October 1, 2004    The Official Newsletter of the New Mexico 4-Wheelers    www.nm4w.org

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The meeting was held at Lauri and Jeff Rector’s new home in Rio Rancho, and the pot luck dinner was specifically in Jeff’s Jeep’s home, the impressively finished garage.  The meeting was called to order after dinner at 6:23 p.m. in the back yard.

Members present:  Paul-Baptiste and Eveliina Baca, Glenn and Susan Bontly, Pat and Sue Brady, Bill Cline, Mike Coe, Marcia and Leon Duggar, Eric Finch, Arne Gjerning, Erwin and Jeanie Greven, Tom Hurt, Daniel Juarez, Jason and Sarah Lavy, Jerry and Barbara Marx, Cliff and Jeanie Meier, Susan and Bobby Miller, Kristy Ohnesorg, Ethel May and Chuck Peeples, Carlos and Laurye Tanner, Bob Telepak, Mark and Deb Werkmeister, Beth and Frank Whiston, Mark and Joan Wolf,

Guests:  Chris McKinney, Chris Tornillo, Lisanne Di Carlo.

The Sheriff and VP, Jeff Rector, had no fines to assess.

Trip Chairman, Jason Lavy, asked if anyone had gone to the Mt. Blanca run, led by Rich Capener.  Bob Telepak reported on the Behind the Reef trail run.  Seven Cherokees and one CJ-7 were on this run, including Arne Gjerning, Bob Norton, Don Miller, the Duggars, the Rectors, and some guests from Utah.  It rained the first day, when the group ran trails closer to Moab, such as June’s Bottom and the 3D trail.  The second day the group did Behind the Reef, including Upper Little Wild Horse and Eagle Canyon, with no trouble.  The trail has been well-maintained by lots of helping hands.  Bob, Don, and Arne went on later in the week to do Jacob’s Chair (a couple different ways).  Bob had photos on hand via laptop slide show.

Tom Hurt discussed the upcoming Red River run Sept 25-26, including Goose Lake on free fishing day, and Greenie Peak, with a pot luck dinner Saturday night at the park.

Chuck Peeples reported for Paul Thompson on the Canyon de Chelly run October 8-10.  Members going on this run need to pay a $70 deposit to Treasurer Susan Miller in advance in order to get an accurate count.  One guide is needed for every five vehicles.  There is a campground available, but it may not be large enough to fit everyone in.  There will probably not be a pot luck dinner; there is a Luby’s close by.

Oct 15 – 17 is the SWFWDA Fall Quarterly meeting at Farmington.  Wolfie wants lots of members there.  Nov 6 is Cimmaron Mesa, led by Leon Duggar.  It will be a work & play day, with an overnight possible depending on the weather.  Bring pry bars and chainsaws.  Nov 13-14 is Caballo Lake, led by Mark Wolf.  This is a moderate trail and the group will leave at 8 am from the campground.  Mark Wolf will also be leading a run in Arizona the Friday and Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend, Nov 26-27.  Marcia Duggar mentioned she would be leading a 4^th of July Canyon run very soon and it would be announced via email.

The Christmas party will be at Jerry and Barbara Marx’ home on Dec 11 at 5 p.m.  There will be a gift exchange.  Please identify any gifts for the exchange by gender.

The Treasurer, Susan Miller, reported a balance of $4,212.98 and that we received back the $500 deposit from the Fairplay Fairgrounds with some good comments.

No SWFWDA Delegate has been named for the October meeting yet.  Mark Werkmeister spoke and encouraged everyone to attend the Farmington event, mentioning that every level of trail is available from easy to extreme, and the weather is much better now than in the summer.

Program Chairman, Jerry Marx, had T-shirts, hats, etc. for sale and announced that the raffle for the meeting included a Kokapelli figure donated by Old Town Gift Company, owned by Rick and Shawn Sierra. 

Secretary, Don Miller, was not able to attend. Consequently Marcia Duggar filled in.  We will need a volunteer secretary for the next two meetings, and then Don will resume his secretarial duties.

Director of Environmental Affairs, Bob Norton, was absent.

A motion to accept the minutes of the previous meeting was passed.

Old Business:  The 4-Wheeler of the Year award was presented by Leon to Chuck Peeples.  We’re grateful to Joan Wolf for arranging for the creation of the plaque.

New Business:  There was some discussion about donating money to the Land Action Fund (LAF).  Currently SWFWDA is working through the county commissioners at Las Cruces and is writing a “white paper” with the lawyers to encourage invoking the RS2477 law regarding the closed trails there.  We hope to know by the Fall Quarterly which way it will go, but this is an election year so priorities are elsewhere.  A motion was passed to donate $1,000 to the LAF, and to present it at the Fall Quarterly.

Leon Duggar and Mark Werkmeister reported on the NMOHVA workshop Aug 27-28 they attended.  Overall, the workshop was good.  Friday was mostly agency people and Saturday was users.  We’re going to lose trails so we need to get GPS tracks for trails we want to keep to the BLM/USFS regional contacts.  This inventorying of trails is expected to take at least 3 years.  USFS public comment period ended Monday, Sept 13.  USFS is putting all of their dollars toward fuel reduction, so trail inventorying is not a priority for them.  The format they use to store GPS tracks is not Garmin or Magellan compatible (they use “Trimble” (sp?) format), but members are encouraged to send the data they have anyway.  You can also volunteer to use the USFS GPS equipment.  A committee was formed to start interfacing with local agencies.  Sue and Pat Brady, Marcia Duggar, and Jeff and Lauri Rector were named to handle the BLM, Tijeras USFS, and Jemez USFS offices, respectively.  Pat will serve as a central data source.  See Pat to obtain BLM maps.  Bring CDs of track data to meetings and give them to him.  Get lists of names for agency contacts from Mark Werkmeister.

Mark Werkmeister also reported on National Public Lands Day (Sept 18 = meeting date).  Both he and Mark Wolf had spent the day in Socorro at Gordy’s Hill OHV area, some 6,000 acres of terrain like Las Cruces, minus some rocks.  They taught Tread Lightly stuff and did some trash pick-up.  Mike Bilbo is the BLM contact for the Socorro area and we are optimistic that he may be transferred to the ABQ region.

Jerry Marx asked the members to think about their favorite charity or cause for Christmas and bring it up for discussion at the next meeting.  There was some discussion about the possibility of doing a trash pick-up in the Rio Puerco area, but it is private land.  Bill Kline mentioned that Rio Rancho Teen Court has a contact that is looking for people to get involved with their program.  Mark Wolf asked members to think about hosting the 2006 Summer Quarterly meeting.  A motion was passed that the club would sponsor this event with location TBD.

Meeting was adjourned.

Mike Coe, an Associate Member who finally attended his first meeting, won the raffle at $35.  Sue Brady won the Kokapelli figure.

Hello all.  It is almost winter, and you know what that means.  Soft tops and doors, gloves, parkas, and don't forget about fun in the sun, or wind and rain.  Well who cares, it is still time to four wheel.  We have a lot to look forward to in the next few months.  Red River, Farmington, Cimarron Mesa, the Christmas party, Las Cruces, and a half dozen more that I have forgotten about.  While some of us put the vehicle up for the winter modifications, I have something for every one to think about.  The New Mexico Four Wheelers needs more involvement from everyone.  If anyone out there wants more easy or moderate trails, even hard to extreme, speak up!  I want a club that caters to all skill levels, not just hard and easy.  If you have an itch to run a trail that is legal and you don't mind having a few friends along, make an announcement!  I'm just as happy to run an easy trail as a hard trail.  All of us just want to get out and clean the carbon off the plugs and see the sights.  A day behind the wheel is better than any day at work.  Step up to the plate and lead a trail.

Let’s start with some NM4W member trivia.  Did you know Jack Sierra graduated from Western New Mexico University in Spanish and Psychology, had an Army assignment to drive officers around in a Jeep, and was fined by Sheriff Rector for having too many nephews?  Whereas the first two items may be little known facts, if you’ve ever been at the Chile Challenge, you probably know about the crew of nephews that show up every year.

Jack and Stella attended their first Jeep Jamboree in 1993 and joined the Sandia Jeep Club (SJC) soon after.  The Sierras learned about the SJC from the late Michelle Reed.  When the SJC “moved” to Santa Fe, the Sierras transferred to the NM4W, rather than commute to the meetings in Santa Fe.  Stella says Jack has always liked four-wheeling, “He had a 1950 Chevy pickup that wasn’t 4WD but he treated it like it was.”  Can’t you just picture a young Jack Sierra in a Chevy pickup exploring the rivers, desert, and mountains around Silver City?

Jack and Stella met in driver’s ed during their sophomore year at Silver High.  They dated for five years before marrying and have been together 39 years!  Jack got drafted soon after high school and spent two years in the Army.  While stationed in Louisiana, Washington, and Texas, he drove tanks and then later, Jeeps.  His first Jeep-driving experience was chauffeuring Army officers around in a military Jeep!

After the service, Jack rejoined Stella and their young son Rick in Silver.  Jack was hired as a mechanic at the Sharon Steel copper mine where he worked 1000 ft. underground repairing loaders and other heavy equipment.  It was dangerous work “and wasn’t for everybody” says Jack, but he didn’t mind the underground part.  While working at the mine, he took classes at Western New Mexico University (WNMU) and graduated in Spanish and Psychology in 1980.  He continued with school, working towards a Masters in Guidance and Counseling.  Although just 32 hours short of his degree, other priorities came up.  Jack says he may finish that degree some day.  He also earned an Associates Degree in Automotives from WNMU and attended diesel mechanic school in Phoenix.

The Sharon Steel mine closed in 1983, but the Sierras hung onto small town life for a few more years.  According to Jack, it’s harder to get in at UPS than the military, but in 1986 he was hired by UPS and the family moved to Albuquerque.  He’s been with UPS for 17 years and works the night shift.  Even though Jack can’t make the winter NM4W meetings because of his work schedule, Stella attends as many as possible. 

Their children, Rick (now age 32) and Rose (27), both live in Albuquerque.  Stella was a stay-at-home mom when the children were young.  When they started school, Stella began work as a school bus driver.  It must’ve been a good fit because she’s in her 22^nd year of school bus driving.  She drives special need’s students to one high school and two elementary schools in Rio Rancho.  She really enjoys the kids and admits it’s hard not to get attached.

Jack was four-wheeling for many years before joining a club and he says it’s completely different.  The club has allowed them to meet a lot of people and learn from others.  Stella appreciates that NM4W is family oriented since “we’re always bringing kids, grandkids, or friends.”  Their grandchildren Gabrielle, 8, and Angelo, 7, are fixtures on club runs.  Gabrielle used to hate four-wheeling; “We’re not going out on the rocks are we?” she’d ask.  But she really enjoyed the Summer Quarterly at Fairplay and has decided she likes four-wheeling after all.  For Angelo, the tougher the trail the better.  He’s already put dibs on Grandpa’s Jeep, but Grandpa tells him someday they’ll build him his own.

When not working on his/a nephew’s/or a friends’s vehicle (he’s helped Leroy, Mike, Tom, George, Todd, Rodney, and JR), Jack enjoys softball, baseball, and racquetball.  Knee surgery two years ago ended his softball days, but he’s gradually resuming racquetball.  He hopes to return to tournament play when the knee gets stronger.  Stella enjoys plants, camping, fishing, and snow tubing.  She had a blast as a kid tubing on Signal Peak, and today she and the grandkids love to go tubing in the Sandias.

Jack bought his 1977 CJ-5 brand new and it’s given him 270,000-plus miles of travel with only a cylinder head rebuild!  The CJ sports an ARB locker in the front, Lockrite rear, solid axle conversion in the rear, 3.15 transfer case with 5-gear reduction, 3-1/2” lift, and 33” tires.  His next project is to rebuild the rear end.  The CJ still has the original engine, although he has a 4.3 Chevrolet motor in the garage that he cleans the cobwebs off of occasionally.

The Sierras’ favorite trails are in the Las Cruces area.  Stella likes Patzcuarro’s Revenge because she was shocked when she first saw it and couldn’t believe they’d make it—but they did!  Broad Canyon Hard is Jack’s favorite because it’s the only Cruces trail he hasn’t been strapped on.  His least favorite trail is Tabasco Twister because he’s broken twice (once a locker and once an axle) at the very same big ledge.  “I didn’t learn the first time,” he says.  But after considering even those ill-fated trail experiences, Jack laughs, “All trails are fun even when you break.”  On his wanna-try list are the Sledgehammers in California.

A new endeavor is helping Rick at his newly-purchased shop, the Old Town Gift Co. at 323 Romero NW in Old Town.  Rick and his girlfriend Shawn are running the shop, but get help from family during busy times.  Mom and Dad are supportive of Rick’s decision to pursue his goal of running his own business.

The Sierra’s are famous for their campground hospitality.  You never go thirsty or hungry at their “Sierra Club”.  Stella serves up wonderful burritos, enchiladas, and carne adovada, and Jack always has an ample supply of liquid refreshments.  But the real reason folks gravitate to their camp is because it’s fun.  Jack and Stella make everyone feel welcome and happy to be out four-wheeling with friends.  And about those nephews, Uncle Jack claims he can’t help it that they all like four-wheeling and besides, the more the merrier!

Dr. Bob verbally reported on this trip at the last meeting; this report is for those who were unable to attend.

Arne Gjerning, Don Miller, Marcia & Leon Duggar, Bob Norton, Laurie & Jeff Rector all met at Dr. Bob’s in Moab on the Friday of the Labor Day weekend.  Saturday was cloudy and cool.  It was decided to do some local trails; the scenic variety, not the hard-core, parts-breaking type. We journeyed mostly on dirt county roads to a view overlooking the Green River.  Looking down from the high cliff top we had a great red rock vista with June’s Bottom below on the opposite side of the river.  The road down to June’s Bottom, with its well constructed retaining walls (built in the 1930’s by the pioneer Marsing family), remains clearly visible even though the BLM Price Office states the road does not exist.  It has been closed for a few years.

Our next destination was the 3D Trail.  Not at all difficult.  In places quite desolate, akin to a moonscape, there are many superbly scenic panoramas.  At one point, a rain squall descended upon us.  Those of us in Cherokees listened to the rain on our steel roofs.  The Rectors made do with their CJ-7’s bikini top, and an umbrella that a gust of wind turned into a tulip.  No complaints were heard from them.

Sunday morning we headed north, then west up I-70 to Green River.  Green River is the last gas for over 100 miles on the interstate.  Off the interstate you are on your own.  We met the Davidson family, Bruce and Teresa Davidson and their son Brian, from the Lone Peak 4-Wheelers near Temple Mountain.  Soon we were aired down and ready at the trailhead for our club-adopted trail; the Behind the Reef Road.  The first dugway was in as good a condition as it has ever been; better than some other times I’ve been there.  It still has the same twisty turny beginning and pretty much the same collection of rocks on the way up.  From there, the road is easier for a ways and outstandingly scenic.  The second dugway at the northern end of Upper Little Wildhorse Canyon is at least, maybe even more, difficult.  There’s a section straddling what remains of the approach, then a rock strewn climb.  It’s a load of fun!

We made a stop at the site of the Swasey Cabin, another of the many historic sites in this area of Utah.  We completed our trail ride passing through Eagle Canyon, far below the twin bridges of I-70.  Where we rejoined the interstate, we said our goodbyes to the Davidson’s and headed back to Moab.  Green River was our air up point.  Grilled chicken, baked potatoes, salad, beer, wine, and camaraderie made for an excellent end to a long day.

Monday the Duggars, Rectors, and Bob Norton returned to Moab.  Don, towing his Cherokee behind his RV got a head start over Dr. Bob and Arne heading south to Blanding, then west along Highway 95 towards Lake Powell.  Our goal that day was to explore the Jacob’s Chair trail using a San Juan county supplied OHV recreation map as our guide.  Named for a nearby rock formation that from some sides appears to be a very big chair, the 30-mile long trail is a loop connecting to Highway 95 at points about 3.3 miles apart.  We left the highway behind and approached the cliffs.  A very nice dugway wound its way up and up.  Great views surrounded us; Jacob’s Chair was omnipresent.

The trail was marked with numbered carsonite signposts.  With no explanation on the maps, it took a while to figure out that the numbered markers were placed at junctions in the trail, with arrows indicating the main route.  Good.  So far.  With the sun dropping low in the sky, we still had considerable trail to cover.  After a difficult section, the trail abruptly ended.  Retracing our tracks, we tried another promising trail.  Dead end again.  We tried the third option.  This trail led on and on much further than the previous two.  Then with just a glimmer of light left in the sky, the trail ended again.  After some discussion over the maps at hand, we decided to retrace our route.  Approximately 21 miles later we were back on Highway 95.  Back at camp, we had grilled salmon with home fry potatoes for dinner in the RV in the late evening darkness.

The next day, Tuesday, our determined trio set out once again, this time from the other end of the Jacob’s Chair trail.  Another cool dugway! We encountered a large rock on the road and had to use a pry bar to lever the rock to the side.  This rock, combined with the twists and turns and steepness of the dugway, convinced us that the prior night’s decision was the correct one.  After more breathtaking views, our GPS units indicated we were close to last night’s halt point.  Then we were there!  We got out and saw our tracks in the dirt.  What happened?  In the darkness, we did not see the trail turn somewhat steeply off the ridge.  We had been a mere 9 miles from trail’s end the night before.  We then turned around and retraced that day’s tracks.  A short detour was made to a butte off the main trail.  Old mine sites were in evidence as we hiked the trail around the sandstone formation.  We found some small pieces of petrified wood in one place.  Dr. Bob and I made the short trip to Hite for a gas fill.  Take note that the gas pumps at the store in Hite are now equipped with card readers and are available 24 hours a day.

Wednesday, Arne returned home.  Dr. Bob and I explored some trails and roads in the immediate area.  Bob led me to the top of Piute Pass. We hiked to an overlook to the west to fully appreciate the immensity of the beauty.  If Mark Werkmeister’s article about the Piute Pass trail in 4WD&SUV magazine had not convinced me that this was a worthy trail, traveling just to the top of the pass, coupled with the view sure did. This trail is a “must do”.  How about a spring 2005 trip?  There is a perfect base camp spot that is RV and tow vehicle accessible.  It’s off the highway a ways and near the Piute Pass trailhead.  March 25 – 28?

Our second bit of exploration was to follow the dirt county road southwest from Fry Canyon.  Destination: Mossback Butte.  This was an area Dr. Bob had not yet explored.  The road goes straight as an arrow for quite a ways.  We surveyed several of the trails that twisted through the pinons.  We did discover an area with some major sized pieces of petrified wood.  You could spend weeks exploring this part of Utah and still not run out of things to do and see.  Returning to campsite early, we once again tried to find a way down into the canyon behind us.  The opposite side has some ancient Indian ruins set in the cliffside in the usual manner.  There is no visible path to them.  That evening we enjoyed a great campfire, another great dinner, and some wine.  The next day, I returned home and Bob to Moab.

Rod and I went to a Jeep Jamboree in Red River, NM.  For those of you that do not know, a Jeep Jamboree is where a group of Jeeps get together and go on guided trail rides at lots of places all over the country.  You have to have a Jeep vehicle of any type, but it cannot be too modified.  Their goal is to show you that you can do lots with a stock Jeep. For more information, see http://jeepjamboreeusa.com/.

I have had my ‘79 CJ-5 for just a couple of years and I have been working on it almost all of that time, so this was only my second Jeep outing.  The first one was with the club this summer.  We hauled the Jeep up on Wednesday and arrived at the Alpine Lodge in the afternoon.  We registered that evening and received our meal tickets and all the logistical information.  The fee includes three breakfasts (Fri, Sat, and Sun), two lunches, and two dinners (Fri and Sat).  You go on trail rides all day Friday and Saturday, and Sunday is reserved for the drive home.  We got cool T-shirts and a cooler when we registered.  There were approximately 60 Jeeps and 110 people.  The Jeeps were broken into three groups of about 20 Jeeps each.  Each group had a color (we were in the orange group) with its own trail schedule and CB channel.  No two groups went on the same trail at the same time.

On Friday, after a great breakfast, we grabbed a sack lunch and met at the designated trail head.  That morning we went to Greenie Peak, which was the easiest of the trails (rated 2 of 8).  That was a good start for me – I am rather green myself.  It also has the best view of all the trails.  You could see forever up from the top!  We went back to the town for lunch and then headed out in the afternoon to the Goose Lake trail.  It was rated 4 and was an 8-mile long trail, up hill the whole way.  About ¾ of the way up, my “little red Jeep”, as it was nicknamed, got vapor lock and stopped dead.  I had no idea what was going on since it had never happened before and I don’t know much about engines anyway.  Thank goodness the guides and lots of other folks knew everything there was to know about that old Jeep, and worked some magic and got it going. It died a couple of more times on the way up, but finally we made it up to the lake.  We got back just fine and had a great dinner that night at the conference center.

The next day, we did the Pioneer Creek trail, rated a 4 plus, in the morning.  That was the most challenging of the trails for me, but we made it up there just fine.  Rod sat there and hung on for dear life.  The little red Jeep was kind enough not to vapor lock until we got the top.  We did our usual of putting water on the fuel filter and pump, and all was well again.  After lunch, we did the Fourth of July tail.  That is rated a 3 and it has a “playground” on it.  It was an area where you could play on this steep hill.  I first tried the easier way up and did just fine.  I got more courage up and went up the steepest one.  The little Jeep did just fine!  I did use my rear air locker and it gave me a lot of traction going up there.  I was just ecstatic when I made it to the top!

At the dinner that night we had a raffle. Unfortunately, we didn’t win anything, but they gave out some great prizes.

It was a great trip!  We are planning to go to another one this spring.  I found out a number of things.  One: thanks goodness I had the fellows at Desert Rat put in a lower gearing for 4 wheel low.  Those low gears were just wonderful on the trails.  Second, the little red Jeep does pretty well.  I never scraped bottom and we got through everything just fine.  Third, I need to work on getting rid of the vapor lock issues.  It is very unsettling to just have the engine quit.

Following are some bullet points that guided comments on the US Forest Service Proposed OHV Rule.  We are now at a waiting stage to see what direction the agency will take.

Perspective on FS OHV Rule
From the BlueRibbon Coalition and the OHV community

1.   The OHV community generally supports the Proposed Rule and a policy of vehicle access to designated roads, trails, and areas, but believes several clarifications or changes are necessary.

2.   We support the Proposed Rule’s approach of providing broad national policy guidance while leaving the details of any decision making process to the discretion of local land managers.  The agency must reject the pressure to create “one size fits all” management prescriptions through this rule making.  It is inappropriate and unworkable to dictate on-the-ground management changes through a nationwide OHV rule.

3.   We appreciate the need for flexibility in the inventory and planning process.  The rule should be modified, however, to require the agency to acknowledge and fully act upon its responsibility to complete an inventory of all existing roads and trails. 

4.   The agency’s “emergency” closure authority must be better defined and limited.  Some land managers improperly avoid the public travel planning process by instituting a patchwork of “temporary, emergency” closures that continue indefinitely.  The final rule should clarify that closures cannot be made without public notice and input.

5.   The OHV community is concerned about the agency’s commitment to effective implementation of any OHV rule.  The rule is supposedly motivated by a need to address “unmanaged recreation”, but good management will not flow from a whisk of a pen in Washington, D.C.  Any final OHV rule must be accompanied by adequate budget, staffing, and priority to achieve critical on-the-ground goals.

6.   Users are willing to ride only on properly-designated roads, trails, and areas, so long as the agency resolves to manage OHV use.  The agency must make adequate maps and other material available to inform motorized and non-motorized users where recreational opportunities are.

7.   The OHV community already contributes substantial funds to implement OHV management and volunteers tens of thousands of hours in volunteer work project in order to maintain trails.

Indoctrination of our young people in extreme enviro-think moves ahead.  It is up to us to diligently teach our children a balanced, responsible approach to environmental issues . . . one that accommodates our interests in maintaining continued motorized access on our public lands. Such recreation shared by you and your children is a true “family value”.  The following, from an obvious conservative source, is food for thought.

UNIVERSITIES  EMPHASIZE SUSTAINABLE  ENVIRONMENTALISM (from: Liberty Matters News Service)

More than 300 universities in the U. S. and 40 other countries have signed onto the Talloires Declaration, "a 10-point action plan to incorporate sustainability and environmental literacy in teaching, research, and campus operations."  Pacific Lutheran University (Tacoma, Washington) President Loren J. Anderson bragged that PLU is the first college in the Pacific Northwest to hop on board the environmental indoctrination train.  "It's our obligation to protect our resources for the future," Anderson said.  The Talloires Declaration was adopted during an international conference in Talloires, France in 1990.  Its authors believe that earth is in grave danger of being destroyed due to the "inequitable and unsustainable production and consumption patterns that aggravate poverty in many regions of the world."  The declaration emphasizes indoctrinating university students with a wide curriculum, advancing the cause of social justice and other United Nations type mumbo jumbo.  The 10-point plan seeks to involve the public, governments, and industry into its ambitious efforts toward an environmentally-sustainable future and to produce graduates that are thoroughly indoctrinated as "ecologically responsible citizens."  Number 8, Enhance Capacity of Primary and Secondary Schools, is most troubling.  The promoters intend to start with the small ones in primary grades and move on to the secondary schools, ensuring there will be little resistance to their message once the children reach college age.  A quick look at the web site of the Talloires Declaration reveals, not surprisingly, close ties to the United Nations and a little known organization, The Center for Respect of Life and Environment that promotes environmental justice through religion.  Before sending that young person off to college, parents need to see if the chosen school promotes sustainable environmental policies.

(If you are offended by sexually-suggestive humor, don’t read this.  I thought that, with the relatively recent discussions on public land permits in the SE Utah area, you might find this amusing.  –ed.)

A lady from Missoula, Montana who was a tree hugger and an anti-hunter, purchased a piece of timberland.  There was a large tree on one of the highest points in the tract.  She wanted to get a good view of the natural splendor of her land, so she started to climb the big tree.  As she neared the top, she encountered a spotted owl that attacked her. 

In her haste to escape, the lady slid down the tree to the ground and got many splinters in her crotch. 

In considerable pain, she hurried to the nearest country doctor.  She told him what an environmentalist and anti-hunter she was, and how she came to get all the splinters.  The doctor listened to her story with great patience and then told her to go into the examining room and he would see if he could help her. 

She sat and waited for three hours before the doctor reappeared.  The angry lady demanded, "What took you so long?" 

He smiled and then told her, "Well, I had to get permits from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management before I could remove old-growth timber from a recreational area and I'm sorry, but they all turned me down."

Aluminum Cans: Our club saves and recycles aluminum cans.  Money from the sale of cans goes into our club treasury.  Please bring your aluminum cans to each meeting, and somebody will take them to the recycling center.

To Our Guests: If you attend a club meeting or event and provide us with your e-mail address, you will be added to our guest e-mail list, and will receive monthly notifications of when the Trail Tales newsletter is posted on our Club web site.  If you are interested in becoming a member of the New Mexico 4-Wheelers, please contact one of our officers for membership requirements, or visit our web site at www.nm4w.org/join-the-club.htm.

Trail Tales on the Web Site: In a continuing effort help save natural resources and to control costs, you are encouraged to read the Trail Tales newsletter on the Club Web Site in lieu of receiving a hard copy in the mail.  Around the first of each month, the current issue of Trail Tales is posted at www.nm4w.org/newsletters.htm and an e-mail notification is sent to all club members.  In addition, a minimum of 2 years of back issues of our newsletter is also available on the web site.  So if you want to help “save some trees”, please send an e-mail to TrailTales@nm4w.org stating that you do not need to receive the hard copy of the newsletter.  Thanks for your participation in this program.

Submission Due Date: The Trail Tales is published on the first of each month.  Submissions for each issue must be received by the Editor not later than the 25^th of the prior month.  Submissions can be sent to TrailTales@nm4w.org, or Trail Tales, 21 Rattlesnake Ridge, Tijeras, NM 87059.

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Trail Tales
21 Rattlesnake Ridge
Tijeras, NM 87059-7440

TrailTales@nm4w.org