South Baldy (New Mexico)

Infobox Mountain
Name = South Baldy
Photo =
Caption =
Elevation = 10,783 ft (3,287 m)
Location = Socorro County, New Mexico, USA
Range = Magdalena Mountains
Coordinates = coord|33|59|27|N|107|11|15|W|type:mountain_region:US-NM|display=inline,title
Prominence = 3,813 ft (1,162 m) [http://www.listsofjohn.com/NewMexico/Prominence/Prominence.php NM prominent peaks on Lists Of John] ]
Topographic
USGS South Baldy (NM)
First ascent =
Easiest route = road

South Baldy is the highest point of the Magdalena Mountains in central New Mexico, in the United States. It is located in the Magdalena Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest, about 9 mi (15 km) south of Magdalena and 18 mi (30 km) west-southwest of Socorro. It lies just north of the Langmuir Laboratory for Atmospheric Research of the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, and near the future site of the Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer.

South Baldy can be accessed easily from the dirt road leading to Langmuir. Alternately, it can be accessed by trail from below. From a campground in Water Canyon (accessed from the northeast side of the range), a trail follows Forest Road 406 and then Trail 10 up Copper Canyon to the main crest of the range, where it joins Trail 8, the North Baldy Trail, which follows the crest. A short hike south on this trail and a little off-trail ascent leads to the summit of South Baldy. [http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/153555/south-baldy-peak.html South Baldy on Summitpost] ]

While not of exceptional height for New Mexico mountains, South Baldy is surrounded by low terrain, and hence is a highly visible landmark and the sixth most topographically prominent peak in the state.

References