To Mesa del Contadero (Black Mesa) and remnants of the trail

The road to the Jornada del Muerto.

Or, the view from Paul's car for a couple of hours!

Kay, Tom, Linda, Chuck and Helen at the gate to the Armendaris Ranch - the entrance to the Jornada del Muerto (we entered with permission from the ranch).

The Mesa Line Camp at the base of Mesa del Contadero (now Armendaris Ranch). One branch of Camino Real passes through here to Valverde.

Approaching the top of Mesa del Contadero (Black Mesa) -- a major landmark along El Camino Real.

Looking down from the edge of the mesa, or, "Honest, Helen was standing right here just a minute ago ... "

 

Tom Harper points out items of interest from the edge of the mesa.

A view of a southbound train from atop the mesa - going through the bosque that was once San Marcial.

The train crossing the bridge over the Rio Grande ... entering the Jornada del Muerto.

Some of the fortifications atop the mesa, though whether built by the Spaniards, U.S. soldiers, or the Piro Indians is not known.

A view from the mesa top to the southwest towards the San Mateo Mountains.

Heading back down the mesa . . .

PS - Earle, remember this road and your poor ole dog?

The wagon swale looking east towards the mesa from the railroad tracks.

Looking for the trail: We took a side trip to the south end of Mesa del Contadero looking for a segment of the trail. This was a portion explored by Paul Harden back in the 1980s (prior to Ted Turner's ownership) and recently located on a GoogleEarth satellite image.  We found it!  A pristine section of El Camino Real with such a distinctive wagon swale, it looks like a graded road.  This is part of the trail going from Paraje Fra Cristobal to Black Mesa, and is possibly that part of the trail, between the mesa and a natural ridge line, used for counting the animals in the caravan.

Another look further down the trail.

A wide angle view looking EAST, with a southern flank of the mesa on the left.

A wide angle view looking SOUTH- WEST towards Paraje Fra Cristobal (and the Center).

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Weather: A strong storm, the remnant of Hurricane Norbert, came through New Mexico the day of the trip, forecasting rain and 40mph winds.  It had rained hard in San Antonio shortly before our 8am departure, but we saw only light sprinkles a couple of times the rest of the day. However, the wind out on the trail was fierce at times, easily 40mph and gusts beyond that.  Especially on top of the mesa. The temperature was mild and not bad, except for the wind.  A really enjoyable day overall.  Did I mention the wind?