Catron County Highpoint Trip Report

Whitewater Baldy

Date: January 2, 2006
Author: W. Mallory

The normal route from Sandy Point was not available since the Bursum Road is closed for the season. That's unfortunate since there is very little snow in this area. After a long, 49-mile drive (30 of it on gravel) from Reserve, NM, to the Willow Creek Trailhead, I used Trail #151 for 1 mile and then #172 for 7 miles to reach the top. Trail #151 is well used & maintained but #172 is a little less distinguishable, especially as you get higher. The trail goes very close to the top of a 9,600+ foot point which rises about 320 feet above the saddle, making it a ranked peak. On my way down, I passed a backpacker on his way up.