Elk and Deer at Chaco

Regardless of security measures at the malls in El Paso, the natural pattern of life goes on at Chaco Culture National Historical Park. The elk take a break in the afternoon after finding a sunny and protected area.

The mule deer look down at Casa Rinconada from the canyon rim.

Modern and Ancient

I couldn't pass up these shots of the jet con trail over the top of the wall at Pueblo Bonito and the interior passageways.

Shopping at the Mall

I think it is important to connect with the local folks and their lifestyle in as many ways as possible. This took me to the Sunland Park Mall in El Paso.

El Paso seems to have a fascination with horses as this center piece
indicates. Right after I took this photo the Security Guard for the
Mall approached me. He informed me that pictures of the general area
were permitted but pictures of the store fronts were not.

I did get permission to take these pictures at the Mexican Sound
store.

El Paso Tramway

Once in El Paso we toured the area over looking Fort Bliss. A highlight was taking the Wyler Aerial Tramway up to the top of Ranger Peak in El Paso's Franklin Mountains. It is operated by the Texas State Parks and affords incredible views.

El Paso will soon be experiencing substantial growth as Fort Bliss
will expand by 35,000 military personnel (this doesn't include their
dependents) to provide a wide range of year round training. A major
issue was the need to be able to guarantee a consistent water supply.
This was accommodated by the building of a desalination plant and
pipeline from a vast aquifer nearby.

Onate or "Equestrian"???

There is an enormous statue at the El Paso airport commemorating the arrival of the Spanish to the area - given the impact of the Spanish as they marched north from Mexico into New Mexico up the Rio Grande from El Paso - there were mixed reaction to the statue. The figure portrayed might have been Onate. The statue is now called "The Equestrian."

It is massive and frightening. I tried to imagine the reaction of the
Puebloan people who experienced the Conquistadors and never seen
before horses first hand. Seems the victors get to write the history.

Ravens and Watchers at Pueblo Bonito

Ravens are very very smart birds. When I worked as the Camp Ground Host I would warn visitors not to leave back packs or backs out as the ravens would come, tear them open and search for food items. Folks talk about the raven duo that could get the lid off a garbage container by jointly flying up while holding the inside plastic bag to dump the contents in the parking lot for a feed.

These people are on the canyon rim looking down onto Pueblo Bonito in
the afternoon - great place to take photos on a clear (or any) day.

Road to El Paso

I -25 south to El Paso is relatively fast and meanders past Truth or
Consequences ("T or C" down here) on toward Las Cruces (also know as
"Cruces" down here). I took the back road NM 28 south from Las Cruces
after stopping at the plaza in Old Messina Sunday afternoon
loaded with tourists and a bit overwhelming.

I drove past rows of pecan trees and stopped at
Stahlman's for a Butter Pecan ice cream cone....

Since it was a clear and sunny day the biker's were out in force and I couldn't pass up the parking lot of this bar.