Recent letter from Mescalero Tribe Council explains that climbing Sierra Blanca is no longer allowed due to mountain being a sacred site, etc. Last year my request to hike was refused because of the drought conditions, now apparently no climbing permitted whatsoever. slowbutsteady
However, when I made the summit on May 15, 2014, the summit mailbox had a nice notebook full of names and dates well after your 2007 post. Officially, Sierra Blanca may not be permitted, but I wouldn't let that stop anyone, as the evidence is that visitation is relatively frequent.
Summited 8/18/15. Climbed up the Ski Apache maintenance road to the top of the lifts (1900 vertical - about an hour). About 0815 talked to a young man (who I suspect was Mescalero Apache)doing maintenance on the top of the zip line. I asked where the short trail was up Lookout Mountain, which he pointed to, then he said "if you really want a view you should climb that", and pointed to the summit of Sierra Blanca. We chatted for a few minutes about the climb, and I thanked him and headed to the summit via Lookout. About an hour later arrived at the summit. Dozens of posts in the summit register. Hike was uneventful. Well worth the effort. By the way, the Ski Apache web site advertises that if you hike up, the ride back down (in the gondola) is "on us". It was a very pleasant 15 minute ride back down from the top of the lifts. I believe Ski Apache is owned/operated by the Apache tribe.
LouisFasano32 - May 18, 2022 10:22 pm - Hasn't voted
****UPDATE: READ BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO CLIMB****
I attempted Sierra Blanca on May 6th and was turned around by an individual on an ATV. There are a few issues with climbing Sierra Blanca.
1. It is on Tribal lands and it still is technically off limits. in the mans words, "You need to call to get a permit but the tribe doesn't give permits".
2. As of May 6th 2022, there is a fire ban in effect. The man said he would have let us continue if it had not been for the fire ban.
Once you cross the wooden fence from the ski resort to the other side, you are technically on the tribal lands. It sounds like things are more lax when there isn't a fire ban but know you might get turned around if you make the attempt.
I grew up in Ruidoso and have summited SB multiple times. I didn't even know about the tribal permit, they don't take it seriously at all. The national forest closes completely almost every June, sometimes May or even as early as April, and they take that VERY seriously, steep fines. If you plan to camp, don't plan on a campfire, they're usually banned as it's extremely dry, although fires are sometimes allowed. Monsoons start July 4th weekend and usually last into early-mid August, so start early during that time. The saddle ridge below the peak is narrow with steep sides; fantastic OB skiing off the east side in the winter if there's enough snow, but can get sketchy if it's windy, and it's usually windy all year, especially spring.
Respectfully, the Mescalero Apache take great offense to being called Indians, please consider editing that in original post. They're Native Americans, or Natives for short. Calling a Mescalero Apache an Indian to his face is grounds for fisticuffs in their eyes. The Mescalero Apache are descendants of Geronimo, Cochise, and Victorio; they're fiercely proud with a rich history. According to their beliefs, civilization was started by a god that lives on the peak, so it is a very sacred place, despite the lackadaisical approach to the climbing permits. Please respect that sacred belief if hiking SB. It's well worth the climb.
slowbutsteady - May 25, 2007 4:16 pm - Voted 10/10
permission to climbRecent letter from Mescalero Tribe Council explains that climbing Sierra Blanca is no longer allowed due to mountain being a sacred site, etc. Last year my request to hike was refused because of the drought conditions, now apparently no climbing permitted whatsoever. slowbutsteady
Humphrey - May 16, 2014 10:56 am - Hasn't voted
Didn't seem to matterHowever, when I made the summit on May 15, 2014, the summit mailbox had a nice notebook full of names and dates well after your 2007 post. Officially, Sierra Blanca may not be permitted, but I wouldn't let that stop anyone, as the evidence is that visitation is relatively frequent.
sfiedler - Aug 22, 2015 6:12 pm - Hasn't voted
Summit encouragedSummited 8/18/15. Climbed up the Ski Apache maintenance road to the top of the lifts (1900 vertical - about an hour). About 0815 talked to a young man (who I suspect was Mescalero Apache)doing maintenance on the top of the zip line. I asked where the short trail was up Lookout Mountain, which he pointed to, then he said "if you really want a view you should climb that", and pointed to the summit of Sierra Blanca. We chatted for a few minutes about the climb, and I thanked him and headed to the summit via Lookout. About an hour later arrived at the summit. Dozens of posts in the summit register. Hike was uneventful. Well worth the effort. By the way, the Ski Apache web site advertises that if you hike up, the ride back down (in the gondola) is "on us". It was a very pleasant 15 minute ride back down from the top of the lifts. I believe Ski Apache is owned/operated by the Apache tribe.
LouisFasano32 - May 18, 2022 10:22 pm - Hasn't voted
****UPDATE: READ BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO CLIMB****I attempted Sierra Blanca on May 6th and was turned around by an individual on an ATV. There are a few issues with climbing Sierra Blanca.
1. It is on Tribal lands and it still is technically off limits. in the mans words, "You need to call to get a permit but the tribe doesn't give permits".
2. As of May 6th 2022, there is a fire ban in effect. The man said he would have let us continue if it had not been for the fire ban.
Once you cross the wooden fence from the ski resort to the other side, you are technically on the tribal lands. It sounds like things are more lax when there isn't a fire ban but know you might get turned around if you make the attempt.
ElHed - Aug 25, 2022 2:06 pm - Hasn't voted
Local InsightI grew up in Ruidoso and have summited SB multiple times. I didn't even know about the tribal permit, they don't take it seriously at all. The national forest closes completely almost every June, sometimes May or even as early as April, and they take that VERY seriously, steep fines. If you plan to camp, don't plan on a campfire, they're usually banned as it's extremely dry, although fires are sometimes allowed. Monsoons start July 4th weekend and usually last into early-mid August, so start early during that time. The saddle ridge below the peak is narrow with steep sides; fantastic OB skiing off the east side in the winter if there's enough snow, but can get sketchy if it's windy, and it's usually windy all year, especially spring.
Respectfully, the Mescalero Apache take great offense to being called Indians, please consider editing that in original post. They're Native Americans, or Natives for short. Calling a Mescalero Apache an Indian to his face is grounds for fisticuffs in their eyes. The Mescalero Apache are descendants of Geronimo, Cochise, and Victorio; they're fiercely proud with a rich history. According to their beliefs, civilization was started by a god that lives on the peak, so it is a very sacred place, despite the lackadaisical approach to the climbing permits. Please respect that sacred belief if hiking SB. It's well worth the climb.