| |
| Cerros de Alejandro - McKinley COHP, NM | | -
| 1 label |  |
|
|
-
| 1 label |  |
|
|
-
| |  |
|
1 |
-
| 2 labels |  |
|
|
-
| |  |
|
1 |
-
-
-
| 1 label |  |
|
|
-
| 1 label |  |
|
|
-
| 1 label |  |
|
|
|
| | Cerros de Alejandro - McKinley COHP, NM | | | |
|
|
Cerros de Alejandro - McKinley COHP, NM
| | |
|
| Hiking | 5.33 Miles |
734 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.33 Miles | 2 Hrs 17 Mns | | 2.50 mph |
| 734 ft AEG | 9 Mns Break | | | |
|
|
| |
| Linked |
|
none
[ show ]
| no linked trail guides |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | This hike was to the summit of Cerros de Alejandro (elevation of 9,166 feet and prominence of 606 feet), the highpoint of McKinley County. McKinley County is in western New Mexico; the county seat is Gallup. The county was created in 1901 and is named for U.S. President William McKinley. Around 75% of McKinley County residents are native American, and in terms of per capita income the county is among the poorest counties in the U.S.
I drove in north of Grants, skirting the town of San Mateo. I made my way to FR-456 and then FR-239. FR-456 was in good shape; FR-239 started off ok but then there was lots of bedrock on the road for the last 4 miles that I was on it. I mean LOTS of bedrock -- it took me about 40 minutes to drive those 4 miles. I didn't really need 4WD or even high clearance for that matter, but I was glad to have some good beefy tires. I finally got tired of FR-239 and looked at a topo map and noticed a road to my right, so I took it. I drove for a half mile or so and parked. I could have easily driven further but by that point I was ready to hike.
I could see the peak from where I parked, so route-finding was not a problem. I walked on roads for a bit, and then went to the summit via some slopes to the NW of the summit. I would describe it as hiking through open country; there were some pinyon pines and small gambel oaks, but they were easy to go around. It got a little steep on the way up, but it wasn't too bad.
Once at the summit I spotted wood and wires from the height-of-light. I located the benchmark and both reference marks; all 3 flivers were stamped "ALEJAN".
There were nice, unobstructed, 360 degree views at the summit. It was quiet and peaceful up there, and there were no signs of civilization for miles around.
I returned basically the same way that I came up. |
|
Wildflowers Observation Isolated
I saw a few fleabane and Indian paintbrush, but that was about it. |
|
| _____________________
| Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there |
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Route Editor
Route Scout
Route 
