Lincoln County High Point Trip Report
Lookout Mountain (11,580 ft)
Date: October 30, 2002
Author: James Wedekind
Lookout Mountain and Sierra Blanca make for a great day hike with amazing views of White Sands,
the Capitan Mountains, and El Malpais (lava flows). The trailhead I used is located just above the gate for
Ski Apache. Crest Trail #25 leads from this point to the ridge, and allows pleasant hiking conditions that avoid
hiking directly up ski runs. I took this route because I wanted to enjoy the hike instead of just completing it.
I stayed left at all junctions and tried to maintain a line parallel to the ski area boundary. Upon reaching a
junction approximately 2 miles up the mountain, I veered left across a drainage and encountered Ice Spring
within 50 yards (the other trail is a switchback to the right back up the slope). I followed this trail to the
ridge and the upper gondola terminus. From there it's an easy hike up the Lookout summit.
The summit has a concrete observation platform with spectacular views of Sierra Blanca and the
surrounding areas. On my hike, the wind was creating a substantial plume originating from the Sierra Blanca summit.
I hate to compliment graffiti, but the picture painted on the observation deck was quite interesting,
and I almost thought it was part of the original design.
Ascent time was 1 hour 10 minutes.