Caliente Mountain
3/9/2003

From the South (old HPS route)

Elevation: 5,106 feet
Elevation Gain: 4000 ft total, 3600 out plus 400 on return

Notes:

Be sure to heed the warning about parking outside the gate!  It was open when I started my hike but it was locked up when I got back.  Fortunately I parked outside.

When you reach the zero in section 20 you can continue on up the ridge all the way to the road on top which you can then follow to the lookout.  This seems to be about the same distance as the HPS Route 2 instructions.  I went up via the HPS instructions and returned down the ridge without any surprises and with little difficulty.

Log:

10:20am - Began Hiking in from Highway 166
10:36am - Reached Selby Ranch
12:19pm - Reached the Zero in Section 20
02:35pm - Reached the WWII Lookout on the Summit
03:15pm - Left Summit
05:19pm - Reached Selby Ranch
05:37pm - Reached Car

Stats:

Time from Car to Summit: 4 hrs 15 mins
Time on Summit: 40 mins
Time from Summit back to Car: 2 hrs 22 mins
Total Time: 7 hrs 17 mins

GPS Stats:

Total Mileage: 11.6 miles
Moving Average: 2.4

Mileage from Car to Summit: 5.81 miles