Sierra Blanca (New Mexico)

Sierra Blanca Peak
Highest point
Elevation11,981 ft (3,652 m) NAVD 88[1]
Prominence5,533 ft (1,686 m)[2]
Listing
Coordinates33°22′28″N 105°48′31″W / 33.374323178°N 105.808719667°W / 33.374323178; -105.808719667[1]
Geography
Sierra Blanca Peak is located in New Mexico
Sierra Blanca Peak
Sierra Blanca Peak
Location in south-central New Mexico
LocationLincoln / Otero counties, New Mexico, U.S.
Topo mapUSGS Sierra Blanca Peak
Geology
Rock age26 to 38 million years
Mountain typeStratovolcano complex
Climbing
Easiest routeHike south from ski area
Sierra Blanca Peak
The primary route to the summit follows the ridge at right

The Sierra Blanca (Spanish: White Mountains) is an ultra-prominent range of volcanic mountains in Lincoln and Otero counties in the south-central part of the U.S. state of New Mexico. The range is about 40 miles (64 km) from north to south and 20 miles (32 km) wide.

Sierra Blanca Peak (White Peak) is the highest mountain in the range at 11,981 feet (3,652 m).[1] It is southern New Mexico's highest peak, as well as the most prominent (5,533 feet) and the 40th highest in the entire state.[3] It is also the most southerly peak and land area to exceed 11,000 feet in the continental United States (Only 19 feet shy of being the most southerly area above 12,000 feet). The peak is located on the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation, approximately 10 miles (16 km) west-northwest of Ruidoso and 30 miles (48 km) north-northeast of Alamogordo.

  1. ^ a b c "Sierra Blanca". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  2. ^ "Sierra Blanca Peak, New Mexico". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  3. ^ surgent, "The 2000-foot Prominence Peaks of New Mexico", ' 'summitpost.org' ', May 3, 2013. Retrieved 2016-12-12.