Cerro Pedernal

Climbing Cerro Pedernal was a genuinely spiritual experience for me. It’s a hard 8.2-mile hike with a short class 3 scramble near the top. Maybe don’t do it alone like I did :)

Georgia O'Keeffe famously called Cerro Pedernal "my mountain," famously stating, "It is my private mountain. It belongs to me. God told me if I painted it enough, I could have it." After Georgia passed away in 1986 at the age of 98, her ashes were scattered across the summit.

This is a difficult hike. Reaching the true summit requires a short, steep final scramble through a basalt cliff band. This is widely classified as a Class 3 (or occasionally low-end Class 4) move.

• Distance: ~7.2 to 8.2 miles round-trip (depending on where you park)

• Elevation Gain: ~1,740 to 1,945 feet (summit elevation of 9,862–9,866 feet)

• Difficulty: Hard / Strenuous (loose scree, steep off-trail sections, and a technical rock scramble)

• Best Time to Visit: Spring and fall for milder weather (summer is very hot and exposed; winter brings snow and ice)

(This hike wasn't a part of the Stillness Study retreat, but rather a part of my own personal Stillness Study)