Reeves County High Point Trip Report

Date: March 10, 2001
Author Andy Martin

Met others in Balmorhea and headed to a ranch headquarters west of the Barilla Mountains, where previous arrangements had been made to talk to the ranch manager. We had already arranged access permission. Please ask for permission before driving this route, it is on private property. The manager discussed our route, and his maps were better than mine, surely a first. The route heads east from highway 17 on a good dirt road, starting at BM 4134. It continues past Poly windmill, over a small pass, and towards Park Windmill. The ridge top road shown on the map leading to High Park Windmill is unused, don't take it. Instead, head SE along a rough road that follows South Carrizo Draw. You can get to Hernandez Windmill with 4wd, but we parked 1/4 mile earlier. From here is a short hike with a 500' gain to the top. An old bulldozer trace makes a good route up the hill. We found Bob Packard's large cairn on top, and wandered around a bit. No fence line is found on the county line. The volcanic rock had some nice agate stones scattered about, and we picked up a few on the hike back to the vehicles.