The carts they had were made completely made of wood (wheels, axel, frame and sides) so it was best that they travel on level smooth ground. The smooth Llano Estacado provided the ideal surface for the carts. This smooth terrain not only made for faster travel but it was much easer on the cart. Most likely the carts were kept at the top of the caprock and the trade goods were hauled on horses / mules to the top, and loaded in carts.
(click on the map for a larger view)
Here is a Google Earth view of the area.
(click on the picture for a larger view)
The Tule Creek Crossing provided the first fresh live water after leaving Los Lingos. On a couple of older topo maps a "Indian camp" is noted on this location. At this location the North Tule and Middle Tule Creek come together. This location is 34.49 latitude, -101.59 longitude. You can use the Terra Server link on the side of this blog to see maps of this location. This location would be about a days travel from Los Lingos.
The Patching Ranch Location
The Comancheros traveled up the North Tule Creek. Early pioneers recorded that there were pockets of live water on the North Tule. At the junction of the North Tule Creek and Dead Mule Creek (Patching Ranch South Pasture) several camp grounds have been found but not documented if they were Indian or Comanchero. However the probability is pretty high that they did camp there. Just to the north 2 miles is the Patching Ranch headquarters. At that location there are seveal imprints of the trails. For more information on this see the Patching Ranch posting on this blog site.
Graham Ranch
This ranch is still in native grass. We have not explored much of this location however some aerial photos do show some signs of old trail. Modern activity on this ranch makes the trails hard to establish.
Tierra Blanca Creek crossing
This is located just east of the junction of Frio Draw and the Tierra Blanca Creek. From there they traveled west to lake Garcia.
(click on the map for a larger view)
Lake Garcia
This is a large deep playa lake and would have been a great water source for people and livestock. This location is mentioned several times in accounts of the trails.
Now - How to get down from the High Plains / Llano Estacado.
Traveling West, at some point you have to come down from the high plains. Just as there is a Caprock escarpment on the east side of the Llano Estacado there is one on the west side. Accounts indicate that there were 3 places to traverse the Caprock. They are:
El Puerto Ldala Rivajenos – Roughly meaning “The port to the Llano / high plains”. This seems to be the location most discussed. Given its location and geography one can understand why. This traverse provided the gentlest slope for carts to come down. For more information and pictures on this location see the El Puerto Ldala Rivajenos posting on this blog.
Boney Hill Traverse – Provided a long narrow slope. Currently there is a county road down this trail.
Abajenous / Norton Traverse – This trail down starts at the top of Apache Canyon. This location has a couple of slopes that would be similar to what is seen at El Puerto Ldala Rivajenos.
Once off the Llano Estacado the Comancheros would have found the easiest traveling close and parealle to the Caprock. By staying close to the Caprock the arroyas they had to cross would not be very deep or wide. Also springs for fresh water were located at the base of the Caprock. It is documented that the trails passed by present day Norton NM. The trails passed to the south of Mesa Redonda and would have gone closely by present day Quay NM. From there they could have gone either north or south of Saddle Back Mesa. The shortest distance would have been to the north and passed by Lovers Peak. From looking at topo & aerial maps it appears the smoother path would have been to the south around Circle Mesa. We need to explore and research this area better to draw a more concise conclusion. Either way the Comancheros would have ended up at the head of Bull Canyon Creek and would have traveled real close to present day Newkirk NM is.
(click on the map for a larger view)
From the head of Bull Canyon Creek the Comancheros branched off depending on their destination.
If Chaperito (on the Gallinas River) was the destination then they traveled just to the south of Cuervo Hill and past Sabino Springs and Sabino Lake. Traveling across the Mesa Montosa, they then would have entered into the Gallinas river valley just east of Chaperito.
If Anto Chico (on the Pecos River) was the destination then they traveled north of the Horseshoe Bend of the Pecos River past Rock Hole Spring and Puentocito Lake. They would have crossed the Pecos River at Colonias and traveled west across some plains to a point just south of Anton Chico where they could then turn north and travel down into the Pecos river valley. There is a point 7.5 miles south, south east of Anton Chico where they could take carts down from the plains into the Pecos River valley.
From the trading areas of Anton Chico and Chaperito the trade goods were distributed to Santa Fe NM, Pecos NM, and Las Vegas NM.
(click on the map for a larger view)
Here are the coordinates for each location as well as miles between points. Use the Terra Server link with the coordinates below for topo maps and aerial maps. Click here for Terra Server.
