Paraje (Camp) San Diego

[rloose]

I'll be working as a volunteer this summer with BLM. They want to document the recreational use and possible artifact collection by the public along the Camino Real near Las Cruces. The Parajes were camp sites along the Camino that were used repeatedly. Although the roadways are hard to see on the ground, they are quite visible from the air.

Attached is a video frame shot from the nose of a Multiplex Twinstar. The jeep is at the road segment. It goes to the north along the edge of a modern borrow pit for I-25, then bends a little northeast to start up the Jornada del Muerto, the "Journey of the Dead Man". This camp was the last stop for reliable wood and water for the next 90 miles.

The Camino was used from Onate's entrada in 1598 into the early 1900s. One help in spotting it on the ground are the large Mesquite trees growing in the old roadbed. The oxen used to pull the carts ate the local Mesquite bean pods and then deposited the seeds in the road along with a nice pile of fertilizer. Foot traffic must have been a "heads up" operation.

Rich

[Tom Harper]

Rich,

Great post!

Do you have to go to Engle to get to San Diego or can you cross the river someplace else.

Tom

[rloose]

Hi Tom-

Paraje San Diego is on the east side of the river north of Ft. Selden near Tonuco Mountain (called San Diego Mountain on old maps). It is a little north of the Border Patrol Station and I-25 rest stop between Las Cruces and Rincon. You can get to it by taking the exit at Upham, going under the Interstate, then heading back south on a gravel road.

You can also head north toward Engle on the gravel road that parallels the rail road tracks. The Camino is quite visible in air photos. The next Paraje is at Point of Rocks.

Rich

[Tom Harper]

Rich,

I need to talk to you soon. I'm starting an annual event for the Heritage Center - second week in November. Would you be willing to conduct a tour between San Diego and Engle?

Pat Beckett says 'hello', hasn't seen you in a while.

Tom

[rloose]

Tom-

I'm working my way north from Paraje San Diego. Paraje del Perillo (little dog camp) is next. By next November, I should have a pretty good handle on where the road is visible and accessable on the ground. I could be a tour guide. You can PM any details. How far north of Engle can you go before you run into the Turner Ranch or restrictions because of the "Elephant Butte Station"?? I recently read that it has changed management and the Air Force is now running it.

By the way, I sent $25 to CARTA for a one year membership.

Rich

[Tom Harper]

Rich,

You can only go about a mile north of Engle before you get to the first electric gate. But, Tom Waddel (Armendaris Manager) is very cooperative with archaeologists. Possibly I can meet you there for a talk with Tom.

Tom