Class 1 5.3 miles 2700 gain 2-4 hrs Out + Back Nov 16, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Big Hatchet Peak GPX Track

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After a few months of chatting with Alex, a NM peakbagger, we finally got a chance to plan a trip while I was in the area. We had our sights on a few other options, all of which didn't work out for various reasons. Big Hatchet Peak fit the bill, so we met up in the middle of nowhere and started the long drive out. The road leading out to Big Hatchet Peak is in really good shape until the last couple of miles. Fortunately his husband Yban had a Jeep and we could make it all the way to the trailhead.

Somehow a well-defined trail continues from the trailhead and up to the southern saddle of Big Hatchet Peak. If you find yourself in the wash for longer than just crossing it, you've missed the trail. A few sections are overgrown, but it was overall a pleasant ascent to the saddle. From here, a dirt slope leads northwest as we followed the ridge. A couple of small undulations brought us to the summit of Big Hatchet Peak. The immense cliff views had us hanging out and getting November sunburns before we headed back.

I got stopped twice by border agents asking for my ID and what I was doing down here on the way back north. One of them seemed to not believe me when I said I was out hiking a mountain near the Mexico border. I told him it was a pretty good one and he should go for it. He didn't seem interested.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Big Hatchet Peak
8356 ft
3696 rise

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Starting south from the trailhead on a fairly well-defined trail.
Starting south from the trailhead on a fairly well-defined trail.
Looking back along the trail. Stay out of the wash. The trail only crosses the wash, without staying in it.
Looking back along the trail. Stay out of the wash. The trail only crosses the wash, without staying in it.
Image 2 from gallery
Looking toward the entrance valley (car in the center somewhere).
Looking toward the entrance valley (car in the center somewhere).
Looking back as we ascend to the northwest, the trail keeping to the slopes, paralleling a drainage.
Looking back as we ascend to the northwest, the trail keeping to the slopes, paralleling a drainage.
Approaching the south saddle of Big Hatchet Peak, where the trail ends.
Approaching the south saddle of Big Hatchet Peak, where the trail ends.
Looking back toward the saddle (we came up from the left). The trail ended at the saddle, so we continued north up the ridge.
Looking back toward the saddle (we came up from the left). The trail ended at the saddle, so we continued north up the ridge.
Steep ridge.
Steep ridge.
Looking back.
Looking back.
Approaching the ridgeline toward Big Hatchet Peak.
Approaching the ridgeline toward Big Hatchet Peak.
Big Hatchet Peak ahead.
Big Hatchet Peak ahead.
Looking back the way we came along the ridge.
Looking back the way we came along the ridge.
Approaching Big Hatchet Peak.
Approaching Big Hatchet Peak.
Image 13 from gallery
Image 14 from gallery
Big Hatchet Peak.
Big Hatchet Peak.
Big Hatchet Peak summit, view south the way we came.
Big Hatchet Peak summit, view south the way we came.
View northwest from the summit of Big Hatchet Peak.
View northwest from the summit of Big Hatchet Peak.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!