Sierra Negra

New Mexico Outdoor

Roughing It In Luxury-Abiquiu, New Mexico 505.901.7321

Sierra Negra

Spring Morning-Chama River-Abiquiu
Oil on Canvas by Phyllis Chase-Featured Artist
Sierra Negra in background

Los Trujillos General Store-An Abiquiu Institution

Sierra Negra is a striking "stand alone" mountain 5 miles to the West of us, that looms above the Village of Abiquiu. We have looked forward to hiking it:

At the trail-head and after our hike ..we discovered this was private land and NOT Carson Nation Forest Access. This means we need to do it again if we want to hike it with others:

Instantly..we were confronted with 1/2 mile scramble up "rough"..or Volcanic 5-10 lb unsteady boulders.

We had Swiss Style jerky "Bundner-flisch"..so tender ..it'll melt in your mouth:

Possible ancient marking along the 3,000 ft vertical ..mostly ridge-line:

The scenery even 1/2 way up...awesome:

It's capped by a cornice (crown) of volcanic ..Volkswagon sized boulders..and the last 1,000 ft is very difficult and dangerous:

Once on the Mesa..near the summit..the views are awesome-er!!:

And back towards our house:

The mesa on top highly wooded and near 8,000 ft:

The hike back down ..broken by a nice bench rest:

Back VERY near the trail-head..RUBY hadn't had enough climbing and maybe had vicariously learned from the Big Horn Sheep up there:

The whole day hike..about 3 1/2 hours..BUT it's only 4 1/2 miles up and back down. It was difficult much of the way and down right dangerous the last 1,000 ft! But once again..we saw nobody else!

The Above "South West Flank-Sierra Negra" By Our 2010 Featured Photographer-Kirt Kempter

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