got into at Bisti Badlands last weekend, maybe I’d best give up the direction finding business. When I tried to spot it from the highway (I-25) it wasn’t visible, but I “know” I saw the fool thing - - - above is the picture of it. On the maps, that whole general area appeared to be roadless Indian Reservation anyway, so I put it out of mind.

Last weekend, on the way home from the Bisti Badlands, I’d come SE thru Cuba and was approaching the boundary of the Zia Indian Reservation and happened to glance to the right. Migawd ! ! ! It was right THERE………………

This is where I get goofed up. I feel like I’m going east and west on Hwy 550. Below Cuba, not. It’s north and south, then later bends more easterly toward Bernalillo. It looks to me like this big outfit might just be close to a back road coming up from I-40. Maybe. It’s not all that high, if I’m right, it’s only about 8,000 ft., but starting from a 5500 ft plain, and with a good chunk of it straight up, it just might be pretty tough. Looks like the right side may just be climb-able. Long as I’m at it, there’s a sharp little spike to the SE of it that might be fun, too……….

Will I have time to take a look before heading north on the “big trip ??” Dunno yet. I have business in ABQ this week, so just might make the 50 mile side trip to thoroughly and carefuly scout this thing out. Last Sunday, I was worn out from the Bisti adventure, so just kept going. There’s a lot of work to be done on the boat getting it ready, finish prepping the camper, and on and on, so I really doubt it’ll work this season, but there’s always this fall or next spring. Sure looks neat, tho’, don’t it ??

Lar.

Santa Fe, NM

www.gogittum.com

www.gogittum.com/blog

Posted: July 1st, 2008 under 08 New Mexico, 08-7-1 Mystery Mountain.
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