Sign and Share the Petition against Fracking next to El Paso

Map taken from El Paso Inc., Searching for Shale Oil in Hudspeth County, Edgar Gonzalez, graphic artist. Note that the "prospect" is just over the hill literally from Hueco Tanks. Click on the image to enlarge.

Of the 172,000 acres Torchlight Energy Resources has leased for fracking in Hudspeth County next to El Paso, most of the land is owned by the University of Texas System. Click on the image to enlarge. 

Stop Fracking next to El Paso, Texas

Sign and Share the Petition

Fracking endangers the health, safety and welfare of people, pollutes the air and ground, results in rising crime and social and medical costs, utterly destroys ecosystems and permanently contaminates underground aquifers with toxic compounds and consumes billions of gallons of water. Yet, just a few minutes away from the city limits of El Paso, Texas a major metropolitan area of 675,000 people, and a few miles from the farming community of Dell City, Texas, the University of Texas System has leased over a hundred thousand acres to Torchlight Energy Resources, Inc. for the sole purpose of fracking. Torchlight Energy says that it may drill up to as many as 2500 wells on this area immediately east of El Paso called the Diablo Plateau which, with the Otero Mesa in New Mexico, forms a rich ecosystem of plants and animals. Torchlight Energy Resources must not drill there. The University of Texas Lands System must not allow them.

Please sign and share this petition.

First Day Hikes

"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 2^nd 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:

Franklin Mountains State Park

Hueco Tanks

Wyler Aerial Tramway

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.