About us
This is a group for anyone interested in hiking, backpacking, exploring, car/tent camping, road trips, kayak and canoe outings, fishing, biking, and adventure traveling both here and abroad. All skill levels are always welcome. Most of the outings are free unless a camping fee or permit has been prepaid or if there is a fee to enter a park. Outing participants must provide their own equipment such as a backpack, day pack, kayak, etc. and any other gear necessary for the outing.
Anyone can join this meetup group and become a member, it's free and easy. Submit a picture of yourself and agree to the Release of Liability, that's it. Members are always expected to maintain and act with the utmost decorum. Failure to do so on any outing will result in your removal from the group. Excessive or continual No Shows and signing up and then dropping out of outings can also be grounds for removal. On all outings let the leader lead. If you want to do your own thing and speed ahead or lag way behind and not hike with the group then don't sign up.
Members who fail to log onto the website for one year or more will be placed into the inactive status and removed. They will be able to rejoin.
All of the outing leaders are volunteers and are not compensated for any activity. If the outing is a strenuous or difficult one you may be asked about your hiking history and your abilities. This is not only to protect you but the other hikers on the outing. YOUR PARTICIPATION IN AN OUTING IS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE OUTING LEADER.
Participants should be in good physical condition to attend any outing. Folks with an underlying medical condition should avoid moderate and strenuous outings. If you are feeling sick for any reason, please stay home.
RELEASE OF LIABILITY THAT ALL OUTING PARTICIPANTS MUST AGREE TO:
I understand that during my participation in this or any Borderland Outdoors outing, I may be exposed to a variety of hazards and risks, foreseen or unforeseen, which are inherent in each outing and cannot be eliminated without destroying the unique character of the outing. These inherent risks include, but are not limited to, the dangers of serious injury, property damage, and death from exposures to the hazards during the outing and during travel prior to and after the outing. I know that injuries and damages can occur by natural causes or activities of other persons, trip members, and the trip leader. I further understand that on this or any outing there may not be rescue or medical facilities or expertise necessary to deal with the injuries and damages to which I may be exposed. I also understand that should I require a rescue, I will be personally responsible to pay for any and all charges from the search and rescue agencies.
The Ten Hiking Essentials:
1. Map, compass, GPS device
2. First-Aid kit with: band-aids, triple antibiotic, aspirin or similar, moleskin or similar product for blisters, tweezers, insect repellent, lip balm, Benadryl, prescription meds.
3. Extra water and electrolytes
4. High energy snacks, extra food
5. Appropriate footwear, hiking boots with wool or similar socks
6. Knife or multi-tool and paracord, 20 ft. minimum, loud locating whistle
7. Headlamp and small flashlight with extra batteries
8. Fire starting means such as butane lighters, waterproof matches, and fire starter
9. Pancho, rain/wind jacket, beanie, emergency blanket or shelter
10. Sun protection, large hat, sunscreen, sunglasses
Always tell someone where you are going, share your plans with others, and always carry your cell phone with you and place it on airplane mode to preserve battery life.
Meetup is NOT FREE. Any and all contributions are greatly appreciated! The current subscription is $327.00 per year.
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Upcoming events
7
The 29 Mile Sierra Vista Trail (in one day)
Sierra Vista Trail Dripping Springs Rd., Dripping Springs Rd., Las Cruces, NM, USNOTE: This hike was originally planned for Mar 21, 2026. That is the date of the Bataan Memorial Marathon. I asked their planning committee if they could move their race. They said no! So, I moved this hike to Feb 21, 2026 instead.
Since we will likely end the hike in the dark, I would encourage everyone planning on participating in the 29 Mile Sierra Vista Trail hike to make QH#3 a high priority. It will familiarize us all to the particulars of the southern half of the Sierra Vista Trail; including places to park at the end for pickup.
The Goal: Complete the 29 mile hike of the Sierra Vista Trail in one day (Note: This is NOT a race. If running this trail AS A RACE is your thing signup for the race on March 7 instead)
The Date/Time: February 21, 2026. We start hiking at 6AM
Start: (32.323234, -106.630457) The North End of the Sierra Vista Trail on Dripping Springs Rd. About 7 miles east of I-10 at University Ave in Las Cruces.
Finish: (32.011588, -106.519041) The South End of the Sierra Vista Trail on Highway 404 (O'Hara Rd). Just 4 miles east of Dona Ana Community College. NOTE: This location is at a cattle guard where you may enter through the highway fencing. Then proceed between the two chain-link fenced areas of the exposed Natural Gas Pipelines to co-ordinates 32.012649, -106.523565 called Anthony Gap on Maps. Do not use the Anthony Gap co-ordinates first as it will take you on an extra 7 miles out of the way. It will still get you there but get to the Finish co-ordinates first then enter the second set (Anthony Gap) to get to final destination where we intend to meet with the hikers.Hike Qualification: Hikers are required to qualify for the hike by attending at least 2-3 of approximately 6 hikes, that I will be posting between now and mid-March.
Long Distance Hikers: (runners are welcome)
This is a long-distance hike where each of you are responsible for yourself for the duration of the hike (attend at your own risk). That includes getting to the hike, the hike itself, and the pickup until you reach home. I am only trying to get enough hikers to start together at the north end.Other related activities can be:
1. A party (a week or two after the hike) to celebrate the completed 29 mile hike (complete with award ceremony)
2. Going out to eat somewhere after each qualifying hike
3. Also take a look at the Urban Iditarod Hike on March 7th for a real urban hiking adventure that is a satire on the legendary Alaskan 1000 mile dog sled race.
The Las Cruces Urban Iditarod, Sat, Mar 7, 2026, 8:00 AM | Meetup
4. etc. … make some suggestionsI will have a vehicle at the 15 mile mark (Vado Parking Area). (It is 2.5 miles east of I-10 to the trail from the Vado exit called the Vado Parking Area on Maps and it is paved all the way). I would like one more vehicle there if you would like to volunteer or know someone who can help perform this task. The plan is to have drinkable water there to refill your hiking water supply; or if a hiker were to opt out of the hike, at this point, one of the vehicles would provide transportation to the Finish or Start of hike (note: the hiker opting out, may have to await departure until 2 or more hikers have opted out and is convenient for vehicle to make that trip. One vehicle will be at the 15 mile mark at all times until last hiker has passed that spot 1 hour previous). That’s all. There will be no further services except for whomever will be picking you up at the Finish. The main take is: you really need to be able to hike 15 miles in a timely manner. Then decide for yourself if you can finish the hike. The folks at the 15 mile mark will be checking off hikers as they go by. Be sure your name is recorded as reaching the checkpoint before moving on.
Note: The midway stop on this hike has changed to the Vado Parking Area Trailhead. For the official Sierra Vista Trail brochure and more information about the trail, including map, use the following link Sierra Vista Trail | Bureau of Land Management go to "Brochures" near bottom right of page.
You may want to have your driver pick you up at this trailhead if the entire hike is not your cup-of-tea, as it were.
I recommend:
- Calling 911 or 1-800-637-9152 if you cannot make any of the vehicle access points during the 29 mile hike.
- Hiking in small groups.
- Not driving yourself home after the hike.
- Carpooling between yourselves with a non-hiking driver that can also pick you up.
- Maintaining that scheme in attending the required 2-3 minimum qualifying hikes.
- Attending all Qualifying Hikes as training exercises. Starting to train in February or even January is not a good plan. You should be hiking regularly in order to minimize difficulty of the 29 mile hike. Hiking 2-3 times a week at five (or more) miles per hike over uneven terrain is probably the minimum hiking you should be doing as training. (Voice your opinion in the comments section)
- Layering your clothes. A start of 6am in late March probably means we are starting at a temperature near freezing. Be prepared.
- Carrying 3 liters or 3 quarts of water each. You can refill at the 15 mile mark, the Vado Parking Area Trailhead. You now only have only 15 miles to Finish.
- Two of the qualifying hikes planned are to each be a hike of about half the Sierra Vista trail, on the Sierra Vista trail. One of the hikes will be the northern part, the other is of the southern part.
- Attending the Urban Iditarod in Las Cruces on March 7, 2026. Briefly, it will be a fun 6 or7 mile dog sled hike through the urban Las Cruces area. You should be in a team where there are 5 persons per team. However, strays are welcome. Each team dresses up as a type of dog with a theme, and pulls a dog sled (e.g., a red flyer wagon, a chariot, a baby carriage or other small cart you put together for this purpose). Keep an eye out for this fun urban hike.
- Please provide constructive comments in the comments section or DM me directly. All comments will be viewed and responded to.
Caution/Disclaimer: Each individual hiker is responsible for their own personal safety/health and of their guests when participating in Borderland Outdoors activities. The organizers of Borderland Outdoors and Borderland Outdoors are not liable for any illness, injury, accident, mechanical break-down, or unforeseen acts that may occur while you participate going to, during, or after any activity. If you have a medical condition that may be aggravated by any kind of physical activity you must make your own personal decision about attending and not hold any of the volunteer organizers liable. All organizers are volunteers and are not compensated during any activity.
8 attendees
Franklin Mountain Ridgeline Hike
Thousand Steps Trailhead, 4999 N Stanton St, El Paso, TX 79902, El Paso, TX, USType: One way
Length: 10 miles (estimated)⚠️
Time: 8-10 hours⚠️
Difficulty: HARD/STRENUOUS⚠️This hike is suited for SEASONED HIKERS ONLY. This is a ridge line hike that is done off trail. There are parts that will require scrambling and minor rock climbing. Bring a sack lunch, plenty of snacks, and 3 liters of water. If it rains or is extremely windy, I will reschedule as this poses a danger for this particular hike. NO DOGS ALLOWED as this isn’t a dog friendly trail. It will take anywhere from 8-10 hours to complete this hike. It isn’t easy. We will exit off the snuggers pass trailhead by trans mountain.
We will meet at 6 am at smugglers pass trailhead off of trans mountain (where mammoth rock is). We will then carpool to the thousand steps parking lot/trailhead to begin our hike. Upon completion, we will shuttle back to pick up our vehicles where we began.
Participants should be in good physical condition to attend this outing. Folks with an underlying medical condition should avoid moderate and strenuous outings. Participants who RSVP yes also agree to the Release of Liability statement: https://www.meetup.com/meetup-group-dWiUFgVP/about/
For safety reasons we hike together and support each-other as a group/team, with the leader in control. We stop, rest, eat, etc. together. No one will be allowed to hike ahead at any time. If you are unwilling to comply with this please do not sign up. Thank-you
What to bring
The 10 essentialsCheck the weather forecast and prepare accordingly.
9 attendees
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