"As is often he case, road access is a primary challenge especially when there's a mix of property ownership. Both Soldiers Farewell and Bessie are on BLM land but mixed in with NM State and private lands. Maps show various roads close to Soldiers Farewell and Bessie Rhodes, such as Butterfield Trail, and depending on the map, appear to be county roads. Reality is all roads around Soldiers and Bessie are not public accessible roads. County roads in the area are: Separ, Gage and Jones Ranch. For this hike I started from a "Ranch Maintenance Road" as indicated by a self-made sign, east of Soldiers Farewell and north of an unnamed mountain (Peak 5629). This "Ranch Maintenance Road" starts off Gage Road (N32.3508, W108.2751). Its 1.1 miles north of a signed junction, TO SEPAR / GAGE. The road is fully on NM State Trust land. About a mile in you hit a locked gate with warning signs, yet the land on the other side of the fence is BLM. Private property doesn't start for about another quarter mile unless you hike southwest to adjoining NM State land. While I have made an email inquiry to BLM-Las Cruces, I'm guessing BLM has given permission to the ranch to lock the gate given any roads in t..." — fredbrown585 • Feb 19, 2022