Doug Kerr
Well-known member
Sierra Blanca Peak, at 11,981 ft MSL, is the pinnacle of the Sierra Blanca mountain range in south-central New Mexico. It rises over 8,000 feet above the surrounding "basin", and its topographic prominence is 5533 feet. (That is a formal measure of how far a peak rises above the immediately-surrounding terrain; the actual definition is fairly fussy, but you get the idea.) It is considered an "ultra" peak among mountain experts.
It is about 30 miles to the north from our home in Alamogordo.
Its name, Spanish for "White Mountain", comes from the fact that it is snow-covered for most of the winter season.
Here we see a view of the peak, to the east across the desert from US highway 54/70 about ten miles north of Alamogordo.
Douglas A. Kerr: Sierra Blanca Peak, New Mexico
Shot with a Canon PowerShot G16. Full-frame, ex camera except for small enhancement of contrast,
then downsized to 800 px wide, with some post-sizing sharpening.
The peak can be seen from most of this area—but not from our home, where the view is blocked by our own Sacramento Mountains (we have such an embarrassment of riches here). It can in fact be seen from Sandia Crest, the mountain peak near Albuquerque, 135 miles to the north.
The peak is actually located within the Mescalero Apache Indian reservation.
In its eastern foothills (serious foothills!) is the charming town of Ruidoso, N.M. This is a town filled with artists and artisans, art galleries, and great restaurants. Its name is Spanish for "noisy", recognizing the "noisy river" (Rio Ruidoso) that runs through it.
There is so much beauty in the state of New Mexico.
Best regards,
Doug
It is about 30 miles to the north from our home in Alamogordo.
Its name, Spanish for "White Mountain", comes from the fact that it is snow-covered for most of the winter season.
Here we see a view of the peak, to the east across the desert from US highway 54/70 about ten miles north of Alamogordo.
Douglas A. Kerr: Sierra Blanca Peak, New Mexico
Shot with a Canon PowerShot G16. Full-frame, ex camera except for small enhancement of contrast,
then downsized to 800 px wide, with some post-sizing sharpening.
The peak can be seen from most of this area—but not from our home, where the view is blocked by our own Sacramento Mountains (we have such an embarrassment of riches here). It can in fact be seen from Sandia Crest, the mountain peak near Albuquerque, 135 miles to the north.
The peak is actually located within the Mescalero Apache Indian reservation.
In its eastern foothills (serious foothills!) is the charming town of Ruidoso, N.M. This is a town filled with artists and artisans, art galleries, and great restaurants. Its name is Spanish for "noisy", recognizing the "noisy river" (Rio Ruidoso) that runs through it.
There is so much beauty in the state of New Mexico.
Best regards,
Doug
