From the Cover: Big Hatchet, In Short

BIG HATCHET, IN SHORT

By L Fisher || CDTC Policy Manager

Towering high above the Playas Valley in southern New Mexico, Big Hatchet Peak (8,336ft) stands watch over a landscape that may seem harsh and solitary at a glance, but is teeming with life, history, and opportunities to explore. The Big Hatchet Mountains sit at the intersection of geographic extremes, nestled where the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Madre Occidental meet between the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts, and are often one the of first iconic views for those heading northbound on the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail.

Travelers in this area are not only hikers and equestrians though, as this area serves as a critical wildlife habitat and migration corridor. Keystone species such pronghorn, desert bighorn sheep, and mountain lions use corridor to move between through the seasons in their ranges, while wildlife like golden eagles, javelinas, and rattlesnakes have found a place to settle down among the steeps cliffs and the thickets of juniper, oak, and mountain mahogany. The isolated location of the Big Hatchet Mountains also makes it ideal for migratory birds and significant bat colonies who roost in the caves among the cliffs, which rely on an unobstructed, clear night sky to navigate.

In the spring and summer, flocks of climbers, bird watchers, and other outdoor enthusiasts congregate in the area to bask in the sun amongst the limestone walls and breathe in the smell of piñon.

And for those seeking a connection to the people of the past, the landscape holds histories spanning centuries, from the Indigenous people who have stewarded the land for time immemorial, to the history of wars and pioneering that brought dramatic changes to the land and waters. Big Hatchet Peak epitomizes the ridgeline views the CDT is world-renowned for and for which it was originally designated by Congress, but more than that, it is home to the wildlife, stories, and dramatic ecological extremes that make the CDT Experience one that is wholly unique.

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