Big Hatchet Mountains
![Big Hatchet Mountains is located in New Mexico](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/USA_New_Mexico_relief_location_map.svg/272px-USA_New_Mexico_relief_location_map.svg.png)
![Big Hatchet Mountains](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/39/Red_triangle_with_thick_white_border.svg/16px-Red_triangle_with_thick_white_border.svg.png)
((northwest)-Chihuahuan Desert)
Continental Divide of the Americas
Hatchita Valley-N & NE
Playas Valley-NW, W & SW
Alamo Hueco Mountains-S
The Big Hatchet Mountains are an 18 mi (29 km) long mountain range in southeast Hidalgo County, New Mexico, adjacent to the northern border of Chihuahua state, Mexico.
The range lies just south of a westerly excursion of the Continental Divide of the Americas; it lies on the eastern perimeter of the extensive, narrow, and north–south Playas Valley, and is the center range of three mostly arid, low to moderate-elevation ranges that lie on the valley's east perimeter. The mountain range lies in the extreme northwest of the Chihuahuan Desert.
Description
The range is 18 miles (29 km) long and only about eight miles (13 km) wide. It trends northwest by southeast as does the Alamo Hueco Mountains to the south; the Little Hatchet Mountains bordering the range northwest, trend similarly, but have a more true north traverse.
Geology, ecology, and access
Geologically this range is part of the Basin and Range Province which spans much of the southwestern U.S. and parts of northern Mexico. It is a fault-block range made up of Paleozoic limestone and Cretaceous shale and sandstones.[1]
Ecologically, the Big Hatchet Mountains lie near the Chihuahuan Desert and the Sonoran Desert, but their large relief provides many ecological niches more in keeping with the mountains to the north. Notable inhabitants include bats, raptors, bighorn sheep, and javelina.[1]
The Big Hatchet Mountains are far from population centers, and have no paved road access or developed recreation sites; they therefore see little recreational activity other than long-distance hikers who are either starting or completing the Continental Divide Trail. However, the standard route on the peak, along the South Ridge from Thompson Canyon, is straightforward.
Highpoints
The highest peak in the range, Big Hatchet Peak, 8,366 feet (2,550 m),[2] is at the northwest terminus of the range; the peak is located at 31°38′07″N 108°23′56″W / 31.63528°N 108.39889°W / 31.63528; -108.39889 (Big Hatchet Peak). Zeller Peak 7,426 feet (2,263 m) is two miles north of Big Hatchet Peak. Another peak anchors the southeast terminus of the range, New Well Peak, at 6,284 feet (1,915 m).
Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
The Continental Divide lies north of the Big Hatchet Mountains and traverses the northern Playas Valley on its water divide. The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT) is routed through the Big Hatchets on two alternative trails, one at the center and the other in the north; also subtrails lead off in a southeasterly direction. The main traverse of the CDT exits from the southwest quarter of the range, to meet the northwest end of the Alamo Hueco Mountains.
- Big Hatchet Mountains from the northeast
- Sunrise on the Hatchet Mountains viewed from the southeast, on the CDT
- Example of the complex geology in the range from the Big Hatchet Mountains Wilderness Study Area
References
- ^ a b Butterfield, Mike, and Greene, Peter, Mike Butterfield's Guide to the Mountains of New Mexico, New Mexico Magazine Press, 2006, ISBN 978-0-937206-88-1
- ^ New Mexico, DeLorme Atlas & Gazetteer, p. 52-53.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Big Hatchet Peak at summitpost.org (Climbing info, pictures)
- Big Hatchet Peak, (New Mexico Ranges, UTM table), elevation: 8356 ft
- Big Hatchet Mountains, mountainzone
- Greater Big Hatchet Complex on nmwild.org
- v
- t
- e
- Black Mountain (Catron County)
- McKnight Mountain
- Cerro Grande
- Chicoma Mountain
- Redondo Peak
- South Baldy
- Pyramid Peak
(Cibola County)
- Mount Taylor
- West Blue Mountain
Manzano Mountains | |
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Sandia Mountains |
Cimarron Range |
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Taos Mountains |
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Others |
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- Haystack Mountain
- Mount Sedgwick
- Aden Crater
- Alamo Hueco Mountains
- Animas Mountains
- Brazos Mountains
- Caballo Mountains
- Canjilón Mountain
- Canyon Creek Mountains
- Capitan Mountains
- Capulin Peak
- Cedar Mountain Range
- Datil Mountains
- Dirty Point
- Doña Ana Mountains
- Eagle Peak
- East Potrillo Mountains
- Elephant Butte (Hidalgo County)
- Elephant Butte (Sierra County)
- Fajada Butte
- Florida Mountains
- Franklin Mountains
- Granite Peak
- Guadalupe Mountains
- Guadalupe Mountains (Hidalgo County)
- Hosta Butte
- Hueco Mountains
- Huérfano Mountain
- Jicarilla Mountains
- Jornada del Muerto Volcano
- Ladron Peak
- Little Burro Mountains
- Little Hatchet Mountains
- Little San Pascual Mountain
- Luera Mountains
- Sierra Nacimiento
- Ocate Peak
- Ortiz Mountains
- Picacho Mountain
- Robledo Mountains
- San Antonio Mountain
- San Mateo Mountains (Socorro County)
- Sierra Aguilada
- Sierra Blanca
- Sierra de las Uvas
- West Potrillo Mountains