BOU AVENUE
Sierra de Cristo Rey
Driving through El Paso, Texas on the
morning of 3 January 2023, Zosia Zgolak and I made a planned stop to
climb Sierra de Cristo Rey which means "Mountain of Christ the King".
The mountain is notable for a 9-metre high statue of Jesus Christ on its
summit which is easily accessed by a long-winded but gently rising trail.
A history of the statue's construction can be found at
mtcristorey.com, and a pilgrimage
to the summit is held annually in the fall. The mountain itself is
actually located within the city of Sunland Park, New Mexico, and because
of its close proximity to the Mexican border, there have been incidences
of human smuggling and drug trafficking here in the past. As such,
it is recommended that hikers contact the Sunland Park Police Department
prior to setting foot on the mountain.
Zosia and I arrived a bit early and had to wait until the Sunland Park
Police Department opened for business at 8 AM. When I explained
our intentions, the police clerk gave me the phone number for what I
believe was the US Border Patrol dispatcher. The person on the line
asked how many people were in my party and what kind of car I was
driving. I was told to contact them again once we finished our
hike. We then drove to the trailhead.
In Sunland Park, turn south onto Cristo Rey Road from McNutt Road, 1.0
kilometre east of the intersection with Racetrack Drive or 550 metres
west of the bridge over the Rio Grande. Drive 1.1 kilometres to a
gate which may or may not be open. Either park on the side of the
road before the gate or in a huge gravel parking lot just beyond.
The trailhead is about another 150 metres further just past some
buildings and portable toilets.
Zosia and I parked before the gate and walked the remaining short
distance to the trailhead. Coincidentally, there was already a
contingent of US Border Patrol vehicles and personnel in the gravel
parking lot. Although this group did not stay in the area, another
US Border Patrol vehicle was perched on a nearby hilltop for at least the
duration of our trip if not the entire day. Compared to all the
excitement of registering our trip with the police and the dispatcher,
the actual hike up Sierra de Cristo Rey felt rather anticlimactic.
We had no difficulties following the wide trail which gains elevation
almost imperceptibly as it switchbacks up the north side of the mountain.
Throughout the trail are numerous shrines dedicated to various saints or
important Christian figures, and on our way up, we stopped at each one to
pay our respects. Near the top, the trail winds briefly to the
south side of the mountain before rising up to the summit on a steep
paved ramp with handrails. The summit grants commanding views of
the cities of Sunland Park, El Paso, and Ciudad Juárez as well as the
infamous wall separating the United States and Mexico. Fortunately,
we did not witness any illegal activities in the area.
When we had our fill of Jesus Christ's
statue, Zosia and I uneventfully retraced our steps down the mountain.
Upon returning to our car, I phoned the US Border Patrol dispatcher again
to inform them that we had finished our hike and were leaving the area.
Ironically, Zosia and I would visit the fascinating US Border Patrol
Museum in El Paso later that afternoon.
A wall separating Mexico and the United States of
America stretches away to the western horizon.
 |
The steepest part of the trail is right before the summit. |
 |
Sonny and Zosia stand below a giant
statue of Jesus Christ on the summit of Sierra de Cristo Rey (1416
metres). |
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The view to the east is largely comprised of the cities of El Paso, Texas
and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. |
Franklin Mountains and West El Paso are visible to the
north.
