Hermit Peak, NM, Wow!

[Above_Treeline]

Really enjoyed Hermit peak today, near Las Vegas, nm. The top is really great, you walk through the trees to the edge, with a lot if prominence. You can see for miles!!!

Pretty standard 2700 ft. of vertical, about 8-9 miles RT. Pretty rocky, but the crux is switchbacks, not easy, or as bad as I expected.

Only 10,200 or so, but has a lot of prominence. You get to aspens at the top, it is really nice. Not that I've done a lot of peaks, but seems like a different experience. Really nice.

I didn't see any water along the trail. It was pretty hot, about 79° I think, when I started , probably due to the lower elevation. So be sure to take some. Creek by the TH had a little. Spring up top and the trail goes,along the stream just really dry right now. Some sort of green fire truck (forest service ) drovery by where we parked.

Saw one closed sign entering the national forest, but several people were camped in the campground, and met some in the trail. Had plenty of solitude, though

Take 65 out of Las Vegas (New Mexico) go past Armand Hammer College, and the road gets narrow, no center line, and very curvy. Eventually you turn right to El Porvenir campground. Take trail 223. You will probably need better directions than this but should give an idea.

Great hike! Definitely want to go more. Feel free to ask me questions

[seano]

Indeed, Hermit is a cool hike with a great summit. I tried making a loop out of it by coming out via Porvenir Canyon, but the trails shown on the Forest Service map aren't maintained, and the one from the summit seems to have disappeared. The rock on the steep side seems chossy in places, but I wonder if people have done any trad climbing there. I didn't find anything online at the time.

[Tory Wells]

Feel free to ask me questions

What is brown and sticky?

What is red and smells like blue paint?

What does a baby horse eat?

What is the capitol of Rhode Island?

[painless4u2]

That was the peak my wife hiked as an adolescent as part of a summer church camp. Apparently there was some sort of monastery up there at the time. She really felt that peak was the "high point" of her camp experience!

[Above_Treeline]

Indeed, Hermit is a cool hike with a great summit. I tried making a loop out of it by coming out via Porvenir Canyon, but the trails shown on the Forest Service map aren't maintained, and the one from the summit seems to have disappeared. The rock on the steep side seems chossy in places, but I wonder if people have done any trad climbing there. I didn't find anything online at the time.

Wow, yeah Porvenir canyon from the top sounds cool! But difficult. Was definitely drooling over the trails from the top, looking at the sign, but I didn't see any trail there, either. Would love to disappear down there!

I was definitely wondering about rock climbing in the area class 5. Did some (tiny bit of) maybe class 3 scrambling +exposure on that point as you get the top , with the great view.

The standard 223 trail was fine, though. Couple potentially tricky spots in the first mile, but well marked, . Porvenir canyon trail looked fine from the TH, seems traveled.

I found this hike in the Hiking new Mexico book by photographer Laurence Parent, but there seemed to be enough online now. I just took the book so I didn't lose the trail lol. Only a few spots in the first little bit, though, and 2 had signs, aND the other was well marked and had a sign once you crossed the old road, also logs etc placed to mark the trail . So not too bad, I suppose

[Above_Treeline]

Feel free to ask me questions

What is brown and sticky?

What is red and smells like blue paint?

What does a baby horse eat?

What is the capitol of Rhode Island?

A brown stick

Red paint

Baby horse food

Providence

[Above_Treeline]

I edited op, should be water if it wasn't dry like it is now.

[Tory Wells]

Feel free to ask me questions

What is brown and sticky?

What is red and smells like blue paint?

What does a baby horse eat?

What is the capitol of Rhode Island?

A brown stick

Red paint

Baby horse food

Providence

Wow, good job! Congrats on your climb.

[Above_Treeline]

What is brown and sticky?

What is red and smells like blue paint?

What does a baby horse eat?

What is the capitol of Rhode Island?

A brown stick

Red paint

Baby horse food

Providence

Wow, good job! Congrats on your climb.

Hahaha did I get them? Guessed on a couple

[Above_Treeline]

That was the peak my wife hiked as an adolescent as part of a summer church camp. Apparently there was some sort of monastery up there at the time. She really felt that peak was the "high point" of her camp experience!

Can definitely see why your wife felt that way! Really something coming out on the meadow, and looking over the 2500+ ft drop.

Impressive looking peak, from the other side of Las Vegas (NM,) even. Good article on the "hermit," who the locals thought was a healer, etc

http://blog.westernlifecamp.com/hermits ... dagostini/

Maybe I'll get around to posting photos

[Above_Treeline]

The elevation doesn't sound very impressive, but it's an impressive looking peak, when you approach it.

[Above_Treeline]

Almost summited today, got through the crux of the route making great time! But too much snow on top! That and the wind was howling and the sun starting to get low.

Maybe if I'd had my Sorels but I doubt I'd make good time in those. Plus It was 73° at lower elevations and I didn't see much snow looking at the mountain.

Got running shoes all wet and snowy. Impressive mountain though looked cool even a bit after getting off I- 40 around Santa Rosa!