Butterfield Trail

[rloose]

I have been asked to take some aerial photos of the Butterfield Trail west of Las Cruces, New Mexico. A field school from New Mexico State University is excavating a "station" on the trail in the Rough and Ready Hills. The stations were just a stop for changing horses and stretching the stage passengers legs. Some images are attached, but currently the route is difficult to see because we have had an unusually wet summer. The subsequent vegetation is heavier than usual. The roadway is characterized by larger than average Mesquite trees growing in the old roadbed swale. There is just a little more moisture collected there and the Mesquites take advantage of it.

It turns out that a USGS map cartographer noticed the old trail and marked it on the topo maps. I'm also including a USGS air photo that shows the route. I've added a dark line to help highlight the trail's location.

Rich

[rloose]

Two aerials are attached. I'll be taking more photos this fall after the summer vegetation has turned brown and the Mesquites will really stand out.

This portion of the Butterfield trail was used for only two years between 1857 and 1859. Local lore is that the Apaches tore down the station after it was deserted by the Butterfield Company. Only the bottom courses of the adobe walls can be found today.

Rich

[kd7ost]

Cool project Rich,

I've had a busy summer and am still playing catch up so only now got a chance to look at your thread.

Have you had a chance to go get any more pictures?

Dan

[rloose]

Hi Dan-

The field school is getting close to being finished. They want some aerial shots next weekend to document their excavated test squares. So I should have something new to post in a few days.

Rich

[rloose]

Here's a shot of the site taken last weekend. The original is 1.88 MB taken with a Canon 600 from a MagpieAP. In the original, you can blow it up enough to see individual adobe bricks. The station was destroyed by local New Mexicans to prevent Confederate troops from using it during the Civil War.

Rich

[kd7ost]

That's a great shot Rich.

Dan

[Tom Harper]

Rich,

Is this project finished? Any more photos?

Tom

[rloose]

Hi Tom-

New Mexico State has finished their excavation and has backfilled the test trenches and sample squares. So I won't be taking any more record shots there. I found that on USGS aerial photos the Trail could be followed for miles west of Las Cruces. The dig director, Dr. Ed Staski was pleased with the results. I'll probably get the chance to photograph his next field school for the University.

Rich

[Tom Harper]

Rich,

Some photos of the trail would make good referrence material since we know it's age.

Are you going to attend the next CARTA board meeting?

Tom