The Peaks in My Backyard

I’m very lucky that I get to play in my “backyard playground” almost every day. I don’t have to travel far to reach a trailhead that leads into the Franklin Mountains of El Paso, TX. 

The red thunderbird overlooks my neighborhood

The closest peak to my home is S. Franklin Mountain (6791 ft). In fact, the red thunderbird formation on the western face overlooks my neighborhood like a sentry keeping watch over the inhabitants below. The Ron Coleman Trail is a 4 mile route that climbs from the east side of the mountain, traverses the ridge line and descends to a high pass along TransMountain Rd. (375). A series of chains takes the climber up to a window where he can peer through to get a great view of El Paso.

The WIndow on Ron Coleman Trail

You can continue to the top of S. Franklin Peak for more fantastic views of the surrounding desert and city below. The only drawback is the radio towers that adorn the highest points of the peak. When you begin the descent you will pass the Mammoth Rock formation that can be seen when driving eastbound on TransMountain Rd. The best way to hike the trail is one way from McKelligon Canyon to Trans Mt. Rd. because the chained sections are more difficult to descend than to ascend. This is a treacherous, strenuous, exposed, steep trail that requires some scrambling and is not for the faint of heart. 

I’ll be guiding this Peak Fitness Challenge Hike on June 2nd, 2013 for the Franklin Mountains State Park. Click here for more info.

Mammoth Rock

The highest peak in my playground is the N. Franklin Peak at 7192 ft. I’ve been frequently power hiking up there to get ready for the Jemez Mountain 50K that I will be running at the end of this month and the San Diego 100 Miler that I’m running next month.

S. Franklin Peak as seen from N. Franklin

N. Franklin Peak as seen from Mammoth Rock (S. Franklin)

I either run on the west side starting in the state park or from the northeast side from Chuck Heinrich Park (El Paso City Parks). The climb is around 2000-3000 feet depending on which side you start from and the trail offers some very steep rugged sections to keep you from getting bored. The views are stunning from the top and a colony of ladybugs frequent the bushes on the peak during warm weather.

Claret Cup 

Ocotillo 

Texas Rainbow

Big-Needle Pincushion

Some of my recent training runs have taken me around the entire Franklin range where many cactus species have been in full bloom. The lower sunset trail is a favorite of many locals and runners refer to it as the Jack Rabbit loop, named after the 7 mile race of the same name that is run every March. The race ends with a steep climb that we affectionately refer to as “Big Bertha”. You can reach the trailhead from Tom Mays unit of the Franklin Mountains State Park. The best maps are available on GeoBetty.com and a free hardcopy is available at most bike shops in town.

Click for a closer look and you will see their brightly colored shirts 

"Jack Rabbit Trail"

The Run El Paso Club recently hosted their annual Mt Cristo Rey Challenge, an 8 mile out and back to the top of Mt Cristo Rey (4675 ft). Though not the highest peak in the area, it has one of the largest statues of Christ on the top. Thousands of faithful Christians trek to the monument during holy days throughout the year. The mountain sits at the border of Sunland Park, NM; El Paso, TX and Juarez, Mexico. When the idea of placing  a cross on top of the mountain was envisioned in the early 1930s, the founders didn’t even know in which state or country the mountain was located. The pathway ascends gradually and is mostly smooth packed dirt which makes for a great running trail (especially coming back down). 

Mt Cristo Rey as seen from UT El Paso

Run El Paso Club's annual "boys against girls" Cristo Rey Challenge

We are very fortunate to have many trails around the El Paso area. The city surrounds  the mountains so, no matter what neighborhood you live in, you are never too far from a great adventure. I often run for hours without seeing anyone which is surprising considering the El Paso County population is 827,000. The spring weather is very pleasant so get out and enjoy the peaks in your backyard. 

W. El Paso as seen from the Ron Coleman Trail

See you on the trail.

Cedro Peak 45 Miler

If I lose my footing and slip, I’m going to tumble to the bottom of this rocky gulch faster than it takes to say, “that’s going to leave a mark”. I gingerly place each step working my way down the slope. My friend Ryan and I started the Cedro Peak 45 Miler at 6:00 am just east of Albuquerque, NM in the Cibola National Forest.

Trail Maintenance

Almost everyday I run on rocky rugged technical trails and afterwards wonder why I didn’t eat it. I navigate rock gardens, “speed” down steep terrain and slip and slide on loose gravel. Somehow my foot knows just where to land so I don’t take a digger...usually. It’s much like a flying helicopter. How does it keep from crashing? No one really understands how it works; it just does. 

Rock Garden

Bataan Memorial Death March 2013

We're the battling bastards of Bataan;

No mama, no papa, no Uncle Sam.

No aunts, no uncles, no cousins, no nieces,

No pills, no planes, no artillery pieces.

And nobody gives a damn.

Nobody gives a damn.

—Frank Hewlett (WWII War Correspondent)

So goes the poem that represents the Bataan Death March of April 1942. Following a four month battle in the Philippines, where US forces surrendered to the Japanese, thousands of US and Filipino soldiers were taken as POWs including almost the entire New Mexico National Guard (1800). Hundreds were marched over 60 miles through the sweltering jungle with little food or water. Any man who lagged behind or tried to stop for a drink was shot, tortured or left on the road to die. 

Back-To-Back Long Runs

Training for a 100 mile trail race is a daunting task so I have enlisted the help of a coach and a personal trainer. Because we manage on a shoestring budget, I have had to get very creative to make this happen. I will tell you more about that later, but for now, I’ll give you an idea of how I’m getting ready to run some serious mileage on some rugged trails.

The Lost Dog Trailhead, El Paso TX (His name is "Lucky")

Is it Low T?

Are old men the only ones who watch the nightly news? Is it me or is every other commercial for some prescription medicine? Arthritis, hypertension, overactive bladder, ED,  low T. Seriously, low T? Is this a good idea? The way I see it, younger guys have more testosterone and older men less and that’s what keeps the universe in equilibrium. Let’s not go tipping the scale here. If you do decide to use low T gel make sure to read the fine print on the instructions, “Do not apply to any other parts of your body, such as your...is flammable... let dry before smoking...etc.” Like I said before, is this a good idea?

Sugarloaves’ Ultra Vista (S.U.V.) 60K Race Report

Sugarloaf: 1. refined sugar molded into a cone  2. A hill or mountain shaped like a sugarloaf —Miriam Webster Dictionary

Sugarloaves’ Ultra Vista (S.U.V.): A crazy long desert foot race to a sugarloaf and back three times followed by a shorty loop. —Greg

The Sierra Vista Trail connects the Franklin Mountains (El Paso, TX) and the Organ Mountains (Las Cruces, NM) and passes through Vado, NM somewhere near the half way point. That is where my Sugarloaf adventure begins this morning on another beautiful weather day here in the Desert Southwest.