Outcrop Hike in The Peloncillo Mountains

 Portal Rodeo Hiking Club

 Grinding Holes

 Rock Art

                     
       
The Portal Rodeo Hiking Club of 21 people and 1 dog, started a hike with a snow covered valley and mountains. As the sun started to shine during the day the snow in the lower elevations melted and warmed the air.

The hiking club met at the Painted Pony Resort in Rodeo, New Mexico then drove about 1 mile closer to a parking spot to begin the hike.  During the hike a person identified the remains of several Mimbres villages, dating from around the 12th century, it was nothing but  rock rubble to me on the Painted Pony Resort property.  We hiked from the PPR to BLM land to a outcrop at the base of the  Peloncillo Mountains.

We hiked across the El Paso railroad bed, the tracks have all been removed, but you could see just where they were.    When we reached the outcrop we found 30 plus Native American grinding holes which were deep and some rock art in red, the hiking club broke up into several groups going from 7 to 8 miles. We ate our lunch in the sun and talked about the wonderful view in the San Simon Valley. We all noticed  Bighorn sheep droppings were everywhere. Some of the hikers went to the top of the outcrop and I was told found more grinding holes. To view the map click here.

 Rock Formation