One beautiful climbing destination for the NMT Wilderness Program was Sugarloaf Peak (elev. 8150′), found to the east of Organ Needle, in the Organ Mountains. The Organs are located adjacent to Las Cruces, NM, and form a dramatic skyline to the east. From Aguirre Springs CG, the route leads through Indian Hollow, a charming vest-pocket wilderness with a seasonal creek and timber at the upper end, which includes a grove of aspens. Sugarloaf is a conical peak. The name is derived from the time before sugar cubes, when sugar was formed into a tall cone (or “loaf”, see illustration)
A sugarloaf (Wikipedia)
Sugarloaf mountains seem to be a form characteristic of granite, such as the famous Sugarloaf of Rio de Janeiro. The photos seen here are of climbing trips with both NMT students and, later, with my wife, Kathy.
Indian Hollow and Sugarloaf Peak
NMT students
Alligator juniper
Kathy climbs along the creek
The Rabbit Ears, in the Organ Mountains, at sunrise
Fall colors along the creek
Granite slabs
NMT students
Waterfall
A water apron
Cactus and timber
Sugarloaf Peak
Sugarloaf Peak, side view, looking east. The usual climb goes along the skyline.
Over-lapping granite slabs. Kathy leads.
Higher on the peak, Kathy leads
Kathy on the summit, looking north
The Organ Needle, to the west, from the summit of Sugarloaf
The Organ Needle, to the west
The rounded summit of Sugarloaf, which requires a rappel for descent.
