737. Little Hatchet in the Little Hatchets
Drive-by along the new CDT route near Hachita, NM

So, how could we resist leaving this little dark travelin’ light stone with its attached little hatchet here near the Little Hatchet Mountains in the “bootheel” of New Mexico? Ever since the Continental Divide Trail got officially relocated to the desolate southwest corner near Antelope Wells, NM (after years of being mostly a boring roadwalk from Columbus, like when I hiked the CDT in the 90’s!), I’ve wanted to go check out this reroute. Not much left these days in dusty old Hachita, the CDT’s southernmost “trail town” - even though one trailguide book implied that after hiking through the Big and Little Hatchets from the Mexican border, it might feel like NYC! However, about 8 miles west of Hachita on route 9 is the current official crossing of the CDT and this little hatchet stamp. You can park on the north side of the road near the cattle guard at the entrance to South Wells Road to catch a glimpse of trail and a few CDT trail markers to get backpackers on track trekking northwards. For the stamp, however, carefully cross the road south towards the view of the Little Hatchet Mountains in the distance behind the large brown kiosk. Without even having to go through the chained entrance gate, just stoop at the green post on the right side of the gate and lift the middle rock of the small pile there to uncover the dark square 2x2” stone with its little hatchet on back!

Copyright (c) Wanda and Pete. All Rights Reserved.

BEFORE YOU SET OUT, PLEASE READ THE WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER.