Las Cruces, New Mexico

Scoundrels in the Borderland

As we walked in Las Cruce's Walmart, a police officer was posted at the front door and another strolling through the isles. I got an uncomfortable feeling remembering the El Paso Walmart 45 miles away that just reopened after the recent shooting. The greeter at the front door said he was glad the police were there.

Overlooking Las Cruces are the Organ Mountains, named because of the steep, needle-like spires that resemble the pipes of an organ. This area of rocky peaks, narrow canyons and open woodlands shelters the Dripping Springs Natural Area, noted for its "weeping walls"overlooks the Rio Grande and the Mesilla Valley.

I asked the volunteer at the visitor center about the snake situation before our hike. She said that the few that they have seen were pretty docile. Except the 4 foot rattlesnake (scoundrel) that welcomed her to work the previous day and wasn't leaving his post without help from the rangers. Aghhh! Fortunately, we avoided any interactions with snakes.

The Dripping Springs Natural Area has over four miles of  hiking trails, including the Dripping Springs Trail which gradually climbs into the cooler box canyon.

It is a steady incline for the majority of the “out” portion of the trail but there are shade trees and even some benches along the way. 

In the 1870s, Colonel Eugene Van Patten built his Van Patten’s Mountain Camp resort. People would arrive by horse and stagecoach.

The scoundrel Doctor Nathan Boyd established a tuberculosis sanatorium on this property with a promise to pay $25 per year which he never paid even after Van Patten took him to court.

On our return we turned onto the Crawford Trail without shade on that trail even though the temp was 60 degrees, the sun felt hot. 

The Mesilla Valley

La Mesilla "Little Tableland"

 Apaches and other tribes regularly camped in Mesilla. After the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 that the first permanent settlers came to Mesilla to call it their home. 

In 1854, The Gadsden Purchase declared Mesilla officially part of the United States and became an important stop on two stagecoach routes, the El Camino Real and the Butterfield stage route.

Mesilla was as wild as the West gets, with outlaws frequenting many of the bars and dancehalls. 

In 1881, Billy the Kid was tried and sentenced to hang at the jail and courthouse on the southeast corner of the plaza. The Gadsden Museum has the original jail cell doors that held Billy the Kid.

Mesilla's Plaza is similar to that in Santa Fe but much smaller.

After a morning walk through Mesilla's countryside of pecan trees and ugly fruit, we had brunch at "Josephine's". The green chile in my quiche was the best. We are in New Mexico after all.

While in Las Cruces, Mike's 1 year old Samsung phone's google play popups kept blocking his phone. After trying online suggestions, he took it to the Verizon store. The rep turned the phone off and on before handing it back to him saying he needed a new phone. She was pushing the "best" phone for a total of $900.  Another scoundrel. He passed and called tech support since he had insurance on it. They weren't able to resolve the issue but sent him another phone at no charge and free shipping to return the problem phone.

Rain was again in the forecast and walking in town isn't so pleasant. We headed out to Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park nearby.

The bosque (forest)

Texas is just around the corner.