I recently spent the weekend in my backyard mountains volunteering for the Franklin Mountains Trail Runs put on by Tail Racing Over Texas. I volunteered as a member of Team Red, White and Blue, a non-profit exercise group that supports veterans. I train in the Franklins all the time and ran the 50K race last year. No matter how much time you spend wandering the Franklins (WTF), it never gets any easier. Franklin Mountains State Park, surrounded by El Paso, TX, is a rugged range with high peaks that reach over 7000’ elev. The trails are steep and gnarly with gullies full of ankle breaking rocks, scree fields and slick-rock cliffs. If you fall, you have no where to go but into prickly and pointy vegetation like cactus, shin dagger and Spanish bayonet. There are plenty of rattlesnakes to keep you alert and though I’ve never seen a mountain lion, I’m almost certain they’ve seen me.
 |
| Runners approaching N. Franklin Peak (7192') |
 |
| First light on Mundy's Gap Aid Station |
