Eddy County High Point Trip Report

Date: May 31, 2002
Author: Fred Lobdell

unsuccessful attempt

Mike Schwartz kindly failed to mention that I turned back on this one. We did almost everything wrong here. We got started around noon on a day when the temperature approached (or hit) triple digits, brought only two quarts of water apiece, wore shorts through a lot of unfriendly vegetation, and in general seriously underestimated this hike. Scott Surgent's report said, "This is a strenuous hike." He's right. John Mitchler's report recommended long pants. He's right, too. I was moving very slowly and holding Mike back, so I turned around and started the return trip a couple of hundred feet below the summit. I think the heat got to me more than anything else. If you're foolish enough to attempt this one at this time of year, a 6 a.m. start (or a cloudy day) would be best.