On Monday, February 9, I climbed Cookes Peak, the highpoint of the Cookes Range in Southwestern New Mexico. Cookes Peak is a remarkable landmark, one I have often admired as we passed by on our autumn and spring migrations between Arizona and Oregon. I had not had an opportunity earlier to stop and visit it. But this month we decided to spend some days camped at City of Rocks State Park in New Mexico. This provided me my chance to finally visit Cookes Peak.

Sunday we drove from Tucson east to Demming, then north towards Silver City, and parked at our small campsite amongst the curious rock towers at the park. The site was flat and had room for both our RV and my Jeep.
[Read more…] about Cookes Peak, New Mexico, February 2026