Education

This is the introductory course. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at Smith's parking lot. Passenger cars are OK for this trip. Bring sunscreen, water, hat, sunglasses, and binoculars if you have them. Of course, bring your camera.

This field trip covers the region from Johnson (Parida) Hill to the village of La Parida (2 miles south of Pueblito). The morning program will acquaint you with identifying El Camino Trails; burro, wagon, Conestoga wagon, campsites, and parajes; also El Camino "footpaths" and some ancestral Piro Indian sites, flaked stone tools and ceramics (pottery shards). Comparison of aerial photos or pre-historic and historic trails vs. what the trails look like on the ground.

Saturday, May 17, 2008, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Field Trip: Engle, north to Paraje Town site

Hosted by: Tom Harper and Andi Sullivan, BLM Archeologist

Take first TorC I-25 exit and meet at the first gas station on the right at 9:00 a.m. This will be an all day trip. Passenger cars OK. Bring sunscreen, water, a lunch or snack, hat, sunglasses, and binoculars and a camera if you have them.

Course will cover most of the locations that can be seen by our visitors from the Center. There will be a map with the Center in the central position. The trip from Engle (east of Truth or Consequences) to Paraje Fra Cristobal follows the general path of El Camino Real through the northern part of Jornada del Muerto.

Saturday, August 23, 2008, 10:00 a.m.

Presentation: The Southern Section

Presenter: Andi Sullivan, BLM Archeologist

Location: Socorro BLM Office conference room

This presentation will cover El Camino Real north of Las Cruces into the Jornada del Muerto.

Location: Socorro BLM Office conference room

Saturday, August 2, 2008, 10:00 a.m.

Presentation: Apaches along El Camino Real

Presenter: Brenda Wilkenson, BLM Archeologist, Socorro Field Office

Location: Socorro BLM Office conference room

The Spanish called the region between Socorro and Las Cruces "Apacheria." There were times when the Apache were the largest hazard along the trail, and the most feared. Learn the fact and fiction of the Apache and their interaction with El Camino Real and the early Spanish colonists.

Saturday, September 6, 2008, 8:30 a.m. until about 5:00 p.m. (all day trip)

Field Trip: Don Pedro to Val Verde

Hosted by: Paul Harden, Shawn Gillette, and Tom Harper

All day trip. Bring lunch, water, sunscreen, hats, cameras and binoculars if you have them.

Meet at the Owl Bar in San Antonio at 8:00 a.m.

This field trip will follow the general route of El Camino Real trail south of US 380 from the village of San Pedro (Don Pedro) to Val Verde.

Saturday, October 11, 2008, 8:00 a.m. until about 5:00 p.m. (all day trip)

Field Trip: Mesa del Contadero (Black Mesa)

Hosted by: Tom Harper and Paul Harden

All day trip. Bring lunch, water, sunscreen, hats, cameras and binoculars if you have them.

4 wheel drive vehicles are required (we'll have vehicles for those without 4WD)

Meet at the Owl Bar in San Antonio at 8:00 a.m.

View old Rio Grande water course and the San Marcial flood area. Here is where El Camino crosses to the west side, although there is controversy about whether the track is on the north or south side of the mesa. Visitors can see the mesa to the far north from the "ship's bow" at the Center. Civil War campground area should sharpen your skills discerning artifacts on the ground. The short drive to the top of the mesa requires 4WD. Old ranching corrals, Indian structures and pictographs are some of the sights on the mesa top testifying to centuries of use of this famous black lava mesa.

Mesa del Contadero was a major landmark along El Camino Real. Near the northern end of Jornada del Muerto, it was just three weeks of travel to go to reach Santa Fe.