| The Outpost is a unique formation accessed from the floodwater retaining dike behind the North Hills subdivision in northeast El Paso. Single pitch slab climbing with a few top rope anchors and an easy walkoff from the top. On the Northwestern outcrop there are some fairly challenging crack and friction climbs that also are single pitch with an easy walk off on the east end. Best way to get there is to follow the mountain bike trail up the arroyo from the dike and follow the route toward the tin mines. Once you reach the main graded road, go south until you find one of the easily identified trails that lead to this feature. If you travel by bike, it will take you less than an hour to make the return trip as it will be all downhill. |
| NM Climber.com |
The Outpost
This is an incredibly fun area within easy travelling distance from the city. I come out here often, mostly by mountain bike or on foot. There are abandoned tin mines in the area and several adjacent features that are within a short travelling distance from this one. The graded road used to give one access all the way through to trans mountain road through a few other areas that I frequented during the 70's. This entire area was a military artillery firing range during the 50's, The southern impact area is now closed to recreation although people have travelled there for over 40 years without incident. Conservationists have teamed up with the military and concocted some sort of fictitious threat in order to exclude vehicular traffic through these areas. That of course will preclude foot traffic also. The whole area was extremely popular with off road enthusiasts several years ago, perhaps too much damage was being done to the landscape. If there is a prime example of the need to tread lightly, the northeastern flanks of the Franklins are definitely a prime example of a lesson learned. |
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| GPS Coordinates Parking area Arroyo trail Graded road Crack climb trail Slabs trail |
Northwest Sector
Southwest Sector
Southeast face
West face