Baylor Pass Trail

Baylor Pass Trail

The Baylor Pass Trail goes over the Organ Mountains through the Baylor Pass. You find the western Trail head a ways out of Las Cruses off the road to White Sands. The trail head itself is a lot like the rest of the western slopes of this mountain range and not much different than the area I ran in the Dry Rock Ridge run. The trail heads kind of northwest into the hills skirting the low ridges and winding into the main valley that ultimately becomes the entrance to the Pass.

Janet and I did the trail, and Wayne took the truck around to Aguirre Springs to pick us up. It was a pleasant hike. I could have run a bit, but Janet and I were talking occasionally and it didn't seem to be worthwhile to run off in pursuit of that ephemeral quality of 'fitness' that runners are so often chasing. We moved on, taking in the sights, stopping occasionally, and enjoying the trail. We passed a couple of couples near the crest, but the trail was pretty much ours for most of the hike.

We got over the ridge and the eastern slopes were more lush, in that New Mexican kind of way. and we were not far from the Pine Tree trail, that I had done on one of my first days in Las Cruses. I can understand why Wayne likes that area. I would enjoy going back there again. Maybe doing a Baylor Pass-Pine Tree-return; or some such ridiculousness.

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. Pictures