Sierra de las Uvas exploring - Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument, New Mexico State Trust Lands
Out in the winter sun and wind again. Four trips to the Sierra de las Uvas, a range that covers more than 100,000 acres ( by my conservative estimate) in Doña Ana County and yet is mostly unknown except by a few hunters and those who run agricultural operations there. Two walkabouts were exploring Magdalena Ridge, that paper chain of mesas, buttes and valleys extending southwest from the main mass of the mountains. One was on the flanks of the nearby Massacre Peak. The other was in a tributary of Silva Canyon (which originates in the high peaks of the Uvas) in the huge basin that is bordered by the Uvas, Robledos, and the Cedar, Rough and Ready, Sleeping Lady Hills. I'm never really sure which range to assign places that aren't really part of any of them.
A lot of walking/wandering on the boulders that form the rims of the mesas or small peaks was the formula for the walks on Magdalena Ridge. We went up and down some shallow ravines at Massacre Peak and looked at some boulders on the slopes as well.The other hike was a straight shot from the Corralitos Road over some low hills to eventually walk through a small un-named box canyon along the Ward Canyon fault with colorful layers of sedimentary rocks revealed.
None were exceptionally long treks. All were begun in the late morning or just after lunch, when earth had already warmed sufficiently. A few pick-ups stirred up the dust. Jackrabbits and cottontails ran through the creosote. Shaggy brown calves shuffled along roadsides. Javelinas crossed through the yellow grasses. Peace and long shadows reigned at each returning in the late afternoon. Chalcedony, agate, carnelian and jasper brightened the ground at our feet and in places I could feel something like gentle ghosts from centuries past in the breezes.
Labels: hiking, Organ Mountains/Desert Peaks National Monument, petroglyphs, rockhounding
posted by Devon Fletcher at
10:31 AM
3 Comments:
Hi there, I have been reading your blog since I came to the Las Cruces area in September for work. I've spent most of my off days climbing peaks in the Organ Mountains and exploring OMDP.
I really love the area and was interested in trying to put together a multi day trip (possibly a loop) extending from the Sierra de Las Uvas to the Potrillos to really experience the region deeply and maybe link together multiple interesting sites. I originally envisioned the trip thematically as a sort of "best of" the OMDP National Monument, trying to link some of the things that make the region so special (ancient cultural sites, vast desert, remote peaks).
There is almost no information online about people backpacking in OMDP probably due to some obvious obstacles (minimal water, trails, private land issues, etc) so I realize this would be a logistical challenge and would likely require caching water/food ahead of time as well as extensive navigating.
I figured since you have such a large amount of experience in the area you would have some insight into whether a trip like this would be possible (or completely insane). I am totally open to route suggestions and am willing to do some road walking to connect pieces. If you have any thoughts or want to talk further please let me know.
I actually know a person, John Walton, who did a through backpack of the West Potrillos quite a few years ago, but he waited until there was snow on the ground to go. The book I wrote with David Soules " Exploring Organ Mountains- Desert Peaks National Monument" has quite a few hikes in the Uvas/Robledos regions and a few in the West/East Potrillo area too. I wouldn't necessarily link up those two areas because there would be quite a bit walking through not particularly interesting areas on either side of the highway. It might make more sense to do a loop linking the Uvas, Broad Canyon and Robledo Wildernesses and then do a separate one through the West Potrillo,East Potrillo, Mount Cox and Aden Lava Flow wildernesses. There is water to be used at many wells across these areas that pump water into steel, or plastic containers that the cattle use which would be your best bet for purifying in this very dry year. Otherwise, you would have to cache water and food in secure containers. Last year there were plenty of natural cisterns throughout the desert that had water all the way until April. I'm happy to consult with you on what I feel are " must see" destinations in these areas, according to your interests. I will be thinking of possibilities.
Thank you for all of the helpful information. I think you are right that it would be best to make two separate loops. As far as "must see" destinations I am interested in almost everything these wilderness areas have to offer. Cultural sites, unique geological features and peaks all interest me. The overarching goal of the trips would be to use the flexibility of a multi day trip to link multiple interesting places but also just immerse myself in the vastness of the region and go where few people have been before.
Is there an email address I would be able to contact you at? That may facilitate easier communication. Thanks again for all the help, I hope I can make this happen.
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