Baylor Peak • Hike • New Mexico • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

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Nov 24 2017

Booneman

Guides 9
Routes 33
Photos 780
Triplogs 4,634

44 male

Joined Nov 25 2008
Scottsdale, AZ

Baylor Peak

Southwest, NM

Baylor Peak

Southwest, NM

Hiking		Nov 24 2017
		Booneman • Triplogs 4,634

Hiking	8.65 Miles	2,875 AEG

Hiking	8.65 Miles	3 Hrs 15 Mns	2.66 mph
	2,875 ft AEG

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I drove all the way out to White Sands and changed my plans when the line of cars backed up to the highway. That and the bus loads of kids with saucer sleds running around the visitors center. So with the remaining daylight, I wanted to hike Baylor Peak. I went up the West side, which reminded me of Bell Pass, for the first 3.5 miles. Then it was up another 1300ft in just .8 miles on a faint path to the peak. I reached the top just before sundown and hurried back to the main trail with fleeting light. I'm really glad I went for it and didn't turn around at the saddle. This was a great day hike and fairly challenging.

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2 archives

Mar 18 2015

The_Dude

Guides 1
Routes 136
Photos 1,367
Triplogs 364

47 male

Joined Jun 10 2011
Phoenix, AZ

Baylor Peak

Southwest, NM

Baylor Peak

Southwest, NM

Hiking		Mar 18 2015
		The_Dude • Triplogs 364

Hiking	8.60 Miles	2,845 AEG

Hiking	8.60 Miles	3 Hrs 28 Mns		2.73 mph
	2,845 ft AEG	19 Mns Break	12 LBS Pack

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Baylor Pass

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I had a work trip out to El Paso and Las Cruces, great chance for a hike! I had done the Baylor Pass trail a few years ago and enjoyed it, but inclement weather kept me from getting in the peak as well. Rain threatened again this time, but it just stayed cloudy with a few scattered sprinkles. I parked at the west side trailhead about 4 in the afternoon to begin my adventure. The Baylor Pass trail is in really good condition, nice consistent elevation gain to the pass with nothing too steep. Great trail through Oaks and Sotols, very little bloom yet since it is a bit early in the year. The trail to the peak is a bit faint in spots, but pretty easy to follow until you get to the first false summit. From here, it is rock hopping and picking your way over to the peak. There is about 1300' of gain in 0.8 miles, so it is good and steep for sure. This route was completely non-technical, but there were some spots where it was helpful to use my hands to keep going. Definitely not a trail for those that have a fear of heights...I took a quick break up top, but the wind was howling. I was in my usual hiking gear, t-shirt and shorts, so I headed back down before getting too cold. Caught a great sunset on the way out, and there was a bunch of yellow evening Primrose that had opened up and bloomed by the time I got back to my car. Great hike if you are in the area!

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Yellow Primrose

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Jan 19 2015

duleonar

Routes 1
Triplogs 1

44 male

Joined Aug 07 2014
Las Cruces, NM

Baylor Peak

Southwest, NM

Baylor Peak

Southwest, NM

Hiking		Jan 19 2015
		duleonar • Triplogs 1

Hiking	7.50 Miles	2,875 AEG

Hiking	7.50 Miles	5 Hrs 30 Mns	1.58 mph
	2,875 ft AEG	45 Mns Break

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Just got back from Baylor Peak. I like to hike it at least once a year. I prefer trails that I can do without needing full climbing gear, and although the the section from the pass to the peak is not easy, it doesn't require gear. It was just as dry and full of cactus as last year, and the views are still just as amazing.

From the parking lot to the pass, it's a really easy family hike, but once you make the turn north and begin heading up to the peak, it begins to demand a little more endurance and stamina.

I recommend plenty of water, snacks and a good hiking stick/pole.

Here's last year's trip up. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0OUvcCPYf0

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Nov 11 2013

Jim

Guides 73
Routes 176
Photos 10,174
Triplogs 2,324

46 male

Joined Sep 08 2006

Baylor Peak

Southwest, NM

Baylor Peak

Southwest, NM

Hiking		Nov 11 2013
		Jim • Triplogs 2,324

Hiking	7.50 Miles	2,875 AEG

Hiking	7.50 Miles	5 Hrs 10 Mns	1.45 mph
	2,875 ft AEG

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I missed a hike up Big Baldy last week, but I still needed to go to Las Cruces to shop and I like to hike in the Organs. I had wanted to hike this again for a little while, and so I went with it.

The area is a bit healthier than last year, as all the monsoon rain produced a lot of growth. Today was also a lot nicer than last year, when cold winds were blowing me off the summit. I found the trail above the saddle a little more confusing this time. Often it dies out at odd spots. It was confusing even when descending.

Visibility was much better this time, but it still wasn't perfect. With the basin being so low and so close to El Paso, TX, my guess is that clear views of the Guadalupes are not common.

Some creature has made the summit cairn it's home, and is protecting it's investment with piles of cholla placed all over it. Aren't rodents fun! Finding a spot to sits is a bit harder with this, but what can you do?

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Bison (American Buffalo)

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] HAZ Food

Meteorology

Meteorology [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Sunset

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Dec 09 2012

Jim

Guides 73
Routes 176
Photos 10,174
Triplogs 2,324

46 male

Joined Sep 08 2006

Baylor Peak

Southwest, NM

Baylor Peak

Southwest, NM

Hiking		Dec 09 2012
		Jim • Triplogs 2,324

Hiking	7.50 Miles	2,875 AEG

Hiking	7.50 Miles	4 Hrs 35 Mns	1.70 mph
	2,875 ft AEG	10 Mns Break

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I really wanted to summit something in the Organ Mountains before winter set in. I was about a day too late for that, as it was cold, and extremely windy. I haven't had winds like today since one of my really windy Humphrey summits in the winter of 2011. It was hard to stand up at times on the ridge, but not the summit, and in the saddle it was gusting to well over 60 MPH. You know it is windy when you can't walk straight and have a hard time standing up.

A really nice summit, but just OK views due to the wind whipping up dust and the haze from the cold front. I could not see Sierra Blanca, but should have been able to as there was nothing in the way except dust. Also, I probably could have seen Guadalupe Peak, but I do not think I could due to dust. What seemed like it might have been Guadalupe, was probably some other lower peak further west of it.

I ran down some of the best sections of trail to make up time, as it was getting late. I caught a really lovely sunset from the old gate at the 1 mile mark, and was at my car well before it got dark.

I know it is early winter, but man is this a drab range. Brown, gray, and brown. Nothing seems green at all. The desert might get hot in summer, but the range is high, dry and cold. I've seen better vegetation at lower altitudes in dry parts of Arizona. I could tell this is not a true granite range, too. The rock has no large quartz crystals in it. For the area, is is about as close to granite as you can get.

Overall, the area felt a lot like the dry spots on the Fatman's Loop near Flagstaff, except with towering peaks just to the south. It was nice seeing some Arizona White Oaks on the trail. Other than those trees, this is not a lush hike at all. Maybe in August?

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WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

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