Getting away from it all in the El Paso Mountains-Bickel Camp

It was a real treat for my friend John and I to spend yesterday at Bickel Camp.  If you don't know what, or where Bickel Camp is, see my older posts.

During our visit, we chatted with one of the new caretakers and with Charlie Hattendorf, who is President of "Friends of Last Chance Canyon" (www.tflcc.org).  We were there for several hours, and the topics discussed ranged from UFOs to World War Two aircraft.  Plus, Charlie gave me directions to the hiking trail that leads to the top of Black Mountain.  Although there was no time for the hike during yesterday's trip, it is definitely on my agenda!

After leaving Bickel Camp, we drove our two vehicles deeper into the El Paso's.  Our goal was to find a ridge line from which we could watch the sun set.  The first trail we tried was a little too tough for my stock Jeep Cherokee.  Being no one's fool, John had "let" me go first.  Since I've never invested in a locking rear differential, I'd only proceeded about two hundred feet before my rear wheel (notice "wheel"-singular) started spinning in the loose gravel.  John's truck, by the way, is equipped with a locking rear differential (IE:  a "rear locker"), but where's the fun in leaving one vehicle (mine) at the bottom of the hill?

Since there was no room for me to turn around, I backed down the hill, and we drove a little further until we came to another trail that appeared to be a little firmer.  Once again, I went first (I've got to stop doing that!), and after almost getting stuck in one spot, I made it tot he top of the hill (Did I mention that four wheel drive "low-range" is a must for this type of travel?).  John soon followed in his Toyota Tacoma.  It was approximately 4:30 pm.

All photos by Scott Schwartz.

                                              The trail became a foot-path, past this point.