Rabbit Mountain, 9,938 feet, is the peak in the background with big open spot on it. It's a fun, albeit short, ride down. I started at the Valles Caldera Coyote Call Trailhead but parked on the road shoulder as the trailhead parking area is not plowed out.
When I've hiked Rabbit Mountain in the past I parked closer to the peak and headed straight up. Since I had an afternoon to kill, I took a more circuitous route this time. I started further east and headed up to the ridge and then moved west along the ridge. A nice tour.
The first part of the skinning was on cruiser terrain through open glades.
I gained a slight ridge making for nice switchbacking
At the top of the ridge I caught a glimpse of Rabbit Mountain. Now to just cruise the ridge. It was super windy on the ridge!
It had been blizzard-like conditions for the entire outing but signs of clearing started showing up
Bonus! A nice little wind-sheltered meadow on the backside (south side) of the ridge
My first view of the Valles Caldera from the summit of Point 9,948'. This point is ten feet taller and just to the east of Rabbit Mountain
More nice open terrain on the south side of Rabbit Mountain
Looking south towards Albuquerque
On the summit of Rabbit Mountain looking out over the caldera. It took me two hours to skin up via the long tour route. The good turns down the face in front of me are just about to begin
Panoramic photo of the Valles Caldera from the summit of Rabbit Mountain
Back at the road after a quick descent. It took only 10 minutes from the summit of Rabbit back to the road.
A view of Rabbit Mountain from the road
