"First Day Hike" on the Lower Sunset Trail
Franklin Mountains State Park Interpreter and Ranger,
Adrianna Weickhardt, relayed this bit of news: “America's State Parks announced that all 50
state park systems will sponsor guided First Day Hike Programs on New Year’s
Day 2013. America’s
State Parks First Day Hikes offer individuals and families an opportunity
to begin the New Year rejuvenating and connecting with the outdoors by taking a
healthy hike on January 1, 2013 at a state park. First Day Hikes offer a great
way to get outside, exercise, enjoy nature and welcome the New Year with
friends and family. Currently there are 657 First Day Hikes.”
She added:
“The First Day Hikes are an
initiative by State Parks across the country to get people on the right foot
for promoting healthy living, new year’s resolutions, and promoting the support
of their state parks. Texas State Parks has more than 40 participating
parks so far for 2013, and all three located here in El Paso are among them (Hueco
Tanks State Park and Historic Site, Franklin Mountains State Park, and Wyler
Aerial Tramway State Park). Last year Franklin Mountains SP led over 30
people on its first annual First Day Hike; we are hoping to get even more folks
out on the trails for the 2nd annual First Day Hikes! Park
staff and volunteers will be leading the hike, providing fun facts and
education about our beautiful Chihuahuan Desert, the uniqueness of the Franklin
Mountains, and will offer support all along the way.”
Information about the FMSP, Hueco and Wyler Tramway hikes
can be found online:
Weickhardt advises that,
“. . . after people start their
year off with a Texas State Parks First Day Hike, the next steps would be to
keep posted on all of the activities and events going on throughout Texas via
the TPWD Calendar of Events page: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/calendar/,
and by purchasing a Texas State Parks Pass. The Texas State Parks Pass is
an annual pass that offers many special benefits. As a pass holder,
he/she and their guests can enjoy unlimited visits to more than 90 State Parks,
and enter without paying the daily entrance fee. One can also receive exciting
discounts on camping, park store merchandise and recreational equipment rentals
and be eligible for other specials.”
Call 915-566-6441 for more information about obtaining a
parks pass.
Be sure to see all of the January 2013 Franklin Mountains
State Park hiking
and event schedule.
From Randy Limbird of El
Paso Scene:
Friends and family in town? HERE'S THE PERFECT THING TO DO!
Mount Cristo Rey Hike Through Time — A guided hike is at noon Sunday, Dec.
30, at Mount Cristo Rey, Sunland
Park, N.M. Length: 5 miles round trip (2-3 hours). Cost: $5 ($2 for children) donation requested
for the Mt. Cristo Restoration Committee. Information: 252-9840. No reservation
is required. A presentation on the
history of the monument will be given at the summit. The four-story-tall statue
of Christ on the cross was built in 1938-40 by sculptor Urbici Soler. The
mountaintop is 4,576 feet above sea level, in Sunland Park, N.M., near the
junction of Mexico, Texas and New Mexico. The hike is sponsored by El Paso Convention
& Visitors Bureau and El Paso Scene. Security is provided along the trail
and in the parking lot. The 5-mile hike
is easy to moderate, and is suitable for all ages. Free bottled water provided
for hikers. Meet at the large parking
lot at the trailhead to Mt. Cristo Rey off McNutt Road (NM 273). Take the
Racetrack exit off Paisano and cross the Rio Grande. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST FOR
SUNDAY: Mostly sunny, with a high near 55. East southeast wind 5 to
8 mph.
Get a copy of the January Scene here.
For great hikes and events just check out El Paso Hiking Group, GeoBetty, Guadalupe
Mountains National Park Meetup Group, Las Cruces
& El Paso Adventurists, Peak
Fitness Challenge, High Desert Hikers and Las Cruces Hiking Meetup.
Finally, that ol’ Rio Grande River Rift produces some hot
spots underground for sure. The earth’s crust is thinning due to hot mantle
material “unwarping” way below our feet. The result in numerous places is
thermal water. Many weekend hikers,
travelers, hedonists and health buffs hankering for a hot bath head to the spas
such as those at Truth or
Consequences (formerly Palomas Hot Springs). Bobby Byrd owner of Cinco Puntos Press writes:
“For the hot baths, go to T or C. Sierra Grande and the River Bend motels have
hot baths for their clients. When we're traveling through, we get baths at the Indian Hot
Springs ($4 a person) but it's real rasquache. We love it, others
don't love it so much.”
Besides a good soak, the underground hot water can be a
source of geothermal energy. Ft. Bliss
is hoping to tap into that as reported in a recent El Paso Inc. article by
Robert Gray: Bliss
journey to the center of the earth.
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