0.6 mi to summit
1.2 mi total
4,010 ft start
350 ft gain
20 min to summit
40 min total
A very foggy morning made for an interesting day. This peak sits alone on the desert floor and is typically visible for many miles. The day I hiked it, I couldn't see it until I was on its slope. The summit ridge is narrow with several high outcrops. I approached the peak from a user road west of the mountain. The primary means of getting to this mountain is via the Old Las Cruces Highway. That "highway" is little more than a dirt track. While a high clearance vehicle may suffice, some sandy areas could be an issue so a HC-4WD vehicle is recommended. To get to the area, head west from Alamogordo on US-70. About a mile before you get to the White Sands National Park turnoff, look for the Walker Ranch sign with a double gate on the Southside of the highway. The road is on BLM land so there's no access issue. A paved road takes you south but as you near the Walker Ranch you need to leave the paved road and take the gravel/dirt road to the left which bypasses the ranch. You will go through two gates. The road will eventually split, the one on the right takes you to Twin Buttes and the one on the left to Lone Mountain. Having a map is a must as there are a number of roads in the area.
Trailhead was a user road that runs north-south along the westside of the mountain.
out-and-backweather
trekking poles, GPS device