Rough and Ready Hills Highpoint revisited - Organ Mountains Desert Peaks National Monument, NM State Trust Lands

 Rough and Ready Hills. Robledos in the distance.

I took a small group on a Saturday (4/23/22) for a hike to the Rough and Ready Hills Highpoint. I've only been out on the little trail here a couple of times before, and it had been quite a few years since the last visit, so the hike seemed pleasant and still fresh to me. We got a decently early start so it was still nicely cool as we trekked up the rocky use path created by climbers who scale the cliffs on the mountain's east side. We took a  break early on to admire the views and rough edges, and then we were quickly up to the small cairn on top that marks the highpoint ( maps have it 5402 feet, Google Earth has it at 5360), about 600 feet higher than where our vehicles were parked below at the trailhead.

Not exactly an epic climb, but you do end up feeling like you've conquered a peak anyway. I was contemplating our good fortune at the very mild winds that were blowing on top, where I had feared for the worst after almost two straight weeks of wind in Las Cruces. We eased off of the peak heading south over steep, slippery terrain. A hillside of closely spaced ankle high rocks. Arriving at the saddle below, I offered the possibility of just descending the ravine on the north directly  and cutting the hike short. It looked really steep and brushy with not even a hint of wildlife or livestock trail. Without much of response from the group, I decided to forge ahead  due south. Had I known what we were in for, I would have chosen the ravine option for sure. The wind began to pick up a bit as I ascended a deer trail, but upon reaching the top of the next  peak it was blowing a full force gale. I'm guessing it was steady 40-50mph with gusts in the 60-70mph range. No kidding. I've been in a couple of hurricanes, and I almost feel like I'm being too conservative with those estimates. We held onto our hats and continued, taking refuge among a few stunted junipers growing between some boulders to gather our wits and decide our next move. We had to believe it was better lower down, but to get back to the vehicles meant turning directly into the wind's path. Which we did. It was very rough going down the gully off of the mountain ( I had hoped before being sidetracked, to use an old road cut that was little further south, but that would've meant staying up on top longer, which wasn't really an option). It was deafening and we lost all semblance of a group as each individual concentrated on the terrain at their feet. I thought about how my weak ankles might be actually be an asset in the many situations like this that I get into. They bend rather than break.

At the bottom, the wind stopped.  Well, maybe not stopped, but just became very mildly breezy.The ridiculousness of the contrast in our changing experience was good for a few laughs, as we made our way back on a very old road that was almost invisible after a few hundred yards save for the lines of rocks on each side.