New Mexico Outdoor
Roughing It In Luxury-Abiquiu, New Mexico 505.901.7321
Cerro Pedernal
As mentioned many times on this site, Georgia O’Keeffe, Mother of American Landscape Painting LOVED Cerro Pedernal ..New Mexico’s famous Flat Topped Mountain! Every morning, we wake to this sight: 
..and every evening..we have the pleasure of: 
Furthermore..it is said, by Napoleon Garcia, that he and some friends helped “herself” make this hike..and that her ashes were spread at the summit upon her death! Finally..we decided to make this ascent: 
<<At the trailhead.
The key is to drive as close to the summit as possible! Clearance is the deciding factor. It can be an 8 mile hike OR 3 mile climb..depending upon how close you can get! We hiked a total of 6.5 with 3 miles of climbing and decending. Either way..you’re on the mountain the whole time. The trailhead is a jeep trail, well marked..the mountains' trademark Flat Top and Cornice in the backround:
..and begins at about 8,000 ft elevation. At nearly 9K ..it levels off into meadows with incredible views of the valley below:
Winding around these meadows to the western side ..it’s a Cabazon (nipple)..almost unrecognizable to those unfamiliar with this “face”: 
Just beyond the skeleton of the dead elk:
..we head back toward the mountains summit and UP:
..in fact up..up..up:
Gabriela setting our pace with Alp like reserve and determination. We have a bit of a break at the Cornice (crown-below) before the final ascent to almost 10,000 feet and one of the most prominent views in the West:
As you can see..the Corice is a sheer vertical..AND a technical climb: 
..Except for one very in-distinct spot ..which is only 12-20 feet of very dangerous vertical!
We had a volunteer to stay down at “the final ascent” with a walkie-talkie and to help “spot” on the way up..and to guide feet and hands on the way back down..and to guard backpacks.
After that 12-20 feet of near technical..it was nicely “pathed” BUT..took focus and vigilence until the top:
With spectacular 360 degree, as advertised views: 
Abiquiu Lake: 
Gabriela “summiting” first in a VERY rare show of emotional release:
And 17 miles off in the distance NMO to the right of Sierra Negra!!: 
..we’d been looking forward to this view of our house for 6 years now (but had no telescope). I'm pointing at Ghost Ranch:
. We shoot the NGS Plate at the top and marvel at the surrounding views in the, now gale forced winds. The ladies celebrate with the Piedre Lumbar Plateau FAR down and in the backround: 
The decent, uneventful (very important to have a volunteer stay down for the final descent of that cornice) and either a guide or explicit instructions, as many have missed the way up..and also some have died trying!
The drive there, about 40 miles (although only 17 miles distant for NMO..the hike is on the other side), is a spectacular array of reds…yellows …bad lands and canyon country that Georgia O’Keefe once remarked to Napoleon Garcia ..is “ever changing” ..challenging the painter to keep painting the same landscapes:
This is a very difficult hike-climb for experienced backpackers who are in shape and not afraid to climb! Much wildlife..birds squirrels, horned lizards, elk, deer, bear and mountain lion. Since way in excess of 7,000 ..rattlers are rare, if at all!
..and every evening..we have the pleasure of: 
Furthermore..it is said, by Napoleon Garcia, that he and some friends helped “herself” make this hike..and that her ashes were spread at the summit upon her death! Finally..we decided to make this ascent: 
<<At the trailhead. The key is to drive as close to the summit as possible! Clearance is the deciding factor. It can be an 8 mile hike OR 3 mile climb..depending upon how close you can get! We hiked a total of 6.5 with 3 miles of climbing and decending. Either way..you’re on the mountain the whole time. The trailhead is a jeep trail, well marked..the mountains' trademark Flat Top and Cornice in the backround:
..and begins at about 8,000 ft elevation. At nearly 9K ..it levels off into meadows with incredible views of the valley below:
Winding around these meadows to the western side ..it’s a Cabazon (nipple)..almost unrecognizable to those unfamiliar with this “face”: 
Just beyond the skeleton of the dead elk:
..we head back toward the mountains summit and UP:
..in fact up..up..up:
Gabriela setting our pace with Alp like reserve and determination. We have a bit of a break at the Cornice (crown-below) before the final ascent to almost 10,000 feet and one of the most prominent views in the West:
As you can see..the Corice is a sheer vertical..AND a technical climb: 
..Except for one very in-distinct spot ..which is only 12-20 feet of very dangerous vertical! We had a volunteer to stay down at “the final ascent” with a walkie-talkie and to help “spot” on the way up..and to guide feet and hands on the way back down..and to guard backpacks.
After that 12-20 feet of near technical..it was nicely “pathed” BUT..took focus and vigilence until the top:
With spectacular 360 degree, as advertised views: 
Abiquiu Lake: 
Gabriela “summiting” first in a VERY rare show of emotional release:
And 17 miles off in the distance NMO to the right of Sierra Negra!!: 
..we’d been looking forward to this view of our house for 6 years now (but had no telescope). I'm pointing at Ghost Ranch:
. We shoot the NGS Plate at the top and marvel at the surrounding views in the, now gale forced winds. The ladies celebrate with the Piedre Lumbar Plateau FAR down and in the backround: 
The decent, uneventful (very important to have a volunteer stay down for the final descent of that cornice) and either a guide or explicit instructions, as many have missed the way up..and also some have died trying!
The drive there, about 40 miles (although only 17 miles distant for NMO..the hike is on the other side), is a spectacular array of reds…yellows …bad lands and canyon country that Georgia O’Keefe once remarked to Napoleon Garcia ..is “ever changing” ..challenging the painter to keep painting the same landscapes:
This is a very difficult hike-climb for experienced backpackers who are in shape and not afraid to climb! Much wildlife..birds squirrels, horned lizards, elk, deer, bear and mountain lion. Since way in excess of 7,000 ..rattlers are rare, if at all!
A Very O'Keefe'ean Rendering of The Mountain by:
Trish Booth 2010 Featured Artist
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