Petroglyphs and an Andesite Core

There are three great Celebration of Our Mountains events this Saturday – something for everyone.

First, take a trip to Alamo Mountain on the Otero Mesa to see ancient Petroglyphs beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning.  Details and meet-up information about the excursion are online. Val Provencio, an archaeologist with EPWU, is the leader.  She is a member of the El Paso Mineral and Gem Society. Check out their School page on Facebook. Also be sure to check out El Paso Rockhounds on Facebook. Alamo Mountain has spiritual and cultural significance to the Tiguas. In recent years it has, along with other sites on the Mesa, been a focus of controversy between conservationists and mining companies interested in the rare earth metals available in that area.  Here are some pictures of the petroglyphs.

As part of Celebration of Our Mountains, a number of groups will converge on Cristo Rey beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday morning. You may find that the CARTA group will be the most interesting.  Look for their table at the trail head.  Cristo Rey is an igneous intrusion of hot magma which pushed up through Cretaceous sediments and finished forming about 47 million years ago.  Afterwards some of the Cretaceous rocks were eroded to expose the andesite core.  All these different strata through which the intrusion rose bear fossils. Even dinosaur footprints can be found at the base of the mountain.  Although the elevation gain is 820 feet to the top of the peak 4,675 feet above sea level, the well-maintained trail zigzags. Round trip is just 4.4 miles – about 2 or so hours for most folks.  You can learn more about the history of the mountain and the world famous Urbici Soler limestone monument to Christ the King at the Restoration Committee web site.

For sheer hiking fun, join the Dean of Hiking, Carol Brown, for a Northern Pass Loop Hike beginning at 8 a.m. at Anthony Gap on Saturday morning. Directions and details are here and here.

Fall is the best time to plant trees and shrubs. Of course, the best plants for your yard and garden are those that are native to our part of the Chihuahuan Desert. Keystone Heritage Park is having their annual native plant sale this Saturday. Here are details. Here are good reasons to plant natives and avoid invasive species.

There’s another Thursday morning Beginners Hike next week, October 11 – this one with geological interest and on the west side. 

Do see El Paso Hiking Group, Guadalupe Mountains National Park Meetup Group,  Las Cruces & El Paso Adventurists, Celebration of Our Mountains and Peak Fitness Challenge for great hikes and other adventures.  Remember that Scenic Drive is open to all hikers, bicyclists, walkers, strollers (with attached parent), even Chihuahuas (with attached human) every Sunday from 6 to 11 a.m.

Next weekend, Sunday October 14, is the 35^th Annual GECU Trans Mountain Challenge half marathon and 5K run/walk.  Register online at Race and Adventure.  Race packet pick up is on Saturday, Oct 13.

Excelsior!