The High Point of El Paso Letterbox Hybrid

This cache has been archived.

Desert_Warrior: I quit geocaching years ago due to the draconian hand of prime reviewer. I left my caches out there, and as each one comes up with a "Needs Maintenance" note, I archive them. Just as simple as that. I'll mick this one up next time I hike up to maintain the radio site.

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Hidden : 9/18/2005
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
3.5 out of 5

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

This Geocache is a LETTERBOX-HYBRID. It is located in The Texas
Parks & Wildlife Department - Franklin Mountains State Park -
Tom Mays Unit. Entry is $4.00 per person, children 12 & under
free. This cache is approved by TPWD. Cell phone coverage is poor.
The only accessible ham radio repeater is 146.880 -.600.
LETTERBOXING STAMP, INKPAD & LOGBOOK ARE NOT TRADE ITEMS!

This letterbox - geocache is set up to entice more letterboxers and geocachers into the Franklin Mountains, and Franklin Mountain State Park. It is located on top of North Franklin Mountain, the highest point in El Paso County. This hike is about 8 miles long, with an elevation gain of 3,050 feet. Expect to hike about 5 hours plus time spent sight-seeing at the top. Thanks to Highpointer for archiving his virtual cache to make room for a physical Letterbox-Geocache. If you write in the logbook, PLEASE LOG IT ON-LINE TOO!

DO NOT put letterbox stamps in the Geocaching logbook. The waterproof paper will not take the ink, and it will make a mess. THE FIRST GEOCACHER TO FIND THIS ONE CAN CLAIM THE NEW WHERE'S GEORGE $1 BILL FOLDED IN THE GEOCACHING LOGBOOK! Please leave the one in the letterbox logbook for the first letterboxer. If you would like to hunt this as a letterbox, go here: Letterbox

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The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Franklin Mountains State Park - Tom Mays Unit is a well maintained park on the west side of the Franklin Mountains. It is just north of Trans Mountain Road, and 3.8 miles east of the junction of I-10 and Trans Mountain Road. The park is patrolled by rangers, with covered picnic areas, hiking trails, mountain bike trails, technical climbing areas, camping, and rest rooms all available in the park. If you have not been to this park, you need to see it. Pack a picnic lunch, and make a day of it. Tell the rangers at the gate you are a Geocacher; they are giving us great support. With 24,000 acres of park area, we do not want to lose that support. Please be especially careful to show Geocaching in the best possible light. If you have suggestions on improving the cache, or the park, E-mail them to me.

BTW, there are SEVEN geocaches and a few letterboxes in Tom Mays Park. They could all be done in a day, but it would be one long day. Still, the challenge is there. The caches are Mundy’s Gap, North Mays Stash, The Lost Aztec Treasure, The High Point of El Paso, The Schaeffer Moon Walk, The Nature Walk and Make the RANGER smile. There are several other caches within the bounds of the Franklin Mountain State Park, but only these seven are in the Tom Mays Unit.

The Franklin Mountains extend from just north of downtown El Paso Texas into southern Doña Ana County, New Mexico. They are roughly three miles wide by twenty-three miles long and rise to an elevation of 7,192 feet above sea level at North Franklin Mountain. The mountains divide the city of El Paso and have influenced its shape and growth. This range comprises the bulk of the second largest state park in Texas and what is said to be the largest urban park in the nation, Franklin Mountains State Park. North Franklin Mountain was once 7200 feet, but a road was cut through to the top, and the top was flattened 8 feet by a developer before the land became property of the State of Texas, Parks and Wildlife Department.

Typical Chihuahuan Desert plants and animals are found in the Franklins Mountains. Some plants, such as the large barrel cactus, are found nowhere else in Texas. El Pasoans are especially fond of the native Mexican poppies and introduced California poppies that tint the rocky slopes each spring. Animals range from many species of rodents to deer, mountain lions, and occasionally black bears. Though the mountains look arid, a number of springs can be found during periods of adequate rainfall. These springs are particularly conducive to plant and animal life. Stands of cottonwood, hackberry, oak, and juniper grow in some of the more remote areas of the park.

Additional Hints (No hints available.)



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