They're Here!

Torchlight Energy Resources has begun their destruction of the Texas side of the ecologically valuable Otero Mesa with its rich biodiversity. (Sadly ironic Otero Mesa is called the Diablo Plateau on the Texas side.) You can read more about the project HERE. The waitress at the cafe in Cornudas reported that all the rooms in Dell City are full with people working on this and other drilling projects. The following pictures are courtesy of John and Camilla Walton.

The turn-off

Alamo Mountain on left, Wind Mountain in the middle. Facing East, New Mexico border is the fence, Texas to the right. Newly widened road. The road is probably the largest impact. Large amount of slow growing natural vegetation removed.

After 6.3 miles of the road from the junction at Loma Linda Road at Texas/New Mexico Border, the pad.

More Petroglyphs and Barite to Boot

Again this weekend and for quite a while during this great fall outdoors season, there are a number of great adventures. Just check out Celebration of Our Mountains,  El Paso Hiking Group, GeoBetty, Guadalupe Mountains National Park Meetup Group,  Las Cruces & El Paso Adventurists, and Peak Fitness Challenge.  Also take a look at High Desert Hikers. Read about their name change.  You will recognize them as the old Ocotillo Hikers – a still extant group.  Sign-up so that you can see their list of hikes and get involved.

Thanks to Val Provencio many of us identified petroglyphs at Alamo Mountain last weekend. You can see some pictures of that sacred rock art. Tomorrow, CARTA leads a group to Tonuco Mountain where you can see more petroglyphs and also explore some old barite mines. Barite (barium sulfate) is used in paint, X-ray diagnostic work, glassmaking and as a weighting agent in oil well drilling fluids. The hike is sponsored by Celebration of Our Mountains, the El Paso Hiking Group and the Las Cruces Hiking Meetup Group.

Veteran Sunrise Hikers and scholars, Tommy Young and Dave Webster, discuss the  cultural andspiritual meanings of rock art on Alamo Mountain.

Of course, Tonuco isn’t for everyone so look for some interesting hikes into Hitt Canyon or from the Palisades.  Unfortunately the Yoga in the Mountains event for Sunday has been cancelled.  Ranger Adrianna Weickhardt emails to say:

“It is with great disappointment that I must cancel the "Yoga in the Mountains" program for this Sunday, October 14.  No park staff were notified of the closing of Transmountain Rd. on Sunday, October 14th for the "Transmountain Challenge" Race.  Unfortunately, this not only means we will be unable to hold the Yoga program, but the Tom Mays Unit of the park itself will be closed  (the entrance will be blocked) until about 11:00 a.m. 

“We will be looking at a later date to reschedule another Yoga program - and of course when that happens it will be reposted on Facebook, Meetup.com, the TPWD calendar, and the Celebrations of our Mountains website.” 

I do suggest that you mark your calendars now for Saturday evening, October 20^th, from 7 to 9 p.m. in McKelligon Canyon for Coffee Time with Archaeologists.  This is a Franklin Mountains State Park/Celebration of Our Mountains event not to be missed. Reservations are required so contact Adrianna Weickhardt at 915-566-6441 or Adrianna.Weickhardt@tpwd.state.tx.us or just RSVP at El Paso Hiking. October is Texas Archaeology Month.

Excelsior!

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!