Matt McCullough - May 17, 2022 10:59 am Date Climbed: May 13, 2022
Solo North Florida Peak via Spring Canyon
My initial ascent was up Spring Canyon following the so-called Spring Canyon trail (no spring found btw, probably dried up). At a point where the "trail" became too obscure mainly because of vegetation, I decided to go up a talus slope on the western side and to the ridge because it appeared to have a clearer pathway. However, that path soon dead-ended into dense brush. I had to zig-zag up and down the slope again to find a path to the ridge only to find that the ridge runs through a maze of rock spires (and brush) that one has to navigate around (the standard topo maps and Google images I saw did not have the resolution needed). Ultimately I had to descend back down and then up over the eastern side of the canyon and around the upper reaches of a re-entrant of Windmill Canyon to reach the North Peak. On the descent, however, I stuck to mostly heading straight down the gully of Spring Canyon which was much easier (one just needs to take very brief side excursions to avoid much of the prickly brush). Overall, the trip took me about 8 hours (~6.5 miles), including climbing the North Peak spire and several stops). Had I stuck to heading more straight up the canyon, I am pretty sure I would have shaved off at least a mile and two hours.
Wilbur - Mar 2, 2018 11:01 pm Date Climbed: Dec 18, 2016
Florida Mountains
Hiked the Windmill Canyon Trail. Very nice place with very nice views.
Stsmith7875 - Mar 1, 2018 5:57 pm Date Climbed: Feb 27, 2018
Florida peak
I made it to the top of both south Florida peak and north peak. I started hiking from road B023 at 0630 and summited south peak at 0930, then north peak about an hour later. The final climb to north peak was a bit exposed, but doable without ropes. South peak was easier. The steepest part of the hike is all off-trail scrambling/bush wacking. Make sure to wear protective clothing as many of the bushes have sharp spines. The total round trip from where I parked was 5.3 miles based on mapmyhikes. It was a challenging but enjoyable climb!
Brian Kalet - Jan 15, 2018 3:58 pm Date Climbed: May 24, 2016
4 Peaks
With Florida Peak, Little Florida Mountains Highpoint & Agate Point.
Vic Hanson - Mar 29, 2016 2:35 pm Date Climbed: Mar 29, 2016
On the top!
I think this is the first time I've signed the log while on top of the peak! Actually on the south summit now, will go check out the north one next. I just checked the Strava GPS track and it shows the South peak as 14 feet higher than the North peak! That was using the Strava app on a cheap LG tablet so not sure how accurate that is.
After much deliberation, prayer, and testing the climb of the north summit, l finally went for it alone, without a rope. Was so hyped up when l got on top l forgot to look for a summit register. The down climb had an anxious moment searching for the 1st critical foothold but after that it was fine.
bnmchone - Feb 29, 2016 2:51 am Date Climbed: Dec 5, 2015
Climb of Peak 7205
Hit the N/S running ridge to peak 7205 from Windmill Canyon. Parked on the poor 4WD road at the Windmill Canyon trailhead just past a ranch gate. Started around 9:30 am and summitted by 1 pm. Lots of loose scree and scrambling and a little 3rd class but by in large a good time. Descended through the canyon which was very brushy, enough to benefit from long-sleeves, gloves and sunglasses, but that's part of the game in these remote places. Beautiful in the winter.
eric-griz - Aug 21, 2012 9:45 pm Date Climbed: Aug 21, 2012
North Peak
A rough hike through the vegetation. Got rattled at by two rattlesnakes. I eventually made it to the top of the North Peak and signed the register. Gerry Roach wrote in the register that this was the higher of the two summits and so I skipped the other one and headed down.
strudolyubov - Mar 8, 2012 12:57 am Date Climbed: Mar 3, 2012
North Highpoint and Florida Peak from Windmill Canyon
Climbed both summits of the North Highpoint, then traversed to Florida Peak. Nice climbing, perfect weather, great views!
Click here to see the Florida Mountains Highpoints picture album.
pingzingr - Jun 6, 2008 9:17 pm Date Climbed: Jun 6, 2008
Windmill Canyon
Pseudo-summit log showed that my partner and I were the first summit of 2008. Can that be right? No one since December 2007. It was a typical backcountry bushwhack although more than I have grown accustomed too while climbing down here for the short month I have had here. But it was nice to knock off Florida since it was on my list of "to dos" while I was here. Should have gone up the north highpoint but wanted to make it official and do the named Florida Peak. Maybe next time.
I tagged along with Weeds who was climbing the peak for a second time. I'm not sure I would do such a thing with such dense undergrowth. True to Southern New Mexico climbing, the crux of this peak was the plant life...and the rattle snakes...and the lose rock. BUT, it was a fabulous mountain - remote and rugged - with two great summits. I highly recommend climbing it once.
weeds19 - Dec 16, 2006 11:14 pm Date Climbed: Dec 9, 2006
Very Cool!
This was a great hike punctuated by an intriguing summit on the north HP. The rock is solid and the moves are easy, but the consequences of a misstep are bad. A wonderful December adventure a short ways from Las Cruces. Check out the Adobe Deli if you're heading back towards Las Cruces, it's quite a place and the food is Great!
wbass - Feb 14, 2006 12:03 am Date Climbed: Feb 11, 2006
Windmill Canyon
A peaceful hike/bushwhack with good roped climbing potential. Having hiked just about every mountain range around, it was time to do the Floridas. We decided to take the steep, rocky canyon that splits off to the west about a half-mile from the end of the jeep road, which was good steady climbing until the brush closed in on us, so we called it a day. Will be back out someday to continue the bushwhack to the ridge.
February 1993: Climbed Florida Peak.
December 2003: Climbed Florida Peak & the North Highpoint.
November 2005: Climbed Florida Peak & the North Highpoint
Matt McCullough - May 17, 2022 10:59 am Date Climbed: May 13, 2022
Solo North Florida Peak via Spring CanyonMy initial ascent was up Spring Canyon following the so-called Spring Canyon trail (no spring found btw, probably dried up). At a point where the "trail" became too obscure mainly because of vegetation, I decided to go up a talus slope on the western side and to the ridge because it appeared to have a clearer pathway. However, that path soon dead-ended into dense brush. I had to zig-zag up and down the slope again to find a path to the ridge only to find that the ridge runs through a maze of rock spires (and brush) that one has to navigate around (the standard topo maps and Google images I saw did not have the resolution needed). Ultimately I had to descend back down and then up over the eastern side of the canyon and around the upper reaches of a re-entrant of Windmill Canyon to reach the North Peak. On the descent, however, I stuck to mostly heading straight down the gully of Spring Canyon which was much easier (one just needs to take very brief side excursions to avoid much of the prickly brush). Overall, the trip took me about 8 hours (~6.5 miles), including climbing the North Peak spire and several stops). Had I stuck to heading more straight up the canyon, I am pretty sure I would have shaved off at least a mile and two hours.
Wilbur - Mar 2, 2018 11:01 pm Date Climbed: Dec 18, 2016
Florida MountainsHiked the Windmill Canyon Trail. Very nice place with very nice views.
Stsmith7875 - Mar 1, 2018 5:57 pm Date Climbed: Feb 27, 2018
Florida peakI made it to the top of both south Florida peak and north peak. I started hiking from road B023 at 0630 and summited south peak at 0930, then north peak about an hour later. The final climb to north peak was a bit exposed, but doable without ropes. South peak was easier. The steepest part of the hike is all off-trail scrambling/bush wacking. Make sure to wear protective clothing as many of the bushes have sharp spines. The total round trip from where I parked was 5.3 miles based on mapmyhikes. It was a challenging but enjoyable climb!
Brian Kalet - Jan 15, 2018 3:58 pm Date Climbed: May 24, 2016
4 PeaksWith Florida Peak, Little Florida Mountains Highpoint & Agate Point.
Vic Hanson - Mar 29, 2016 2:35 pm Date Climbed: Mar 29, 2016
On the top!I think this is the first time I've signed the log while on top of the peak! Actually on the south summit now, will go check out the north one next. I just checked the Strava GPS track and it shows the South peak as 14 feet higher than the North peak! That was using the Strava app on a cheap LG tablet so not sure how accurate that is.
After much deliberation, prayer, and testing the climb of the north summit, l finally went for it alone, without a rope. Was so hyped up when l got on top l forgot to look for a summit register. The down climb had an anxious moment searching for the 1st critical foothold but after that it was fine.
bnmchone - Feb 29, 2016 2:51 am Date Climbed: Dec 5, 2015
Climb of Peak 7205Hit the N/S running ridge to peak 7205 from Windmill Canyon. Parked on the poor 4WD road at the Windmill Canyon trailhead just past a ranch gate. Started around 9:30 am and summitted by 1 pm. Lots of loose scree and scrambling and a little 3rd class but by in large a good time. Descended through the canyon which was very brushy, enough to benefit from long-sleeves, gloves and sunglasses, but that's part of the game in these remote places. Beautiful in the winter.
eric-griz - Aug 21, 2012 9:45 pm Date Climbed: Aug 21, 2012
North PeakA rough hike through the vegetation. Got rattled at by two rattlesnakes. I eventually made it to the top of the North Peak and signed the register. Gerry Roach wrote in the register that this was the higher of the two summits and so I skipped the other one and headed down.
strudolyubov - Mar 8, 2012 12:57 am Date Climbed: Mar 3, 2012
North Highpoint and Florida Peak from Windmill CanyonClimbed both summits of the North Highpoint, then traversed to Florida Peak. Nice climbing, perfect weather, great views!
Click here to see the Florida Mountains Highpoints picture album.
pingzingr - Jun 6, 2008 9:17 pm Date Climbed: Jun 6, 2008
Windmill CanyonPseudo-summit log showed that my partner and I were the first summit of 2008. Can that be right? No one since December 2007. It was a typical backcountry bushwhack although more than I have grown accustomed too while climbing down here for the short month I have had here. But it was nice to knock off Florida since it was on my list of "to dos" while I was here. Should have gone up the north highpoint but wanted to make it official and do the named Florida Peak. Maybe next time.
lizrdboy - Sep 15, 2007 11:24 pm Date Climbed: Sep 15, 2007
A True LaborI tagged along with Weeds who was climbing the peak for a second time. I'm not sure I would do such a thing with such dense undergrowth. True to Southern New Mexico climbing, the crux of this peak was the plant life...and the rattle snakes...and the lose rock. BUT, it was a fabulous mountain - remote and rugged - with two great summits. I highly recommend climbing it once.
weeds19 - Dec 16, 2006 11:14 pm Date Climbed: Dec 9, 2006
Very Cool!This was a great hike punctuated by an intriguing summit on the north HP. The rock is solid and the moves are easy, but the consequences of a misstep are bad. A wonderful December adventure a short ways from Las Cruces. Check out the Adobe Deli if you're heading back towards Las Cruces, it's quite a place and the food is Great!
wbass - Feb 14, 2006 12:03 am Date Climbed: Feb 11, 2006
Windmill CanyonA peaceful hike/bushwhack with good roped climbing potential. Having hiked just about every mountain range around, it was time to do the Floridas. We decided to take the steep, rocky canyon that splits off to the west about a half-mile from the end of the jeep road, which was good steady climbing until the brush closed in on us, so we called it a day. Will be back out someday to continue the bushwhack to the ridge.
streeyyr - Dec 30, 2004 10:08 am
Florida MountainsFebruary 1993: Climbed Florida Peak.
December 2003: Climbed Florida Peak & the North Highpoint.
November 2005: Climbed Florida Peak & the North Highpoint