A member of the OL’Skool 4x4 club drives his Jeep through a rocky trail in Doña Ana, N.M., during a Jan. 17 trip. Photo by John Franklin.

OL’Skool 4x4 adventure: Doña Ana Trail conquered
by ‘night crawlers’

Duane Shaw

Special to The Monitor

Approximately 35 Soldiers, family members and civilians braved the cold and rocky trails of Doña Ana Trail in New Mexico to complete a night run during an OL’Skool 4x4 trip Jan. 17.

The youngest “wheeler” was 2 years old and the oldest participant was 80. The trail lies north east of Las Cruces, N.M., on Bureau of Land Management property. A total of 17 vehicles formed two convoys – there were nine regular Jeeps, two trucks, two Jeep Cherokees and four other vehicles. The drivers navigated through and around rock obstacles, ledges, steep hills and tricky mountain sides. 

A driver and passenger in a Jeep ascend an uphill trail in Doña Ana, N.M., during a Jan. 17 4x4 trip organized by members of OL’Skool. Photo by John Franklin.

The 4x4 adventure-seekers maneuvered the rugged mountain and climbed to higher ground. The trail continued to gain altitude; the group then started running the ridges in the foothills, stopping every 20 minutes to rest and ensure all vehicles were still in the convoy. They traveled well into the foothills and discovered the “whoop-de-doo” section of the trail – short, steep climbs and descents.

A convoy of vehicles lines up on a section of the Doña Ana Trail in New Mexico during a Jan. 17 4x4 trip organized by members of OL’Skool. Photo by John Franklin.

After the group finished the trail, a quarter of the participants split off to return to their homes, but the remaining drivers and passengers set up camp at 11 p.m. in the 30-degree weather of the New Mexico desert.

The campsite was set up and grills were lit, filling the air with the smell of steaks and burgers. The wheelers sat around the fire talking about what they liked most about their trip into the desert.

For more information, visit www.olskool4x4.com.