This section is one of the last remaining outposts where you can still glimpse the Old West, reports mapper Andrew Matranga, who charted this rugged tour de force through the creosote flats and cholla jungles of New Mexico's boot heel. Here, the desert reveals its Jekyll-and-Hyde dualism. Some moments, it envelops you in a tranquil, gold-streaked sunrise; other times, it lashes you with skinscouring winds. If you go, cache water, buy a wide-brimmed hat, and wear low gaiters to guard against sand and cactus needles.
The flat terrain means you can log big miles, but scant water means you’ll carry hefty loads. From the Crazy Cook Monument, which marks the CDT’s official southern terminus, the path crawls northwest across sagebrush flats to the Big Hatchet Mountains. Camp at the mouth of Sheridan Canyon, 17 miles from the border, where a shade tree blocks the sun. On day two, trek across a windblown landscape and paved NM 81 to camp at Granite Pass, overlooking the Little Hatchets. The next day runs through rock gardens with foot-long lizards, then past Broken Jug Pass, Hachita Peak, and an 1880s mining encampment.
Cross the Continental Divide—here, it’s an indistinct point on the plain—then press on to NM 9 and your hike’s end.
Mapped by Team Southern Terminus: Dave German, Judy Rittenhouse, Jim Newman Jimmy McElroy, Brian Daigle, Andrew Matranga
TO TRAILHEAD: This is a remote trailhead and transportation can be difficult. From Hachita, take NM 81 S. Turn L @ BLM Wilderness Study Area and parallel the Big Hatchets until windmill at the old Mengus Camp. Turn L and bounce on rutted roads until barbed-wire fence. CDT Guide Sam Hughes can help with shuttles and logistics (Fees vary. Send correspondence to: P.O. Box 95, Hachita, NM, 88040).
Position Format:
Datum:
Tracks
NM01
Distance: 48.78 mi
Points: 13857
Calories: none
Total Time: none
Speed: 0.0 mph
Pace: 0:00 / mi
Active Time: none
Speed: 0.0 mph
Pace: 0:00 / mi
Continental Divide Trail New Mexico Section 1 (Track 1)
Points of Interest
Checking in with Border Patrol
Location: 31.905634, -108.317062
CDT guide Sam Hughes talks with US Border Patrol en route to dropping off Team Southern Terminus at the border. (Photo: Andrew Matranga)
Prepping
Location: 31.495136, -108.209488
Team Southern Terminus readies for the trail from the Crazy Cook Monument at the Mexico-US border. (Photo: Jim Newman)
Team Southern Terminus
Location: 31.497931, -108.214027
The six members of Team Southern Terminus as they shove off from the border. (Photo: Jim Newman)
Crazy Cook Monument
Location: 31.495558, -108.208809
This poured-concrete marker notes the southern Terminus of the CDT. (Photo: Jimmy McElroy)
NM001
Location: 31.495399, -108.208488
United States and Mexico border where the Continental Divide Trail Southern Terminus departs from the Crazy Cook Monument. Head N on jeep track along barbed-wire international border fence and follow cross-country route through cactus, creoste and cholla. There are ample views south to the Alama Hueco Mountains over the low-slung scrub.
Into the flats
Location: 31.496244, -108.223175
The team heads through cresote and sagebrush. (Photo: Jim Newman)
Audio Post #1
Location: 31.496161, -108.220436
BACKPACKER Assistant Map Editor Andrew Matranga checks in from near the southern terminus on the opening stretch of the CDT.
NM002
Location: 31.498661, -108.230209
Middle of the cross-country route. Check out Little Top Hat Butte to the west
Orange Flag
Location: 31.499189, -108.230812
This was our route for much of the hike: orange flags fluttering in the wind. In the early, open sections, the re-routed trail was easy to find--like in this this picture. (Photo: Jim Newman)
First Windmill
Location: 31.500706, -108.234253
Andrew narrates the opening section of the CDT from the Southern Terminus.
Tire
Location: 31.501471, -108.238434
One of the first "water" sources. but full of algae, bugs, and other not-so-great elements. This is the key hurdle of this section: paucity of water and long distances between potential caches. (Photo: Jim Newman)
NM003
Location: 31.501585, -108.240204
Cow camp and windmill; sketchy water in a big tire; decaying adobe
Windmill
Location: 31.501669, -108.240875
(Photo: Andrew Matranga)
NM004
Location: 31.502932, -108.241776
L @ Y onto jeep track
Quick break
Location: 31.535170, -108.289444
Dave, Brian, and Jimmy rest near the Big Hatchets. (Photo: Jim Newman)
Follow the signs
Location: 31.542150, -108.294876
Interspersed between the orange flagging were official CDT signs. The Big Hatchet Mountains swell in the background. (Photo: Jim Newman)
NM005
Location: 31.545868, -108.295845
Keep L on jeep track; R goes to Sheridan Tank (unreliable water)
NM006
Location: 31.555584, -108.302322
Left onto the gravel track
Desert flower
Location: 31.555418, -108.303368
There were many cacti flowering in this early season. (Photo: Jim Newman)
NM007
Location: 31.565485, -108.314400
Cross through barbed-wire fence
NM008
Location: 31.567287, -108.316750
Turn L out of the wash and look for cairn and CDT signs. There is a large, now-dead oak tree in the center of the wash. This is where you turn
Inside the Big Hatchets
Location: 31.569748, -108.321945
Evening light plays over Sheridan Canyon and the interior of the Big Hatchet Mountains. (Photo: Jimmy McElroy)
NM009
Location: 31.568754, -108.325264
Good camping in a protected pocket of Sheridan Canyon. Shade tree as well
Audio Post#2
Location: 31.568998, -108.325180
Team Southern Terminus checks in from Sheridan Canyon on night one of their trip.
First camp
Location: 31.570808, -108.328316
The team preps dinner in Sheridan Canyon after a 17-mile first day. (Photo: Jim Newman)
NM010
Location: 31.567579, -108.326447
CDT sign that routes north into Sheridan Canyon
NM011
Location: 31.592806, -108.333900
CDT Sign
In bloom
Location: 31.601591, -108.319824
Wispy flowers from along the trail. (Photo: Jim Newman)
NM012
Location: 31.606955, -108.312019
Here the CDT re-routes to a cross-country route along the foothills of the Big Hatchet Mountains. Tried to follow the orange flag, but every ochotillo bush has orange flowers that flutter in the wind not unlike the flagging. Constant views over the Hachita Valley and the northern spread of the Sierra Madre Occidental Mountains of Mexico. There will some wind and plenty of drainage crossings, which are short and steep. Watch footing, as the washes are crumbly and must flood during monsoon season.
Audio Post #3
Location: 31.606817, -108.311943
Andrew checks in as the team starts the ridgewalk on a proposed re-alignment of the CDNST. Prior to the trip, the team worked with the wilderness managers from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)Las Cruces division to scout this still-to-be marked area. One goal of BACKPACKER's CDT Project is to help federal officials solidify sections of trail, namely in regions like New Mexico's Bootheel region.
Fossil
Location: 31.611021, -108.314728
Dave displays what looks to be an ancient seabed (Photo: Andrew Matranga)
Audio Post #4
Location: 31.640448, -108.339874
The team checks at lunch in the minimal shade of Thompson Canyon.
Smells of the desert
Location: 31.627562, -108.334312
Judy sniffs at some blooming desert flowers. (Photo: Andrew Matranga)
From below Bugle Ridge
Location: 31.618275, -108.322662
Andrew narrates a scenic, but difficult, stretch of the CDT where the views open over Mexico and the Big Hatchets.
Eggs
Location: 31.636618, -108.338394
It's easy to overlook signs of life in the desert, but Dave pointed out this nest with a few eggs. Good catch. (Photo: Jim Newman)
Location: 31.680031, -108.371056
Two-track; decent hiking, but not a great driving road
Big view
Location: 31.699509, -108.394501
Hiking along the eastern flank of the Big Hatchets, we reached the northern ridges where we could see the Little Hatchets to the north. (Photo: Jimmy McElroy)
NM016
Location: 31.690550, -108.381920
Fence
NM017
Location: 31.710245, -108.406219
Dirt road. Continue across the west end of the Hachita Valley near Hatchet Gap--a small break in the hills between the Animas Valley and the Hachita Valley. This section will be windy, hold on to your hats!
Across the Big Hatchets
Location: 31.721254, -108.409660
Jim Newman leads Team Southern Terminus away from the dusty, northern fringe of the Big Hatchet Mountains. (Photo: Jimmy McElroy)
NM018
Location: 31.733122, -108.412674
Cross blacktop of New Mexico 81
Looking south at the Big Hatchets from NM 81
Location: 31.733776, -108.412956
Team Southern Terminus looks back on the first two days of hiking after reaching NM 81 on day two. (Photo: Andrew Matranga)
NM019
Location: 31.735329, -108.414040
CDT on jeep track, will soon fade and route goes cross country again
Along the Little Hatchets
Location: 31.758020, -108.416695
The view north from the flats of the eastern edge of the Little Hatchets. (Photo: Jimmy McElroy)
NM020
Location: 31.773825, -108.425156
Pass a fence then a road
NM021
Location: 31.778715, -108.426842
Camp at Granite Pass. Best campsites on ridge to the W (off CDT)
Audio Post #6
Location: 31.832752, -108.431877
Andrew checks in from a small hill near Broken Jug Pass and muses at the topography of the Little Hatchets compared to their bigger mountainous brother to the S.
NM022
Location: 31.802071, -108.430031
Cross wash
NM023
Location: 31.806692, -108.427826
Pass through fench
NM024
Location: 31.819250, -108.428871
Sign on R
Lizard on day three
Location: 31.838757, -108.423210
While hiking down from Broken Jug Pass on day three, Dave, Judy and Andrew roused a lizard who spent some time watching them. (Photo: Andrew Matranga)
NM025
Location: 31.861279, -108.414452
Cross road. Proposed trail heads NE on a cross-country route where there is no trail tread (there is a cairn and orange flags, then CDT signs). We missed this turn and hiked the road up near the old Hachita mining district.
NM026
Location: 31.904964, -108.419189
Turn R and head due N
NM027
Location: 31.908298, -108.417366
Cairns on both sides of the road. Continue N
NM028
Location: 31.913847, -108.415062
Continue R, bearing due N
NM029
Location: 31.920673, -108.408760
Here we met back up with the CDT signs and the current re-route. From this spot, the trail heads up and over a series of small hills. In this section, the signs were spaced about 150 yards, which would have been helpful in the previous section that we missed. Collectively, the team wondered about the trail building plan and how best to spread resources in this section. The marking left something to be desired in some crucial areas.
NM030
Location: 31.930338, -108.436653
R out of wash formed in Baylor Canyon's eastern spread
NM031
Location: 31.942062, -108.442841
CDT crosses two track
Live from the Continental Divide
Location: 31.952822, -108.442223
Andrew checks in from where this section of trail first crosses the Continental Divide.
NM032
Location: 31.953220, -108.441757
The trail crosses the Continental Divide for the first time on the trip. While confusing (and anticlimactic) to the hiker, this route is necessary because the true Continental Divide runs through the Animas Mountains to the W. Those lands are owned by the Animas Foundation, which forbids hiking on the ecologically sensitive desert terrains.
NM033
Location: 31.965235, -108.439384
Fence and old railroad bed
Finished
Location: 31.967892, -108.438095
Andrew Matranga crosses through the gate at NM 9 to finish section one of CDT in record time: 51 miles in 24 hours of hiking time.
NM034
Location: 31.916098, -108.322380
The home of CDT Trail Guide Sam Hughes in Hachita.
Church in Hachita
Location: 31.915070, -108.321053
We whizzed by Saint Catherine of Siena Church en route to the trailhead. (Photo: Andrew Matranga)
Audio Post #7
Location: 31.915823, -108.321930
The team checks in from El Charro restaurant in Lourdsburg, NM, for a post-trip burrito and final satellite update.
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