Trailblazers

Rep. Peter Svarzbein is the first City Council Representative to meet with the Borderland Mountain Bike Association.

The Borderland Mountain Bike Association (BMBA) met last night at the Angry Owl to discuss the creation of more facilites at trailheads. It was the first time that a member of City Council met with the group. Rep. Peter Svarzbein described BMBA as "efficient and responsible", a group that "gets things done." 

A full parking lot at the Lost Dog Trail. Trees in foreground were donated by the West Texas Urban Forestry Council.

BMBA was behind the creation of the very popular and beautiful amenities at the Lost Dog Trail. Now they want to repeat what they did there in parnership with the PSB and the City at other locales where hikers and mountain bikers begin their treks into the Franklin Mountains. By the way, BMBA has created and maintained many of the mountain trails.

Thirty people attended last evening's event including MPO Director, Michael Medina. Svarzbein gave a short talk in which he praised BMBA's efforts.

Dr. Rick Bonart, one of the chief architects of the Lost Dog Trail, described a public-private partnership with the City for trailheads as a "win win with the City of El Paso to get things done faster and cheaper." Bonart sees the community as the beneficiary. "Trailhead facilities will help with health and ecotourism goals," he explained. Recently Bonart had a good meeting with City Manager, Tommy Gonzalez, to discuss trailheads.

BMBA has identified several trailheads where they would like to create amenities with the Palisades and the old Bowen Round House on the east side as signature projects.

By far the greatest excitement at the meeting and the greatest encouragement for BMBA was Svarzbein's presence and leadership.


COMING SOON: Elpasopolitically

Hike the Lost Dog Trail into the Heart of the NW Master Plan

There are many great hikes and events this weekend and next.  Please check out Celebration of Our Mountains,  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. For solid information about hiking bookmark  El Paso Ridgewalkers.

Click on image to enlarge.

I want to call to your attention one extraordinary event next Saturday, October 27^th, at the Lost Dog Trail Head (also known as the Redd Road Trail Head). (Map) The Borderland Mountain Bike Association and benefactors have completed improving the trail head with gravel, parking spots and native Honey Mesquites donated by the West Texas Urban Forestry Council from a grant from the Koontz Fund. Many of you know this trail head well. What you may not know is that it takes you into one of the very arroyos which many have fought to preserve in the Northwest Master Plan. Keeping that arroyo – that critical riparian corridor – natural is very important not just to environmentalists but to El Pasoans who love and take advantage of the recreational opportunities of our outdoors.  You can get a sense of the interconnectivity of these trails by viewing mountain bike maps and GeoBetty.com maps.

If one of the other great hikes next Saturday does not entice you, then plan to hike the Lost Dog Trail from 10 to Noon and then join the dedication ceremony of the trail head concluding with some good eats.

I also suggest that you plan to attend Coffee Time with Archaeologists this Saturday evening, October 20^th, from 7 to 9 p.m. in McKelligon Canyon.  This is a Franklin Mountains State Park/Celebration of Our Mountains event not to be missed. Ranger Adrianna Weickhardt says,

“We have a great panel of Archaeologists all from different organizations lined up for a Fun and Free event this Saturday night at McKelligon Canyon!  Check out the posting for the event if you haven't already.  It'll be from 7 to 9 p.m. with free coffee, cocoa and pastries.  Learn a little more about this important field of science, how it affects you, and come loaded with questions for the Q&A session of the program! We have plenty of room for more reservations,  We hope to see you there.  (If you don't want to sit on a metal chair, bring a nice comfy one with you as well as your jacket and blanket in case it gets a little chilly).”

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.

Know that Scenic Drive is closed every Sunday morning now through March from 7 to Noon.   This is a change in hours for this 4.1 mile hike from one side of the drive to the other and back. This walk takes in a dazzling panorama of El Paso and Juarez and a display of 500 million year old fossils! It’s a good recreational walk and can be done in an hour and a half.

If you are on Facebook, check out and like Friends of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks.

Finally, multi-kudos for the Guru of Geology, Dr. Phil Goodell, Professor at UTEP since 1975. He and his lovely wife, Kathy, just donated $1million to the University for a new Center of Entrepreneurial Geosciences at UTEP.  The Executive Summary reads in part: “Exploration for natural resources, oil/gas and minerals, is a unique activity. Success means discovery.”  

Excelsior!