De Baca County Highpoint Trip Report
Loma Alta (5,583 ft)
Date: December 6, 2007
Author: Jack Shiver
Hikers can approach this HP from the west -- at Vaughn, NM -- or from the east
–- at Fort Sumner.
Vaughn is the convergence of US highways 54, 60 & 285. Take the 54/60 turnoff
on the east side of town and go right on highway 60 as it breaks off 0.7 mile later.
You'll head east-southeast through ranchland and cholla cactus and 20.5
miles later (0.35 mile past milemarker 292) will go right on a wide gravel road
with a street sign that says "Loma Alta Rd". Take this road 1.1 miles to its
junction with Agua Buena Road, bear left (south-southeast) and drive along the
railroad tracks for a mile and a quarter to a second Loma Alta Road (no kidding).
Turn right, cross the tracks, and go 2 miles until you see a couple
of water tanks next to a high hill (the HP). Go right on the dirt road at these tanks.
A scant 0.4 mile later, as the road skirts the hill, is a big juniper
tree on the uphill side. Scale the hill here. It's a 70 yard walk (maybe 40
vertical feet) to the cairn.
The register is in a glass coffee jar. The original is a small envelope signed
by Ken Jones on 11/16/00. The 2nd register, a memo book, was placed by
Richard L. Carey of San Diego on 11/20/03. The HP looks like it should be at the eastern
edge of Loma Alta because of the sharp drop-off and the better views from there,
but it's closer to the western edge.
To approach this HP from the east, start at Ft. Sumner, NM and head west on
highway 60 for 33.5 miles. Just before reaching a set of radio towers at
milemarker 293, go left on El Rancho Road (there's a sign), then right on Loma
Alta Road 1.4 miles later. This is the same road that crosses the tracks a mile
and a quarter farther on. From there, look for the water tanks and the juniper tree.
All of these gravel roads are smooth and well maintained and would be no trouble
for a passenger car.