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Hike Angel Peak Overlook via The Sentinel in Angel Peak Scenic Area BLM, New Mexico - Stav is Lost

Hike Angel Peak Overlook via The Sentinel Angel Peak Scenic Area BLM, NM

Class 3 3.1 miles 800 gain 2-4 hrs Out and Back
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Nov 02, 2017 — This is a particularly contrived route to an overlook of Angel Peak, a futile attempt to summit. There is very little online about summiting Angel Peak, but I was pointed to the base of the peak when I did my meager research. However, a ridge to the south looked far more interesting as an approach to Angel Peak, so I parked at the north end of the Angel Peak Scenic Area Campground and followed the ridge, passing a balanced rock called "The Sentinel", until the ridge landed me in the wash below. I found a reasonable way up to the next ridge, and route-found a dumb way up to the ridge leading to the base of Angel Peak (see map). The route from the wash brought me north to the base of a skinny rock butte (the left of the two obvious ones). A sandy slope brought me up to the rock, where I kept to the left (west) of the first rock butte, heading around its south side and then back east on animal trails to the pass between that butte and the second one. I crossed the pass to continue to the south side of the second butte and headed east until I gained a skinny, crumbly Class 3 ridge and then the route was straightforward again. Once I got to the end of the ridge (the overlook), there was no continuing. Angel Peak has sheer cliffs around its perimeter and upon further research, it doesn't appear a summit is doable via hiking. So, really, this route brings you through no man's land (actually, land of county roads leading to natural gas mining structures), along a small Class 3 ridge, and to a really nice overlook of the peak. It's a fun route, and the route finding made for a great morning warm-up, but not exactly a classic.

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photo protector Sentinel on the left (tiny rock), Angel Peak being the peak on the left. This was the use trail leading to the ridge to the south, from Angel Peak Campground.
Sentinel on the left (tiny rock), Angel Peak being the peak on the left. This was the use trail leading to the ridge to the south, from Angel Peak Campground.
photo protector Starting along the ridge.
Starting along the ridge.
photo protector Looking toward The sentinel along the ridge.
Looking toward The sentinel along the ridge.
photo protector Looking back at The Sentinel (I took this photo later, hence the massive lighting difference).
Looking back at The Sentinel (I took this photo later, hence the massive lighting difference).
photo protector Continuing along the ridge, past The Sentinel.
Continuing along the ridge, past The Sentinel.
photo protector
photo protector Heading down off the ridge toward the wash. You can sort of see the first butte mentioned in the route description on the far right, over-exposed.
Heading down off the ridge toward the wash. You can sort of see the first butte mentioned in the route description on the far right, over-exposed.
photo protector Sandy slope leading to the base of the first butte. Keep to the left around this butte.
Sandy slope leading to the base of the first butte. Keep to the left around this butte.
photo protector Looking west. The first butte is just behind me.
Looking west. The first butte is just behind me.
photo protector Looking along the ridge back at the first butte, Angel Peak in the distance.
Looking along the ridge back at the first butte, Angel Peak in the distance.
photo protector Continuing around the north side of the butte on an animal trail.
Continuing around the north side of the butte on an animal trail.
photo protector Approaching the pass between butte 1 and 2.
Approaching the pass between butte 1 and 2.
photo protector Looking back at butte 1 on the south side. Butte 2 is just above me on the right.
Looking back at butte 1 on the south side. Butte 2 is just above me on the right.
photo protector Looking back at the Class 3 scramble on sandy, scary crappy rock. Butte 2 is in front of me, butte 1 behind that.
Looking back at the Class 3 scramble on sandy, scary crappy rock. Butte 2 is in front of me, butte 1 behind that.
photo protector Continuing along the ridge toward Angel Peak. About now is when I realized I likely wouldn't be able to summit.
Continuing along the ridge toward Angel Peak. About now is when I realized I likely wouldn't be able to summit.
photo protector Looking back along the ridge toward the two buttes.
Looking back along the ridge toward the two buttes.
photo protector
photo protector Approaching Angel Peak.
Approaching Angel Peak.
photo protector Looking back.
Looking back.
photo protector Overlook of Angel Peak. I guess you could go down to that ridge, but there's nowhere to go after that.
Overlook of Angel Peak. I guess you could go down to that ridge, but there's nowhere to go after that.
photo protector Looking northeast, some interesting formations.
Looking northeast, some interesting formations.

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