El Paso looks like a cool city. It has an international flavor, sitting just across a fence/checkpoint from Juarez. The tourist pamphlets and magazines are filled with pictures of colorful exotic foods and breathtaking art.
We drove right through.
It does look like an amazing city, but we didn't have a plan on where to go or where to park—serious considerations when towing your house around America. It was interesting to see the actual border on I-10 north, a curving ribbon of fence that hugged the interstate, the shanty town dotted hills of Juarez just beyond. And you say to yourself, “That’s a different country over there.”
We drove right through.
It does look like an amazing city, but we didn't have a plan on where to go or where to park—serious considerations when towing your house around America. It was interesting to see the actual border on I-10 north, a curving ribbon of fence that hugged the interstate, the shanty town dotted hills of Juarez just beyond. And you say to yourself, “That’s a different country over there.”
Instead, we headed to Las Cruces, New Mexico. We had been hoping for a campsite with electricity because our battery was running low in the trailer. We stopped at Leasburg Dam State Park, about fifteen miles north of Las Cruces, and talked to the guy in the office. He was sad to report that all the electric sites were already accounted for, but we were welcome to set up shop in one of the available dry camping sites. Then he regaled us with the history of the area, showing us around the little museum at the park, offered us books in the over-stuffed exchange library, and encouraged us to continue our travels.
Since we had to dry camp anyway, we decided to go to the Aguirre campground in the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument west of town. The campground is on the east side of San Augustin Pass on highway 70, right at the base of spectacular peaks in the Organ Mountain range. Aguirre has no hookups, but the view and surroundings more than made up for it. We took pictures, made dinner, and enjoyed an evening fire with wood that smelled like the finest incense.
Since we had to dry camp anyway, we decided to go to the Aguirre campground in the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument west of town. The campground is on the east side of San Augustin Pass on highway 70, right at the base of spectacular peaks in the Organ Mountain range. Aguirre has no hookups, but the view and surroundings more than made up for it. We took pictures, made dinner, and enjoyed an evening fire with wood that smelled like the finest incense.
In the morning, we hiked to the top of Baylor Mountain. From the campground to the top of the pass is around two miles, then about one more mile to the top of the peak. The hike to the pass was a nice desert trail through sotal, yucca and cactus.
From the pass to the top of the peak was a different story. There was a rough trail heading up, which we quickly lost. We picked our way up the hill, over boulders and slipping on scree. Annie was a champ! Finally, we made it to the top. We could see far past Las Cruces to the west, and past Fort Bragg to the White Sands National Monument to the East.
We started down the peak, and quickly found the trail that we had lost on the way up. We followed the trail back down to the pass, which was definitely an easier hike than the bushwhacking going up, though still fairly steep and rough on the knees. From the pass, we boogied down the rest of the trail to the trailer. Once there, we ate lunch, hitched up, and left camp.
We crossed back over San Augustin Pass toward Las Cruces where we had to stop at the Space Murals Museum. Essentially, it is a huge water tank covered in NASA inspired murals. But it also has an interesting museum containing a variety of space exploration exhibits. The woman who was running the museum when we visited loves to talk about the brave men and women who helped America lead the space race for so many years. She answered questions and encouraged us to explore the museum.
The gift shop is also a gem, with tons of NASA patches and pins and science kits. I picked up a sheet of cool NASA mission stickers, and Angelica got an Appollo XIII patch for her vest. The Space Murals Museum is a great spot to stop and learn about and appreciate America’s leading efforts in space exploration.
We crossed back over San Augustin Pass toward Las Cruces where we had to stop at the Space Murals Museum. Essentially, it is a huge water tank covered in NASA inspired murals. But it also has an interesting museum containing a variety of space exploration exhibits. The woman who was running the museum when we visited loves to talk about the brave men and women who helped America lead the space race for so many years. She answered questions and encouraged us to explore the museum.
The gift shop is also a gem, with tons of NASA patches and pins and science kits. I picked up a sheet of cool NASA mission stickers, and Angelica got an Appollo XIII patch for her vest. The Space Murals Museum is a great spot to stop and learn about and appreciate America’s leading efforts in space exploration.
Down the road, we found a free, dry (no utilities), campsite on public land just outside of the entrance of the National Monument at the Sierra Vista Trailhead. There are about five designated campsites along the road, and there was only one other RV parked there for the night. As with other campsites on public lands, campers can stay for up to 14 days. And you have no lack of hiking or biking to do as the Sierra Vista Trail is 29 miles long! We settled in for the afternoon, set up our table and chairs and drank a beer to celebrate the hike. That evening, after eating dinner and planning our next stop, we looked across the valley at the lights of Las Cruces twinkling in the desert.
Kenny is the chief fire builder and camp cook for a rag-tag team of dreamers. He holds a BA in English and has worked as a cook in a variety of different food service establishments. As an entrepreneur, he co-founded a short lived, but delicious, fried hand pie company. He loves wandering around flea markets and hiking through the woods. He has a passion for pizza and good beer. |