"The Las Cruces 4WD Club has developed many new canyon-bottom trails that test skills, nerves & equipment"

February 19-22, 1998 found 4-wheelers traveling from afar to tackle the variety of trails offered by the Las Cruces 4 Wheel Drive Club in the Chihuahuan Desert of southern New Mexico. Due to recent closing of access to the famous Guardian and Wolf’s Run by the BLM, the club scrambled to develop new World Class trails for this annual event. They succeeded and the resulting trails in the Chile Canyons are awesome. Typical of the area is dry rocky canyons, mesas, mountains and sand. In stark contrast is the Rio Grande valley. Some groves of pecans and pistachios but, most predominant, miles and miles of fields, perfect for growing the world’s best Chiles!

A total of 272 vehicles registered. There were stock, or near stock vehicles present to enjoy appropriately challenging trails. And moderately set-up vehicles. However, a very large number of well equipped and engineered vehicles had come to take on the new, extreme trails. Indeed, the majority of vehicles in attendance would have made most 4-wheelers envious just 3 or 4 years ago! The "Chile Challenge" would be a success. But, alas, many would go home "burned"!

Coyote Canyon - Tularosa, NM

Recent snow and rain in the area had left Coyote Canyon slick. We traveled past numerous significant challenges in Coyote Canyon that had been visited previously to reach the start of the section dubbed The Gauntlet. Check out previous action on this lower section of Coyote Canyon  and the Quicktime Movie.

The first obstacle, a nasty rock ledge, must be climbed with muddy tires while very close against the abrasive edge of the canyon wall. A turn to the left in the follow through complicates this maneuver. Suddenly, the Tail-Gunner’s red Bronco is out of service when the fan takes a bite out of the radiator.

Soon we approach the very threatening waterfall that Desert Mountain FWD calls the "Swimming Hole". A ramp had been built, but it is very narrow and the climb up is off-camber. It was too cold for a swim. The group watched with great trepidation as our Trail Leader, Greg Hibner, tries to make the climb. The front end of his Chevy LUV truck slides downward towards disaster but is held in check by the upper log. After a few shaky attempts, he is able to get further up the ramp to solid rock. But still, the lip must be climbed with the still muddy tires. The vehicle still wants to crawl to the left.

"It gets real spooky for Greg Hibner and all of us watching at this waterfall"

Many scary moments follow as each on the run tackle this obstacle. I can tell you that this climb was most uncomfortable behind the wheel! With excellent spotting, each of our group somehow made it safely over the top. A tow strap was utilized for safety on several occasions.

As we travel further up the trail, the canyon is not as deep and really is best described as an arroyo. Just before the obstacle known as "The Wall" is reached a section of rock ledges and outcroppings must be negotiated. This section was particularly rough on tires and rockers.

The Wall is especially difficult for short wheelbase 4X4s due to the steep angle and height. A full size 4WD was stationed above the Wall at the top of the arroyo with winch at the ready. Several vehicles indeed required assistance to top this very difficult challenge.

"Entering a section that may bite rockers and tires"

"The Wall is tall and steep"

"Full size 4X4s at a real disadvantage here!"

A narrow spot on the trail is testy for the larger vehicles. One must squeeze past the wall on the right and a huge rock on the left. With muddy tires, I slid into the rock, putting a big dent in the driver’s door. Ouch!

The next major obstacle requires climbing up a very narrow ledge using a big rock as a step. Then the nose of the vehicle must be brought right up to the rock wall. A multi-point turn to the right follows before continuing forward on this narrow ledge. Here, the short wheelbase guys got back at us with the longer vehicles! Several made it past, but this challenge was proving much tougher than previous trips on The Gauntlet.

Greg, from Colorado, climbed up the ledge and started to turn right. The Toyota truck was at a steep angle parallel with the ledge. Suddenly, it started to slide down but caught and seemed to hang in suspension. But then, off the rocks and on over it went!

Fortunately, Greg suffered no more injury than a cut hand. The truck parked above the arroyo at The Wall crossed over to a point above the roll over and the winch was utilized to pull over the truck. In spite of the loss of a windshield and a somewhat deformed and re-straightened roof, Greg was able to complete the trail.

"The climb at the 2nd swimming Hole is difficult.  Most vehicles tended to crawl or hop to the right."

Further along we approached the second Swimming Hole. Here a ramp of sorts had been built out of rock steps and roughly held in place with a wood plank. The obstacle gave most drivers a hard time. When I went up, the right rear corner of the Cherokee slipped to the right towards the big drop off. The spotter hollered frantically "go, go, go!" I kept the four tires spinning and suddenly, the Jeep shot forward and over the top. The right tire had caught on the wood plank, breaking it in two! But that gave me the boost in traction necessary to avoid the sure disaster that awaited.

Soon an escape route to the county road appeared. A few of the 4-wheelers played a little more in the arroyo before heading to Las Cruces for the remainder of the event.

Tonuco Mine Loop

"Tippy Jeeps on the Tonuco Mine Loop."

This trail is rated moderate. The Las Cruces 4WD Club guidelines state: 31" tires and/or 1 clutch type locker. It provides great scenery and a variety of 4-wheeling. The trail first travels through a stretch of sandy, hilly roads. The holes in this stretch test the articulation of the vehicle and have some startling off-camber spots. Past that, the loop on the old mine road climbs up a mountain side. The road is narrow and the vehicle feels very tippy. The driver stares down a very long way into the canyon!

The views from this road are very nice. And for those of us that are rockhounds, some colorful rocks were scattered about the hillsides. A ballast of colorful rocks was piled on the uphill side of the Jeep! We worked our way back down rolling rocky hills and headed for San Diego Mountain.

The long steep climb to the top of San Diego Mountain is a challenge for vehicles with open differentials due to the loose rocks and boulders. At the top, the panoramic views are a treat.

The last part of this trail run required driving steeply down the North San Diego Mountain trail. This is a reopened mining road which nature has reclaimed enough to add difficulty. There are some boulders and ledges. The road is narrow with a steep drop off to the right in one section. At a washout, the trail was severely off-camber. Two Jeeps eased past. Then a Bronco II from Michigan very nearly slid down into the canyon when the soft dirt fill and rocks at the washout gave way.

"Very precarious. The right front tire was actually 2 feet further down to the right at one point!"

The driver backed up quickly and his wife escaped. Very scary indeed. The group then went to work trying to stabilize the soft spot. It became considerable work as it would give way each time the vehicle tried to cross. A significant quantity of rocks were moved. Eventually, vehicles were able to cross, but rearranging the rocks was mandatory each time. Finally, the last to cross was a full size Bronco. His vehicle was too wide and heavy for this treacherous spot. The 4X4 would constantly begin a downhill slide each time it attempted to cross. Finally, after significant additional roadwork, the big Bronco was across. Hmm, who thought that a moderate trail would provide so many white knuckle opportunities!

The remainder of the trip back down into the valley was uneventful, other than one steep sand climb that required a straight on approach to avoid sliding sideways on the hill.

Amatista Ledges

"A high stepping, off-camber turn is required to safely drop off these steps!"

One of the new trails Amatista Ledges is rated as hard. Guideline: 33" or larger tires, at least 1 solid locker and an experienced driver. The trail begins with a decent into a canyon, down waterfalls and over boulder fields. Attention is required to avoid smacking components such as differentials and shock mounts. The group of well equipped vehicles moved along quickly.

The trail becomes rougher and the rocks bigger. I was troubled by too much articulation! The left front tire crammed up into wheel well attempting to traverse one stretch of rocks. Powering ahead, the tire popped a bead, even though I was running 14 pounds of air. A crew materialized. A Hi-Lift jack and a hydraulic jack were employed to remove the tire in this difficult spot. A nearby on-board compressor eas used to quickly put the tire back in service. My first embarrassment of the day.

"Climbing the rock ledge works best"

An interesting crossing of a bathtub awaits. To lessen the risk of body damage from the rock ledge at the left, the 4-wheeler drives up onto the rock rather than beside it.

The right front tire stretches for terra-firma, but only finds air.

Continuing on, the vehicle drops off the big rock, carefully lining up to cross the near track width opening. The left front falls into a hole just as the vehicle begins to cross the bathtub. Careful application of throttle is required to avoid slipping in. Severe body damage would be a certainty!

I decided to brave the bathtub crossing with the Cherokee. The front climbed up the big rock and I continued forward. Suddenly, the vehicle slipped off and smashed hard into the driver’s side door. The second time this week! And this time worse. The second embarrassment on this trail. Expecting that I would jamb the left front tire again into the left front wheel well while lining up for the hole by the bathtub and with vivid visions of falling in and destroying the right side bodywork, I backed off and took the bypass. Full lockers required for the bypass.

Further down the trail was a branch route that led to the Habanero Falls. We hiked over to watch some of the action for a while. Continuing on Amatista Ledges Trail were many more big rocks to traverse and then several ledges to climb. A sharp edge at one of the ledges destroyed a tire in one of the lead vehicles. Finally, we climbed our way out of the Chile Canyons.

Habanero Falls

This is a very short trail, but very extreme. Featured are several difficult waterfall climbs. The Habanero chile pepper is absolutely the hottest. And on this trail, appropriately named, the action was HOT! Reports were that this trail took its toll on equipment too.

"A difficult climb, but successful"

"Nope, this would not work. This very well equipped Land Cruiser from California clawed on the face of this waterfall for an "eternity". The right front grabbed to the right, finally caught a rock and on up it went!"

"The steepness of this climb proves to be too tough"

Hopping Jalapeno Trail

"Ledges, off-camber roads, the "Grease Pit" are all part of the new moderate Hopping Jalapeno Trail"

Tabasco Twister

One of the most popular trails is the Tabasco Twister, formerly known as "Kronos" in Apache Canyon. This is an extremely hard trail. The requirements to run this trail in the event are 33" or larger tires, 2 solid lockers and a very experienced driver. Great scenery, boulders, waterfalls and nasty ledges await those that take on this "Chile Challenge".

"Jim Werkmeister chooses from several lines available through a rocky sluice"	"The first obstacle claims a u-bolt on L.P. How’s capable Jeep"
"The most difficult ledge on Tabasco Twister gives CJ-5's trouble with break over angles"	"If you like ledges, you’ll love Tabasco Twister! Mild to wild ledges await the 4-wheeler on this trail"

Serious Business at Hand

While "Chile Challenge" refers to the trails, some may believe it to be the excellent Mexican Buffet served to 447 people on Saturday evening! Following dinner, the SWFWDA held its quarterly meeting. While it was shorter than usual, partly do to little new business and partly do to the chill in the pavilion, noteworthy was that 3 clubs had donated to the Land Action Fund this quarter. Member club "4-Play" presented a donation to the fund of over $ 350 at this meeting.

It is becoming increasingly apparent that the BLM (and other agencies) are willing to skirt the law, Congressional directives and prior agreements to appease the threats by the extreme green advocacy groups. The Las Cruces 4WD Club intends to fight the BLM closing of the existing, long used routes in the Robledo Mountain Wilderness Study Area. This may be a significant, precedent setting fight. The club asks you flood the BLM with letters. Roads and routes can exist in WSA’s and it is unlikely that their continued use in the Robledo’s downgrades wilderness values. Ask what roads are being closed and why. Tell them you want to be assured that the intent of Congress is being followed in the management of this WSA. Ask for a stay on closure of these routes until they respond to your letter and allow time for evaluation of their answer. Write to:

Linda Rundell, District Manager
Las Cruces District BLM
1800 Marquess
Las Cruces, NM 88005

See"Joy and Pain in Las Cruces" By: Glenn Wakefield for another excellent report on these trails.

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