Quartz Mountain

November 26, 2022

The CDT south from US 90 to ridge topped with dazzling white quartz is one of our favorite hikes. We returned on a breezy but sunny, Fall day with Miguel and Dale M., a visitor from Indiana. Below is a mixture of photos taken by Dennis, Dale and me. Despite the wind, we were quickly peeling off layers, and we found a nice spot in the lee of the wind for lunch. The rocks, as always, are astonishing, including not only massive blocks of quartz, but also mica, fluorite and possibly galena.

Dennis, Dale and Miguel, trying not to get blown off the mountain.

CDT: US 90 to the Co-op Mine

February 6, 2022

We've been slowly hiking nearby sections of the Continental Divide Trail, which passes right through Silver City. One Sunday morning we got a wild hair after breakfast to hike another chunk. We chose a section south from US 90 to the Co-op Mine, which we thought would be just a nice Sunday afternoon stroll.

The trail meandered gently through a lovely piñon, juniper and scrub oak forest and across a series of sandy washes where patches of snow exhaled cool, damp air.

Then it surprised us by climbing to an open granite ridge with stupefying views of the Cooke's Range, the Black Range and beyond. Scroll for a panorama.

But the icing on the cake was a final scamper to the top of a small mountain whose summit was capped with the purest white quartz. I've read that the village of "White Signal" was named for these quartz-topped peaks.

Enjoying a cup of our new favorite winter hiking beverage — a mixture of piñon chocolate coffee, hot water and a little cocoa powder.

A huge chunk of quartz, shot with veins of scintillating mica.

Panorama from the summit of the quartz mountain. From here we could see all the way to Deming and beyond, to the shimmering Animas Playa and the snow-shrouded Chiricahuas. A fantastic hike close to home, 8.4 miles and 700' gain/loss. Scroll for a panorama.