A Note on Climbing in New Mexico

[The following note was communicated to the writer by Kenneth Segerstrom of the United States Geological Survey.]

“The highest New Mexican range offers no rock climbing to speak of. The Sangre de Cristos lose their rugged character south of the Colorado line and while they remain high for eightymiles, their summits and ridges are like much of the Colorado Cordillera—sloping rather than craggy. I have climbed practically all the major peaks, and only on Truchas and Lake Peak did I find the going even mildly interesting. I conclude, therefore, that the best climbs in New Mexico are the lower ones, including: (1) the Organs; (2) the rock aiguilles on the west face of the Sandia Mountains; (3) the volcanic necks (a half dozen or more) between Mt. Taylor and the Jemez Mountains ; (4) several isolated mesas in western New Mexico, including Inscription Rock and Enchanted Mesa; (5) the monoliths and shiprock-like formations in the Navajo country; (6) canyon climbs throughout the state, particularly in the Chaco country of the West and the limestone Guadalupe Mountains of the south part of New Mexico,

Mr. Segerstrom states that even the more difficult summits he has reached have borne evidence of prior ascents, indicating that at least some technical climbing has been done in New Mexico.

Carleton C. Long.