Chilling / Dripping Springs

  Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States
Thursday, August 7, 2008

Putting all the hours in yesterday, allowed for a easy day of work today.  We were finished with our goals for the business trip by 11:30.  Jim and Ken had to fly back to Denver this afternoon.  Deb wanted to visit the old court house in Mesilla before driving to El Paso to spend the night because she had an early morning flight, tomorrow.  Deb was able to re-book her return trip and this time it only cost an additional $80.  Before leaving, I partake in the "Chili Cook-off" at the facility.  I tried 7 different chili's's and they were all good.  One person made a beef chili with cactus and another person made a chilli with oryx meat...it taste like lamb. 

Organ mountains

While I was taste testing, I ran into Ches, co-worker who permanently transferred to Las Cruces.  We were talking about my plans to hike across Baylor Pass, 6 mile hike.  Ches suggest a shorter hike into the Organ Mountain along Dripping Springs trail, 3 mile hike.  Dripping Springs was a turn of the century resort founded by a Confederate Colonel Eugene Van Patten.  Famous people like Pat Garret and Pancho Villa have stayed there.  Driving to the visitor center, you can not fail to notice a prominent rock formation called La Cueva Rocks.

La Cueva rocks

  There were trails leading to this formation but since I was pressed for time, I did not hike this trail.  At the visitor center there was a sign posted stating that it was cougar country and a warning not to hike alone...great.  On top of this, thunderstorms were brewing in the area.  The lady at the visitor center took down my name, time of day and the trail I was hiking in case I do not make it back; plus she charged me $3 for this adventure.

Two bucks

I was not really worried about mountain lions, but I definitely was afraid of running into rattlesnakes.  The only big animal I saw were two mule deer bucks...no oryx or cougars.  I did hear things rattling in the rough but I think they were birds.  As a precaution, I always walked in the center of the trail and kept my eyes looking down where I was stepping.  It was difficult because the views of the Organ mountain side and the Mesilla Valley were breath taking.  I made sure I stopped walking when I was admiring the view.  Half way up the trail, you see the place where the stage coaches would stop and unload resort guest and supplies.  Turning left at the fork in the trail, will take you to the remains of the resort buildings along with a placard displaying a picture of the resort in its hay-day.  As the trail loops back, you reach the dripping spring. 

Dripping Springs

It rained this morning so there was enough water flowing down the mountain side.  The guide says sometimes there is not enough run-off and all you can see is moist rocks...bonus.  Speaking of moisture, the thunderstorm blew pass and I felt only a few drops...double bonus.

Boyd Sanatorium

The last stop in the trail was the buildings which made up the Boyd Sanatorium.  Colonel Van Patten went bankrupt in 1917 and sold his resort to a Dr. Nathan Boyd.  After his wife contracted tuberculosis, Dr. Boyd converted Dripping Springs into a sanatorium for people with TB and other ailments.  I am glad Ches suggested this hike because I do not think I would have seen any historical sites in the Baylor Pass.