I first got hiking in my blood when I joined Boy Scout Troop 166 in Albuquerque… more
I first got hiking in my blood when I joined Boy Scout Troop 166 in Albuquerque at age 11, in 1966. We went on camping and backpacking outings about … more
I first got hiking in my blood when I joined Boy Scout Troop 166 in Albuquerque at age 11, in 1966. We went on camping and backpacking outings about once every month. I was the senior patrol leader of our troop for a year and went on to become an Eagle Scout. I was a rafting guide for 10 seasons in northern New Mexico guiding the Taos Box and Race Course, then at about age 50 I decided to start knocking off the highest peaks in New Mexico. My family hiked some peaks with me, mostly my son Garret and daughter Christina. Garret got worn out of it in 2015 and I have burned out most family and friends. It is a treat for me when a friend hikes along. "The thing" is to hike Colorado 14K peaks but few people hike the high elevation peaks of New Mexico. I wanted to do something no one has ever done before. High elevation New Mexico peaks are just as beautiful and, in some ways, more so than the high elevation Colorado peaks. I truly believe the high peaks in New Mexico are more difficult than the high peaks in Colorado because they are not plotted out and many do not have trails and it takes hard bushwacking to conquer these peaks. Many do have wonderful trails and the hiking joy is abundant. In 2006 I set a goal to hike all the 13K and 12K peaks in New Mexico as respectfully as possible, with a minimum 3 miles per hike with some backpacking trips being as long as 50 miles. I was nearing my goal so I expanded it to include all the 11K peaks, as I was nearing that goal, I expanded it to include the highest 102 major mountain peaks (Prominence of 300 feet and above) and ever minor peak in between. (The minor peaks are just as hard as the major peaks and in some cases more so.) The list expanded to 184 (186) peaks and is VERY VERY inclusive. I finally accomplished my 16-year goal September of 2021! I have hiked an additional 100 peaks on top of those including repeats. These peaks include the highest peak in California and my longest hike at 64 miles (age 60), the highest peak in Arizona (age 61), the highest peak in Colorado (age 65), and 4 times the highest peak in New Mexico, most recently at ages 63 and 66. .......................................................................
See the list of highest 184 (186) peaks in New Mexico - Paste to see . ............................................
https://peakbagger.com/list.aspx?lid=-925606&cid=1477 .......................................
I am very slowly adding YouTube videos of the Highest Peaks in NM. - Paste to see........................
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCicI-J-2dcQ2IDkdA_JwdOQ/featured ....................................................
Phil Robinson quote to ponder.........."The reason people cannot hike mountain peaks is not because of age, it is because they do not hike them.".....................................................................................
It has been such a joy to see every corner of New Mexico. As I drive around New Mexico, I've pretty much been on every high mountain peak that there is. What is exciting for me is that every high elevation peak I see isn't just a peak for me any longer, every peak has transitioned to a whole story for me. I re-live those stories as I drive New Mexico...........................................................
“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, (Even hiking every single mountain peak in the entire world), yet forfeit his soul?” Mark 8:36 (Phil parentheses) ……………. The morning light over the mountain, John 3:16!.........................
A sad note, my wife in a number of these trip reports, who hiked 2 peaks with me, backpacked twice, and went on numerous camping trips, as of this writing insert, February 2023, we have been divorced one year. She abandoned me four years ago this coming May. I was always faithful to her and she said she had never seen a lack of Integrity in me. I lost my best friend, my love, and tried everything I could think of to keep us together, yet life goes on. As difficult as it has been for me, I have to view it all through the beautiful lens of Romans 8:28, beauty in the midst of the storm. less
