{mosimages}I had a great weekend of hiking the Glenwood, NM area and very little rain. I left El Paso Friday morning and arrived in Glenwood around noon. After lunch I set up camp at the Bighorn Campground, then I drove north to Alma, NM and east to the Mineral Creek Trail 201. This is a neat trail through a spectacular sheer canyon, with the site of the former town of Cooney about two miles up. The trail follows a stream and the colors in the canyon are beautiful. I came across a patch of wild blackberries that were delicious. James Cooney discovered gold, silver, and copper deposits in this area in the 1870's. In 1880 he was killed by Apaches on Mineral Creek. Friends later carved out a boulder where Cooney was killed and buried him inside, using ore from his own mine to seal the entrance.

On Saturday I drove thru the old town of Mogollon to the trail head of Deloche Canyon Trail 179. I hiked up to the ridge and down to Whitewater Creek and back. A beautiful hike of five hours with no rain.

It did rain Saturday night, but I was snug, warm, dry, and comfy in my jungle hammock. I had my head lamp and a book to read titled Peacock Ore--a novel about Cooney and his life in the Army and mining in Mineral Creek.

Sunday morning I hiked Trail 801 almost to the creek and back, a three hour hike with no rain. In the afternoon I hiked the Catwalk trail and a little beyond of trail 207. Only when I was heading back out of the Catwalk did it finally start to rain a little. In frontier days this canyon was used as a hideout by both Butch Cassidy and Victorio's apaches. The Catwalk follows the path of the pipeline built in the 1890s to deliver water to the mining town of Graham. The pipe up Whitewater Creek was 18 inches in diameter and men who worked on it needed nerves of steel, and the balance of a cat to walk the pipeline, hence the name, Catwalk. In the 1930s the Civilian Conservation Corps rebuilt the Catwalk as a recreation area for the Gila National Forest. The Forest Service built the metal walkway in the 1960s. Parts of the trail have been rebuilt several times since, due to occasional flooding of Whitewater Creek.

Since I had hiked and seen the places I wanted to see and it looked like more rain may be in the offering, I packed up and headed home.

Hope you all are having a great holiday weekend, and be sure to take a look at my Picasa Photo Album for photos of this weekend.

Carol Brown

Our next hiking events will be to Dripping Springs on Saturday, September 6th, and we will hike the new trail up to the Ranger Peak and ride the tram down on Sunday, September 7th.

The Dripping Springs hike will be a two part hike. There will be an easy hike that will visit all the old ruins at Dripping Springs, and a more difficult hike into Filmore Canyon for those that want a more challenging hike. When you register for the Dripping Springs hike, please indicate in the comments box which hike you will be doing.

Click Here to register for the Dripping Springs/Filmore Canyon event.

There is a new trail in the Franklin Mountains. It starts in the parking lot of Wyler Aerial Tramway, and goes up to the Ridgeline Trail, and then over to the tramway. There we will ride the tram back down to our vehicles. If you are considering this hike, please register no later than Friday. The tramway manager has asked for a head count of our group. The first mile of this hike is challenging moderately strenuous hike. Once we get up to the ridgeline, it will be a moderate 1.25 mile hike over to the tramway platform.

Click Here to register for Wyler Tramway Hike.

Up Coming Events:
There will be a backpacking trip to Three Rivers on October 13th. October 20th will be the Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta and the kick off event for the annual Celebration of Our Mountains in the Frabklin Mountains State Park.

Please check our calendar for a more complete picture of our events scheduled for September and October.

Sunset Hike

Have you noticed the very colorful sunrises and sunsets lately? They are caused by the recent eruption of of Alaska's Kasatochi volcano which hurled ash and debri over 35,000 feet up. So, what better place to get a good look at the sunset and also get in a good hike than up on the ridgeline overlooking west El Paso. Tuesday, September 9th, we'll meet at the trail head on Transmountain Road and hike up to the ridgeline and enjoy the fabulous sunset. Please bring a picnic lunch to enjoy as you relax and watch the sun dip its head below the horizon.

Celebration of Our Mountains:
October is Celebration of Our Mountains month. There are hundreds of events planned during the month of October. Most of these events are free. The El Paso Ridgewalkers has several hikes listed in the Celebration of Our Mountains guide. Please stop by our display on September 20th in the Tom Mays unit of the Franklin Mountains State Park.

Photos
The photos this week were taken at Dripping Springs by Ken Steiner. Thanks Ken for all the wonderful photos!

Southwest Enviromental Center is pleased to announce the Fall, 2008 schedule of Back by Noon guided natural history outings. These relaxed Saturday morning outings are a great way to learn about the natural history of our area.

1. Wildflowers of Fillmore Canyon- La Cueva--September 20
2. Medicinal Plants of Dripping Springs-October 4
3. Otero Mesa- October 18
4. Wildlife of the Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park- October 25
5. El Paso ’s Rio Bosque Wetlands Park-November 1
6. Robledo Trackways- Nov. 8
7. Peña Blanca- November 15

For more details, see the attached flyer.

Carol Brown has planned a wonderful three day adventure for Labor Day Weekend. Mogollon-Willow Creek, Snow Lake, and the Cat Walk are on tap for that weekend. Plan now for this exciting three day event of camping and hiking.

Saturday, September 6th we will hike in Dripping Springs. Please don't plan on bringing your dog, because the park does not allow dogs.

Sunday, September 7th, we will hike the middle section of the Sierra Vista Trail. This is perhaps the most beautiful section of this trail.

For more information please call Carol Brown at 915-630-1424.

Up Coming Events:
Saturday, September 6th, we will be hiking in Dripping Springs.  And On Sunday, September 7th we will hike the middle section of the Sierra Vista Trail.

Please check our calendar for a more complete picture of our events scheduled for September.  Our calendar, for October and November is also available for viewing.

Celebration of Our Mountains:
October is Celebration of Our Mountains month. There are hundreds of events planned during the month of October. Most of these events are free. The El Paso Ridgewalkers has several hikes listed in the Celebration of Our Mountains guide. Please stop by our display on September 20th in the Tom Mays unit of the Franklin Mountains State Park.

Photos
The photos this week were taken by Ken Steiner. Notice the suspended walkway that is known as the Catwalk.  Thanks Ken for all the wonderful photos!
 

The following is an email received from Mr. John Moses, Superintendent, of  Texas Parks and Wildlife State Parks - El Paso.

On behalf of Texas Parks & Wildlife, I would like to invite you to join us as we celebrate the transfer of the El Paso Electric Company’s right-of-way to Franklin Mountains State Park.

The transfer will be observed at the end of North Stanton Street (behind the El Paso Water Utilities’ Camelot pumping station) at 10 a.m., on Friday, September 5th.  Casual attire is suggested and hiking shoes recommended for anyone planning on hiking the mountain.

The donated land will add about 63 acres in a strip that crosses the width of the Franklin Mountains in the southernmost reaches of the state park. Opportunities for access to the state park will improve for hikers and mountain bikers.

Following the property transfer, Franklin Mountains State Park Supt., Cesar Mendez, will lead a short hike over the easement for those who would like to join him.

Please contact me if you have any questions.

John Moses
General Superintendent
Texas Parks & Wildlife
State Parks – El Paso
200 N. Clark Dr.
El Paso 79905
915-781-2161

Our next hike will be Saturday, August 23rd at Three Rivers, located near Carrizozo, NM. There will be a day hike and a backpacking trip. This is a wonderful hike and backpacking trip, as there is fresh water along a large percentage of the trip. The hike starts slowly and climbs fairly gently through most of its length. Three Rivers Creek Flows alongside you for most of the climb, and contains several pools with easily visible groups of Cutthroat Trout. The Three Rivers Canyon area is one of the most beautiful in New Mexico. Deer, bear, turkey, elk, and lots of small species are abundant.

Upcoming Events
Carol Brown has planned a wonderful three day adventure for Labor Day Weekend. Mogollon-Willow Creek, Snow Lake, and the Cat Walk are on tap for that weekend. Plan now for this exciting three day event of camping and hiking.

Saturday, September 6th we will hike in Dripping Springs. Please don't plan on bringing your dog, because the park does not allow dogs.

Sunday, September 7th, we will hike the middle section of the Sierra Vista Trail. This is perhaps the most beautiful section of this trail.

Calendar of Events
Please check our calendar often for all our scheduled events.

Celebration of Our Mountains
October is Celebration of Our Mountains month. There are hundreds of events planned during the month of October. Most of these events are free. The El Paso Ridgewalkers has several hikes listed in the Celebration of Our Mountains guide. Please stop by our display on September 20th in the Tom Mays unit of the Franklin Mountains State Park.

Photos
The photos this week were taken by Ken Steiner. Notice the snow in the photos. We do not expect to have snow.

Our next events will be Saturday, August 16th with a day hike along the Rails-to-Trails in Cloudcroft, NM. and an evening Full Moon Hike in the Franklin Mountains State Park. The Rails-to-Trails in Cloudcroft, NM. mostly follows an old abandoned railroad grade. The distance is approximately 9 miles, but several trail junctions allow for a much shorter hike for those of you that are not up to a 9 mile hike. Click Here for a historical time line of this railroad. There are at least two geocaches along this trail.

Click Here for details and to sign up for this event.

On Saturday evening, August 16th, there will be a Full Moon Hike. This will be a very education event. The hike leader will have demonstrations of desert wildlife, and the astronomy club will have telescopes available for us to look at the moon and the stars. The hike will be approximately one mile.

Click Here for details and to sign up for this event.

Social Event
Our August social event will be tomorrow, August 12th at the State Line Restaurant. There will be live music sponsored by Rudolph Chevrolet. The music is free, but you are asked to bring can goods to donate to the West Texas Food Bank.

Click Here for details and to sign up for this event.

Breakfast
Experimental Aircraft Association, Chapter 555, in Las Cruces has a pancake breakfast the third Sunday of each month in the EAA 555 hangar at the Las Cruces Airport. The next one will be on Sunday, August 17th at 8:00am til 11:00am. The breakfast includes a delicious omelet, bacon or sausage, pancakes, coffee, juice, and fruit. All for only $5.00. Proceeds go to the Young Eagles program. 

Up Coming Events
The weekend of August 23rd and 24th, we will have a day hike and a backpacking event at Three Rivers.

Labor Day Weekend
Carol Brown is planning a three day adventure for Labor Day Weekend. Mogollon-Willow Creek, Snow Lake, and the Cat Walk are on tap for that weekend. Plan now for this exciting three day event of camping and hiking.

Probable campsite to find us: Willow Creek/Gilita Campground, which is found at North end of Willow Creek. Willow Creek runs beside road at base of Mogollon Mtn. Hoping for last campsite at very end of campground, by the creek. Directions: Silver City, pass Glenwood, going N. to Mogollon, over mtn & down into Willow Creek.

Day hikes around Willow Crk and Snow Lake (very close by). Leaving El Paso/Las Cruces Thursday morning August 28th and packing up Monday morning September 1st to visit Cat Walk on way back to El Paso. Call Carol at 915-630-1424 for more details. Come see beautiful elk country!!

Photos
The photos this week were taken during a previous Rails-to-Trails hike in May 2004 by Bob Medley. Notice the dense growth of trees around the trestle. The forest service and many volunteers has cleared the area around the Mexican Canyon Trestle in preparation for its restoration. Members of the El Paso Ridgewalkers spent many weekends helping to carry the brush out of the canyon.

Some hikers walk for 3 hours, sip a few ounces on a rest break, and pay for it at the end of the day, instead, drink 4 to 6 ounces of liquid every 20 minutes; it'll help you feel strong, even on the last hill.  Backpacker Magazine has more tips on How to stay Hydrated.

It's the middle of summer and if you're braving the outdoors you know as well as we do, it's hot out there. Fear not: Backpacker Magazine has tips on how to maintain your cool on the trail.

Our next hike will be Sunday, August 10th in Soledad Canyon. In early June, a fire burned for about three days in Soledad Canyon. Now the monsoon season has arrived, and we have gotten quite a bit of rain. Our hike will take us past recently burned areas, and then we will hike back to a beautiful waterfall in a narrow canyon.

Click Here for details and meeting locations.

Our Jazz at Sunset social that was scheduled for August 14 has been cancelled. The Jazz at Sunset concert has been rescheduled for September. But we will still have a get together next Wednesday at the State Line.

Upcoming Events
The Rails-to-Trails hike has been rescheduled for Saturday, August 16th. This is a very interesting trail. The trail mostly follows an old abandoned railroad bed. Click Here for more details and to sign up for this event.

Social Event
Wednesday, August 13th, come out to the State Line resturant and enjoy a get together with the El Paso Ridgewalkers. Rudolph Chevrolet sponsors the music. Bring along some can goods to donate to the food bank.

Backpacking
Dig out your backpacking stuff and join us on August 23rd - 24th for a weekend of camping and hiking at Three Rivers. Some of us has extra backpacking gear, so if that is all that is stopping you from joining us on one of our trips, then please email Carol Brown. All you need is a tent, backpack, sleeping bag, food and water.

Breakfast
Experimental Aircraft Association, Chapter 555, in Las Cruces has a pancake breakfast the third Sunday of each month. The next one will be on Sunday, August 17th. The breakfast includes a delicious omelet, bacon or sausage, pancakes, coffee, juice, and fruit. All for only $5.00. Proceeds go to the Young Eagles program.

Photos
The photos this week were taken in Soledad Canyon by Ken Steiner. Thanks Ken.  There are technical difficulties with the photo slideshow this week.  I'll work on that and hopefully we'll all get to see Ken's beautiful photos.

Our next events will be Saturday, August 2nd and Sunday, August 3. On Saturday, we will hike the Rails-to-Trails in Cloudcroft, NM. The trail mostly follows an old abandoned railroad grade. The distance is approximately 9 miles, but several trail junctions allow for a much shorter hike for those of you that are not up to a 9 mile hike. There are at least two geocaches along this trail.

Click Here for details and to sign up for this event.

On Sunday, August 3rd, we have a hike that is suitable for those of you have have small children. The hike in Fresnal Canyon follows an old abandoned railroad grade, and goes to a beautiful stream with a nice waterfall. Bring a picnic lunch and sandal to play in the stream. The distance is 1.5 miles one way to the stream. Bring a picnic basket and enjoy picnicing at the bace of the waterfall.

Click Here for details and to sign up for this event.

The remnants of hurricane Dolly rained out our Hubbell Canyon to Bluff Springs backpacking trip. The trip has been rescheduled for the weekend of August 2 - 3. There are four geocaches that can be found on this hike.

Click Here for details and to sign up for this event.

Up Coming Events
On Sunday, August 10th we'll hike in the beautiful Soledad Canyon. This hike is rated easy, and is approximately 6 miles round trip.

Social Event
The next social event will be Jazz At Sunset on Thursday, August 14th at the Valle Verde Campus of El Paso Community College. Bring a picnic cooler, chairs or a blanket and enjoy an evening of jazz.

August Calendar
The August events are planned and September and October events are being discussed. Please check our calendar for all our upcoming events. You can also suggest a hike that you would like.

Labor Day Weekend
Carol Brown is planning a three day adventure for Labor Day Weekend. Mogollon-Willow Creek, Snow Lake, and the Cat Walk are on tap for that weekend. Plan now for this exciting three day event of camping and hiking.

Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim Hike

Carol's Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim Hike is now full. Carol will have photos of the hike when she returns and we will feature the photos on this web site.

Photos
The photos this week were taken during a previous Hubbell Canyon hike by Carol Brown.

Our next event will be Saturday, July 26th with a hike from Hubbell Canyon to Bluff Springs. This hike is along a very scenic trail with mixed conifers, aspens, and open meadows dominating the landscape. Much of the trail is along gently rolling terrain and follows an old railroad grade. You pass a couple of old railroad trestles in various stages of deterioration. Campers, fire danger is now low and we will have a campfire to roast a few marshmellows. The camp site is flat, and has lots of firewood available.

Click Here for details and to sign up for this event.

Up Coming Events
On Saturday, August 2nd we'll hike the scenic and historic Cloud Climbing Rail Trail in Cloudcroft, New Mexico. You'll see the ruins of the famous 'S' Trestle, and the Mexican Canyon Trestle. This hike is approximately 9 miles. There are several trail junctions that allow for a much shorter hike if you are not up to doing a 9 mile hike.

August Calendar
The August events are planned and September and October events are being discussed. Please check our calendar for all our upcoming events. You can also suggest a hike that you would like.

Social Event
The next social event will be Jazz At Sunset on Thursday, August 14th at the Valle Verde Campus of El Paso Community College. Bring a picnic cooler, chairs or a blanket and enjoy an evening of jazz.

Labor Day Weekend
Carol Brown is planning a three day adventure for Labor Day Weekend. Mogollon-Willow Creek, Snow Lake, and the Cat Walk are on tap for that weekend. Plan now for this exciting three day event of camping and hiking.

Fort Bayard Hike
A note from Carol:

You missed a great hike. Annemarie, Christa, Maryam, and I left the shell station at 7 am, picked up Pris in Las Cruces, stopped at Burger King in Deming for breakfast, drove to the trail head and were starting our hike at 9:40 am. It was a good day to hike weather wise-partly cloudy, slight breeze, beautiful scenery, we saw the wagon wheel ruts in the rock, we hiked to Cameron creek, we saw the Big Tree, and were back at the car by 12:50 pm. We drove into Silver City and saw the Big Ditch River Walk. Then we drove to Deming and had supper at Denny's. I got home around six thirty pm. Photos of this hike are available at my online photo album.

Photos
The photos this week were taken during a previous Hubbell Canyon hike by Carol Brown.

This week we have planned events that are both entertaining and historical. On Saturday, come with us to Weed, New Mexico for their 13th annual Bluegrass Music Festival. We'll listen to some old time mountain music, picnic and enjoy a short hike.

Click Here for details and to sign up for this event.

Fort Bayard National Recreation Trails is a network of trails leading to the Big Tree and the Old Wagon Road. Fort Bayard is an early Army post built during Apache uprisings in the late 1800s. The Big Tree is a Big Juniper Tree that is nationally ranked as the second largest alligator Juniper Tree. Its diameter is 70.2 in, circumference is 18 ft. 4 in, crown spread is 62 ft., and height is 63 ft. On this trail, you'll see deep ruts made by heavily loaded wagons traveling this road. Don't be surprised if you see a glimpse of some of the resident herd of elk that occupy the Fort Bayard area.

Click Here for details and to sign up for this event.

Geocaching
You may have noticed that I listed geocaches are located near or along certain trails. So, what is Geocaching? It’s the adventure/sport that has families and individuals using the Internet, hand-held GPS’s and their eyes and wits to search for “treasure” hidden all over the world! The odds are that sometime in the past few years you’ve been within a few feet to a few miles of a geocache and didn’t even know it! Getting started in Geocaching is easy, and if you have a handheld GPS and Internet access, you’re halfway there! For more information on Geocaching please read this brochure.

Up Coming Events
Saturday, July 26th we have a hiking and backpacking trip. We'll start in the beautiful Hubbell Canyon and hike to Bluff Springs. This is a moderately difficult hike of approximately 9.5 miles. Much of this trail is along old abandoned railroad beds. This trail features beautiful open meadows, mixed conifers, and aspen forest along the trail. More details later.

Photos
Photos this week were taken by Bob Medley along the Fresnal Canyon hike. The photos show the trail along the old railroad grade, and the return trip via the stream bed.

Our next hike will be Saturday, July 12th along the Cloud Climbing Rail Trail located in scenic Fresnal Canyon near High Rolls, New Mexico. This is an easy three mile round trip hike on an old abandoned railroad grade to a beautiful waterfall.

Click here to see details and to sign up for the Fresnal Canyon hike

Then on Sunday, July 13th we will be treated to a tour of the Rio Bosque Wetlands Park . This tour will be an easy two mile hike over mostly level terrain. John Sproul will be introducing you to the Park -- its history, its plants and animals, and the ecosystem restoration work in progress. This is a wonderful treasure right here in our own backyard. Here is a link to view some of the birds that visit the Rio Bosque at various times of the year. This is one area that you may want to visit often. The Rio Bosque Wetlands Park has a monthly newsletter.

Geocachers, there is a two stage geocache located in the Rio Bosque Wetlands Park

Click here to see details and to sign up for the Rio Bosque Wetlands Park tour and hike.

Up Coming Events

On Saturday, July 19th, we will do a short hike on the OSHA Trail and then go listen to to some old time mountain music at the annual Weed Bluegrass Music Festival. There is also a geocache located on the OSHA Trail.

Then on Saturday, July 26th, we will have a hike and a backpacking trip. Hikers and backpackers will begin the hike in Hubbell Canyon. Backpackers will spend the night along the trail and the hikers will continue on to Bluff Springs. This is a moderately difficult hike of about 9.5 miles.

Backpackers

There is a section in the forum about Ultra Light backpacking gear. There is a link to a do-it-yourself tent that weighs 18 ounces.

Photos

The photos this week were taken by Ken Steiner. Thanks Ken for the great photos.

Our next adventure is to the Gila Cliff Dwellings, Lake Roberts, Purgatory Chasm, and various other hikes as time permits. This will be a three day event, with camping at various locations.

Click Here to sign up for this event.

Lincoln National Forest Opens
Lincoln National Forest opens on Wednesday, July 2nd, however Stage 2 fire restrictions remain in effect. This means no campfires, charcoal grills, etc. The use of pressurized fuel camp stoves and lanterns are ok. Please visit the Lincoln National Forest web site or call (575) 434-7200 for updates and more information on fire restrictions.

Upcoming Events
John Sproul will be giving us a tour of the Rio Bosque Wetlands Park on July 13th. Tour will be an easy two mile hike over mostly level terrain. The tour will introduce you to the Park -- its history, its plants and animals, and the ecosystem restoration work in progress.

New Gadgets
I purchased and activated a SPOT Satellite Instant Messenger today. The cost of the unit was $149.95 at Big 5 Sporting Goods on Viscount. I told the manager that I was with the El Paso Ridgewalkers and he gave me an additional 10% off the retail price. If you are considering the purchase of a SPOT Satellite Instant Messenger, please go to the Viscount Big 5 Sporting Goods Store and tell the manager that you are with the El Paso Ridgewalkers and you will also get 10% off the retail price.

Photo Credits
Many thanks to Ken Steiner for the photos displayed this week.

Get your camping gear ready, and make plans to escape the desert heat and spend the weekend at Sleepy Grass Camp ground located in the cool mountains near Cloudcroft, NM.

The campground is located in an open meadow with views of the surrounding mountains and cradled between Douglas fir, Ponderosa and Aspen-covered mountain sides. This is a very pretty, rustic campground with an abundance of walk-in tent sites and RV sites.

This is also an excellent day trip for those of you that have become weary of the desert heat and are seeking an escape. Cloudcroft has several craft and variety shops to include a miniature golf course.

We will take a tour Sunspot Observatory and museum. Sunspot is at the end of the 16-mile Sunspot Highway or Scenic Byway. This is a free self-guided tour of the various observatories and watch the scientists at work. The museum has an entry fee.

The Sacromental Mountains Museum and Pioneer Village is also located in Cloudcroft. See exhaustive exhibits of the history of Cloudcroft. Imagine the growth of the Village as you view models of the little "impossible" railroad and panoramic photographs of the old Lodge and other significant landmarks. Stroll through the Pioneer Village and learn about the early farming and ranching industry and life ways in a rugged log cabin. There is a $5.00 per adult fee for this museum.

Click Here to sign up for this campout and hike.

Up Coming Events

We have planned a trip to the Gila Cliff Dwellings, Lake Roberts, the Cat Walk, and hikes in Purgatory Chasm for the 4th of July weekend. More details and photos later.

July 13th, we will have a tour of the Rio Bosque Wetlands Park. Rio Bosque Wetlands Park is a unique natural landscape where visitors from throughout the Paso del Norte region can experience first-hand the biologically rich ecosystems once found in the Rio Grande River valley. This tour will cover about two miles on level ground and will include an introduction to the Park -- its history, its plants and animals, the ecosystem-restoration work in progress.

We plan on a full moon hike and overnight campout at White Sands National Monument on Friday July 18th. Then on Saturday morning, July 19th, we will travel to Cloudcroft, NM were we will do a short hike on the OSHA Trail and then attend the Weed, NM Bluegrass Festival.

New Web Site Feature

We now have a Forum for discussions about hiking, trails, camping, gear, etc. Shareyour comments about upcoming events, trails you have hiked, and camping/backpacking adventures. The forum is open to both members and unregistered guests. 

The forum is also where you can find out about what is going on with this website. We'll keep you posted on site updates, changes, and proposed features.

Between a Rock and a Hard Place is a book, that recounts the life of Aron Ralston as it leads up to his entrapment in Blue John Canyon in the Utah desert.

What started out as a perfect day, ended up a nightmare.  Aron would find himself pinned for six days and five nights wondering if he would ever make it out alive. The nights were cold and each day passed without any help in sight. He was about to give up and with is left hand he removed a video camera from his pack to record his last days. Goodbyes were said to all as his life seemed to be over. It was just him and a 800 pound rock and a 100 foot drop to the canyon below.

Included in the book are pictures of his terrible ordeal in the canyon, various photos from the past excursions he speaks of in the book. There is a glossary of mountaineering jargon, and maps of Blue John Canyon showing the proximity of the canyon in central eastern Utah.

As hikers, you will enjoy this read.

Wedding bells are ringing.  Yes, Charlie's daughter, Amanda, is getting married Saturday, June 21st.

Amanda Topp and Joe Mello have a web site with engagement photos, bridal registries, and other information about the couple.

If you would like to send a gift or a card, please call Charlie at 915-253-7086.

Our next hike will be along the mighty Rio Grande. We will begin the hike at the intersection of the Rio Grande River, and Country Club Road. This is an easy hike. We normally hike up to the Artcraft Bridge and then return to Country Club Road. When you get to the Artcraft Bridge, look up to observe the Barn Swallow nests.

Closer to the river is a sidewalk that is suitable for roller blading, so bring your roller blades if you like. Bicycles are also welcome.

Click Here to sign up for the Rio Grande River Walk.

Events Coming Up

We have had several backpacking trips this year, and now we have a car camping trip planned for June 28th and 29th at the Sleepy Grass Campground in Cloudcroft, NM. Even though the forest is closed, the campgrounds are open. Sleepy Grass has a very long road running through the campground, so we should be able to get a good five mile hike on that road. You should be able to see plenty of elk during the late evening and early morning hours. Bathroom facilities, picnic tables, and water are availble in the campground. Get your camping gear ready, and make plans to escape the desert heat and spend the weekend in the cool mountains near Cloudcroft, NM.

The 13th Annual Weed Bluegrass Festival will be on the 19th of July. We'll do a short hike on the OSHA Trail, and then head on over to Weed, NM. Make sure to pack a picnic basket and cooler with your favorite adult beverages for an afternoon of great music.

On the 26th of July, we have a great bacpacking trip scheduled. We'll begin our journey in Hubbell Canyon, near Sunspot, and hike toward Bluff Springs. Most of this trail is along an old abandon railroad grade.

Photo Credits

The Hillsboro Peak photos shown on our front page were taken by Carol Brown. Carol's Picasa Photo Gallery has more photos of her hiking adventures.

Attention Hikers
As a hiker, you should seriously consider purchasing and carrying the SPOT Messenger on every hike. This is more than just a nice-to-have high tech gadget. It could be a life saver.

As a SPOT owner, you are able to add Search & Rescue service at the time of your SPOT activation for just US$7.95 a year, that is very cheap insurance to carry with you on every hike. Question. Lets say you are hiking in the Franklin Mountain State Park, and you slip and break a leg or an ankle. What would it cost for a mountain rescue team to come to your aid? Would it be more than $149.99 plus $7.95? Please read this for more information.

With the SPOT Satellite Messenger, you and your loved ones have peace of mind knowing help is always within reach. SPOT is the only device of its kind, using the GPS satellite network to acquire its coordinates, and then sending its location with a link to Google Maps™ and a pre-programmed message via a commercial satellite network. And unlike Personal Locator Beacons, SPOT does more than just call for help. Tracking your progress, checking in with loved ones, and non-emergency assistance are also available, all at the push of a button. And because it uses 100% satellite technology, SPOT works around the world even where cell phones don't.

Coverage
SPOT works around the world, including virtually all of the continental United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe and Australia, portions of South America, Northern Africa and North Eastern Asia, and hundreds or thousands of miles off-shore of these areas.

Messenger

• ALERT 9-1-1 - Dispatch emergency responders to your exact location
• CHECK IN - Let contacts know where you are and that you're okay
• TRACK PROGRESS - Send and save your location and allow contacts to track your progress using your password and Google Maps™.
• ASK FOR HELP - Request help from friends and family at your exact location.

ALERT 9-1-1
Use this function In the event of a life threatening or other critical emergency to notify emergency services of your exact location and that you need assistance. The GEOS International Emergency Response Center alerts the appropriate agencies worldwide for example contacting 9-1-1 responders in North America and 1-1-2 responders in Europe.

How it works
Once activated, SPOT will acquire its exact coordinates from the GPS network, and send that location along with a distress message to a GEOS International Emergency Response Center every five minutes until cancelled. The Emergency Response Center notifies the appropriate emergency responders based on your location and personal information which may include local police, highway patrol, the Coast Guard, our countrys embassy or consulate, or other emergency response or search and rescue teams as well as notifying your emergency contact person(s) about the receipt of a distress signal.

Important notes
Unlimited Alert 9-1-1 usage is included as part of the low-cost SPOT service plan.

Even if SPOT cannot acquire its location from the GPS network it will still attempt to send a distress signal without exact location to the Emergency Response Center, which will still notify your contacts of the signal and continue to monitor the network for further messages.

SPOT is designed for maximum reliability. Spot performs a self-diagnostic test each time it is powered on. Additionally, Spot strongly recommends that you send and verify an OK/Check message each time before use. This allows you to evaluate your entire messaging system, from the operational condition of the messenger to the readiness of those youve chosen to notify of your messages.

El Paso Retail Outlets:

Big 5 Sporting Goods

Its nice to have a nice hot meal after setting up the tent. I want a meal that is self-contained, requires little or no clean up, no pots or pans to scrub, and comes complete with knife, fork, spoon, and napkin. Is this too much to as for? Well, no, there really is a meal that satisfies all the above. The answer is HeaterMeals®.

HeaterMeals® are complete, self-contained meals, which come with a generous 3/4 - pound entree, fork, napkin, salt and pepper, as well as the unique water activated food heater separately attached to the insulated tray. Simply pour the enclosed pouch of salt water onto the heater pad, place the sealed meal onto the heater, and slide the tray back into the box.

HeaterMeals are perfect for hunting, fishing, boating, and camping. HeaterMeals® also make excellent "brown bag" lunches for the office or the jobsite.

Each of the seven entrees satisfy hearty appetites:

• Chicken Pasta Italiana
• Mushroom Gravy, Mashed Potatoes and Beef
• Homestyle Chicken & Noodles in Gravy
• Green Pepper Steak with Rice
• Zesty BBQ Sauce, Diced Potatoes & Beef
• Three Cheese Lasagna
• Pancakes, Blueberry Topping & Bacon Slices

HeaterMeals® do not require refrigeration, and they have a 24 month shelf life at room tempature. Breakfast items have a 12 month shelf life at room temperature.

For information on retailers or to order directly, call HeaterMeals® 1·800·503·4483. Or, visit the HeaterMeals® web site - www.heatermeals.com.

The following locations may also carry HeaterMeals® Flying J, MAPCO, Pilot, PETRO, Speedway & TA TravelCenters of America.