Our next hike will be Saturday, February 13th on the newly constructed trail on the north end of the Franklin Mountains.  We will meet at the Shell Station located at the intersectioin of I-10 and Transmountain Road at 7:45am, and depart no later than 8:00am.  Carpooling is encouraged.

Baylor Pass Backpacking Trip - February 20, 21

OK, so you have enjoyed nature on many hiking trips, and maybe you have been thinking about trying out backpacking, but are not quite sure of what to expect.  Well, there is nothing quite like enjoying nature as you step into or out of your tent!  Hiking, exploring, wandering during the day, watching the sun slowly set over the horizon, and watching the night time sky become pitch black and filled with stars.  Its an incredible sight to witness. Unzip your tent, stick you head out periodically all through the night and you will be treated to a constantly changing display of stars all night long. Sounds great, doesn't it.  Well, now is your chance to try a nice easy backpacking trip. Close enough to home, but far enough into the wilderness, so you can truely get a taste of the adventure of backcountry camping.  Baylor Pass is a nice easy backpacking trip for newbies, with good trails. Need some great tips on backpacking?  Then check out BackPacking 101; it has trip-planning tips, gear lists, safety advice, and other essential wisdom every hiker and backpacker should know.  Need gear?  Then call Carol Brown at 915-630-1424.  We have some loaner tents and backpacks. 

Texas Master Naturalist

Attention Hikers!  How did that rock formation form?  What is that plant?  How do plants and animals live in this arid land?  Learn about these things and more at the next Texas Master Naturalist class beginning February 10th.  The classes will be held every Wednesday night from 6:00 to 9:00 for about 12 weeks.  There will be four or five field trips on various Saturdays which will be announced. The classes will be held at the Garden Center 3105 Grant Ave. in Memorial Park.  For more information, please contact Matt Santillan at the Texas Agrilife Extension office via email or phone at 915-860-2515.

El Paso Marathon

On Sunday, March 7, 2010 the streets of El Paso will become the sight of a 26.2 mile fiesta. Over 2,000 runners are expected to take part in the 2010 Michelob Ultra El Paso Marathon, Spira Half Marathon, and the Jarritos 5K, drinking in the sights and sounds that are El Paso!

Accompanying them on their journey will be more than 700 runners at COB Ader in Tallil, Iraq. At 0500, soldiers with the 4/1 Armored Division out of Ft. Bliss will lace up their running shoes to run the First International Michelob Ultra El Paso Marathon and Spira Half Marathon.

Visit race360.com for more information and to sponsor a soldier in the race!

Bataan Memorial Death March

The 21st Annual Bataan Memorial Death March will be held on March 21st. The Bataan Memorial Death March is a challenging march through the high desert terrain of   White Sands Missile Range, N.M., conducted in honor of the heroic service members who defended the Philippine Islands during World War II, sacrificing their freedom, health and, in many cases, their very lives.  There two route to choose from.  The GREEN route is 26.2 miles, and the BLUE route is 15.2 miles.

The Mexican Revolution - 100 Years Later

The sister cities of El Paso and Ciudad Juarez played a significant role in the Mexican Revolution that began on November 20, 1910. The sister cities were hosts to events instrumental in shaping the course of the revolution. This year, as part of the Centennial Celebration, many partner organizations will host public events special to the El Paso area as they relate to the Mexican Revolution. Download a brochure for a schedule of celebrations from January through May. The brochure is divided into sections including education, lectures, performances, and exhibits.

7th Annual Camp Furlong Day

Join the festivities as the United States and Mexico commemorate the 1916 raid into Columbus by the Forces of General Francisco "Pancho" Villa.  Up to 100 riders on horseback from Mexico cross the border at Palomas, Mexico and are joined by American riders as they parade through the village of Columbus and into Pancho Villa State Park for food, drink and entertainment.  Enjoy American and Mexican musicians, actors, folklorico dancers, special speakers, local artists, food vendors, Loretta's Barbedwire Band, trick horse rider Carlos Herrera, military re-enactors, the Park's museum with military equipment used by General John J. "Black Jack" Pershing, exhinits by the El Paso Railroad & Transportation Museum.  All of this and more is happening on Saturday, March 6th 2010 from 9:00am to 4:00pm.  Admission is free.

For more information, call the Poncho Villa State Park at 575-531-2711.

Topo Maps

If you're planning a serious hike or backpack, you need topography maps. It used to be a lot harder to obtain specific mapping information, but in today's digital age, it's easy, and free!  Created in 1879, the United States Geological Survey has cataloged all topography for the United States. You can search for and download PDF files of your next hiking destination, and print your own maps.

However; for a couple bucks, you can order a paper version.

Hiking For Every Interest

Hiking is a year-round treat in El Paso, and southern New Mexico. We try to offer hikes that appeal to different people. Finding intersting trails each week can be daunting. Here at the El Paso Ridgewalkers, we try to offer hikes that are anywhere from really easy, to the challenging Off The Beaten Path Adventures. Likewise with our monthly camping trips, some are easy like the upcoming Balyor Pass trip, to the more strenuous Rancherias Loop Trail in the Big Bend Ranch State park. All our hikes are dog-friendly hikes, except the trails that prohibit dogs. So dust off your boots, grab your water bottle and sign up for a hike that fits your stride.

Coming soon: Spring 2010 Back by Noon Outings

The good folks at the Southwest Enviroment Center has been hard at work putting together the Spring 2010 schedule of guided Back by Noon Saturday morning natural history outings. The new line up includes a mix of old and new, featuring more dates, new outings, and terrific guides. Back By Noon hikes is scheduled to begin on March 6th, so stay tuned for more details.

Upcoming Hikes

Here are the proposed hikes for February and March.  We will be having more easy hikes for those that are not yet ready for the more challenging hikes.  Please keep in mind that this schedule is not engraved in stone, and is subject to change.  Remember, the only thing in life that is constant, is change.

Jan. 30 Thousand Steps trail up to the tramway and back.
Feb. 6 Marathon PLUS Hike - 28+ miles
Feb 7 A nice easy stroll along the Montoya Canal
Feb.13 North end of Franklin Mountains,  reverse of what we did last time
Feb. 20-21 Backpack Baylor Pass  Aguirre Springs
Feb. 27 hike to B-24 crash site on east side of mountains and up to tramway (not to be confused with B-36 crash site on West side  of mountain)
March 6 7th Annual Camp Furlong Day and Cabalgata Binacional -- Pancho Villa State Park
March 7 El Paso Marathon - 26.2 miles, and Half Marathon - 15.2 miles
March 13 Meet Chuck Heinrick Park and explore some bike trails on east side of mountain, level of difficulty - easy to moderate.
March 20 Shaefer Shuffle in Tom Mays Park
March 21 Baatan Memorial Death March -- choice of 26.2 miles or 15 miles
March 27 North Mount Franklin

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