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

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The meeting was held at the Heights Cumberland Presbyterian Church (Mid-High Room) and was called to order at 7:04 p.m. by President Leon Duggar.

Member present: Glenn Bontly, Pat and Sue Brady, Keith Chapin, Guy Conway, Kevin Cox, Leon and Marcia Duggar, Ed Kausche, Chet and Courtney Markham, Jerry Marx, Susan Miller, Chuck and Ethel May Peeples, Paul and Mary Thompson, Mark and Joan Wolf, and Dixon Patrick.

Guests: Ken O’Niell, Michelle Tanner, Mary and Craig Turpin and daughters Hannah and Alexandra. The Turpins have a 2003 Rubicon.  Michelle caused stunned silence when she entered the meeting and asked if this was the church choir.  She readily believed that it wasn’t.

After a show of hands, it was voted to dispense with the reading of the minutes from last month.  For the benefit of the guests, Leon explained the point system.

Acting Sheriff, Susan Miller happily announced the fines leveraged by Sheriff Rector (who was in Farmington for the SWFWDA Quarterly Meeting).

For Red River:

$0.25 Camille Capener—During Saturday’s run to Goose Lake, Camille bragged about the freshly baked razzleberry pie that she was going to bring to the potluck.  However, because of a few sprinkles, she did not attend the potluck (not an offense) but she did not bring the pie (highly offensible to some people)! Wolfie suggested a minimum fine of $348.

For Canyon de Chelly:

Chuck and Ethel May Peeples, $0.25, not for getting bad diesel fuel and having the truck towed back to Los Lunas (everyone empathized about that), but for not bringing the ice cream for Paul’s birthday cake.

Paul Thompson, $0.25, for not being able to blow out the candles on his cake.  He had to pull them out and throw them in the campfire (although Mary may have had something to do with inextinguishable candles).

Bobby and Susan Miller, $0.25, for having some kind of leak and another $0.25 for Susan asking Bobby about it in front of everyone.

Carlos Tanner, $0.25, for showing up at the meeting spot without a full tank of gas. Sheriff Rector granted amnesty for the flat on the trailer on I-40, getting lost in Gallup trying to find the tire store, and almost getting stuck in Gallup due to the Homecoming parade.

Sheriffs Rector (Jeff and Lauri) left word that the following folks are eligible to be voted in as members.  Since none were present, we hope they can attend the November 11 meeting:  Mike and Angela Cook, Darrin Miller, Chris McKinney, Joe and Farrah Nickerson, & Mike Sterling.

Treasurer Susan Miller reported a treasury balance of $2,197.50.  Recent payments included $536 to SWFWDA for dues and $1,500 to the Land Action Fund.

There were no reports from absent committee chairs Jason Lavy (Trip Chairman), Bob Norton (Environmental Affairs), and Rich Capener (Historian).

Trip Reports:

Canyon de Chelly, Oct. 9-11, 2004: Paul Thompson said the scenery, history, and culture made it a great trip and unique experience.  The group marveled at the ancient ruins, petroglyphs, pictographs, fall colors, and dramatic cliffs.  Because our nine vehicles were well-equipped, our Navajo guides (James and Perry Yazzie) allowed us to go a few miles beyond where tourists normally go.  After traversing a few rocks and ruts, we came to a beautiful secluded lunch spot in a cottonwood grove.  Everyone felt it was a real bargain ($70/vehicle) to enjoy the company of knowledgeable guides who’d grown up in the canyon.  Paul mentioned that our guide, James Yazzie, plays two small parts in the newly-released movie “Black Cloud”.  The movie was filmed in Canyon de Chelly and other New Mexico locations.

Red River, Sept. 25-26, 2004: Chuck reported that Tom Hurt led the group to Goose Lake on Saturday (where it snowed intermittently) and to Greenie Peak on Sunday.  Everyone enjoyed the beautiful fall colors, the lake, and poking around the mining remnants.

4^th of July Canyon: Marcia enjoyed a solo trip to this beautiful area in the Manzano Mountains and reported that the fall colors were great.

Future trips:

Oct. 16: Tom Hurt is leading a run to the Jemez Mountains.

Oct. 14-16: SWFWDA Fall Quarterly meeting in Farmington, hosted by the Cliffhangers.  Trail runs at all levels, business meeting on Saturday.  Newly-elected SWFWDA President Mark Wolf reported that issues of discussion include the needs for a publicity director and meeting hosts, and the issue of reimbursing officers for travel expenses to meetings.

Nov. 6: Cimarron Mesa led by Leon.  Meet 8:00 a.m. at I-40 and Paseo del Vulcan (near Freightliner).  If you want to drive the trail, 35’s are ideal, 33’s may hurt.  Bring tools.

Nov. 13-14: Caballo Lake campout to be led by Mark Wolf.  Moderate trail traversable by a stock vehicle.  Scenic and historic area, nice campground at Caballo Reservoir (south of T or C).  There will be a potluck dinner on Saturday evening.

Nov. 26-27: Two runs in Arizona.  Friday after Thanksgiving, easy trail east of Phoenix.  Saturday’s run will be moderate, old mining area north of Phoenix.

Dec. 4, Christmas Tree run, will be led by Glenn & Susan Bontly.  Meet at the Conoco station at the intersections of Hwys 550 & 528.  Bring lunch, a saw to cut down your tree, and warm clothes.

Program Chair Jerry Marx sold tickets for the 50/50 raffle.  He also had a $25 gift certificate from 4W Parts Performance Center out of Arizona. (Oops, I forgot to write down the winners and it happened much too long ago to remember.)

Old Business

Regarding club support for a charitable organization at Christmas, members liked Jerry Marx’s idea of finding a group less known than Toys for Tots.  Jerry will report back at the November 11 meeting on suggestions he gets from a friend who is a cabinet secretary and familiar with various social causes.

New Business

Jerry Marx reported that the inventory of NM4W-logo hats, t-shirts, and sweatshirts is very low.  Jerry will get updated prices from Zia Graphics and send an e-mail for a show of interest in the various products.  He estimated t-shirts at $10-$13 and sweatshirts at $22.

Mary Thompson noted that a certain person had no leveling boards for his camper at Fairplay, Red River, or Canyon de Chelly.  Courtesy of Chuck “Picasso” Peeples, Wolfie was presented a set of designer blocks in lovely pastel pinks and greens.

Hosts volunteered for the remainder of the winter meetings:

            November 11—Susan Miller
            December 11—Holiday party/meeting at the Marx’s home in Corrales
            January 13—Peeples
            February 10—Thompsons
            March 10—Bradys
            April 14—Wolfs

Marcia agreed to print name tags (else, Picasso Peeples threatened to paint some).  Leon volunteered to act as the NM4W delegate at the SWFWDA Quarterly meeting in Farmington.  The meeting adjourned at 7:44 p.m.

Thursday the 24^th; I arrived about 3pm and set up camp and then did some Grouse hunting.  Friday morning did some more Grouse hunting; was unsuccessful both days.  But I did see a really nice Mule deer Buck.  I think its biggest one I have seen since I moved here in 1994. 

About 1pm or so, I meet up with the Peeples, Thompsons, and brother Andy for lunch at Shotgun Willies.  After lunch, Paul, Chuck, and Andy took the trail behind camp for a shake-down run on Andy’s CJ-6, or at least it seemed that way.

Friday evening after dinner, we gathered around the camp fire for tall tales and cake & ice cream to celebrate 2 belated B-days:  Jeannie Greven and myself; hers was the 17^th and mine was the 16^th.  ;o)  Thanks again to Ethel May and Chuck for the food. 

Saturday, we meet at the park @ 9am.  Air downed and locked the hubs in for those that have hubs to lock in.  Except for Wolfie didn’t air down until we got ready to cross the river.  Ok FINE, go ahead and air down.  Twelve vehicles headed up the trail.  All was well until we got to one of the rockier parts of this EASY trail.  One of the vehicles was having problems with the 4wheel-drive system on his Montero.  Turns out that his recently-purchased vehicle was only equipped with 2WD!!  So Frank Whiston said he would head back down with him.  The 10 others of us headed on up to Goose Lake.

 When we arrived at the lake, everyone ate lunch.  Some tried fishing, some went hiking, and some just milled around the lake.  I hooked one fish, but as I was pulling it out of the water, it got off of the hook.  It started snowing about 2pm, so Camille Capener said we should pack it in.

So everyone loaded up getting ready to head back down.  I was waiting for Andy to move so I could back out.  Then someone, I think it was Erwin, saw gas dripping from under the engine compartment.  Come to find out, the float was stuck.  So Andy tore apart the top of the carburetor and readjusted the float.  Everyone made it all the way back to the bottom with no problem. 

At 5pm, we meet at the park for the potluck.  Weather was starting to look a little grim.  It did rain for a little while, but stopped just in time to eat.  Plenty of good food and no one went hungry.  After cleaning up the park, we retired back to camp and gathered around the camp fire (thank the Bontlys for getting it going early) for tall tales and some not so tall tales.  The most exciting part of the evening was hearing a Bull Elk bugling and trying to get him to come down out of the mountain so we all could see him.  But no luck on that.  I think he came down late that night right into camp and woke everybody up. 

Sunday, we met at 9am for a run up to Greenie Peak and to look at some of the old mines on the north side of Greenie Peak.  We were down to 8 vehicles for Sundays run.  We made it up to Greenie Peak in about 90 minutes.  At the peak, everyone got to look a round almost 360%.  Some of the higher peaks had got a light dusting of snow overnight.  The weather was great on the peak.  It is usually cold and windy.  After about an hour of enjoying the sites, we headed to the old mines to the north.  The first one that we came to was the Midnight Mine and then one other mine.  At this time we will just call this mine the unnamed mine.  I will search this further to find the name.  After walking around the unnamed mine, we headed back to camp.  Instead of going back over Greenie Peak, we went around the east side thru the trees with a bunch a mud holes.  There not really mud holes, as they are solid rock bottoms.  But fun just as well.  After getting back to camp and packing up, a few of us again met at Shotgun Willies for lunch.

That’s pretty much it.  If I left something out sorry.  Looking forward again next year for another relaxing long weekend of 4-wheeling with friends.  There were a few friends that I wish could have made it.  But sometimes things just don’t work out.  Thanks for riding along.

(Attending were: Steve Hunt; Rich, Camille, Rachel, and Carlie Capener; Chris McKinney and Chris Tornicco; Erwin and Jeannie Greven; Boyd and Kori Gilkey; Frank and Beth Whiston; Glenn and Susan Bontly; Paul and Mary Thompson; Chuck and Ethel May Peeples; Mark and Joan Wolf; Andrew Hurt; and myself, Tom Hurt)

We're back home again after two consecutive weekends of 4-wheeling.  Well, at least one weekend of Jeeping and one attempted weekend of Jeeping.

The first weekend we spend in Canyon de Chelly, a very sacred place for the Navajo.  There were 9 vehicles from the club and we had two Navajo guides who told a lot of history of the area and pointed out the archeological features, which were many.  Lots of fun and a very interesting drive. 

Then during the week, we 'camped' at an RV park with our PMR (Portable Motel Room).  Took tours to Monument Valley (another sacred Navajo site), to the actual Four Corners location where Laurye and I each stood in 4 states at the same time (Wonder what police would do about jurisdictional issues???) and then rode the Silverton-Durango (Colorado) narrow gauge railroad, an all day trip, but beautiful this time of year.

On the first day of the SWFWDA Fall Quarterly in Choke Cherry Canyon outside of Farmington, guess who busted an axle???  Yup.  Shattered that thing.  Got it fixed on the trail as another participant just happened to have a couple of axles in his rig, and the host crew jumped in and put it together again.  But because it was very sandy on the trail, I drove back into town and had it taken apart and cleaned out real good.  Then we came home on Saturday instead of going back out.  I knew beforehand that the area was a very difficult trail area and a rig needed to be a lot more modified than mine was.  But the host crew had assured a bunch of us that "we have easy and scenic trails".  Yeah, right!  They offered only two trails when we arrived ... hard and extreme, the latter was mostly for home made buggies.  

But we had a good trip overall and damage to a Jeep is bound to happen at some point or other.  I was disappointed in that the Trail Guide was someone with whom I had driven before in Moab on difficult trails.  He was the one who was spotting me up a rather high rock ledge and told me to "gun it" just a moment too soon.  The rear end dropped down into a sand pit then hit the rock ledge and I heard the 'pop'.

All in all, a great trip.  Thanks to Paul and Mary Thompson for putting together the Canyon de Chelly trip and to the Farmington Cliffhangers for their work for the Fall Quarterly.

After months of planning and anticipation, our trip to Canyon de Chelly finally came off as scheduled.  A total of twenty NM4W members and guests in nine vehicles made the guided tour trip through the canyon.  The participants were Erwin & Jeanie Greven, Ed & Lyn Kausche, Cliff & Jeanne Meier, Bobby & Susan Miller, Kristy Ohnesorg, Mike Coe, Jeff & Lauri Rector, Carlos & Laurye Tanner, Paul & Mary Thompson, Mark & Joan Wolf, Susan’s mother, Lela Marks, and the Meier’s grandson, Bret.  We were very disappointed that Chuck & Ethel May Peeples were unable to join us due to some bad diesel fuel acquired just before leaving Los Lunas.

Everyone made the trip to Chinle, Arizona and gathered at the Cottonwood Campground next to the Canyon de Chelly Visitor Center throughout the day and evening on Friday, October 8.  Apart from the challenge of finding adequate space for some of the larger rigs, the campground provided a very comfortable place to relax and socialize before and after the canyon excursion.  At 7:45 Saturday morning, we gathered at the visitor center to check in and get our permits from the park office.  We met our guides, James Yazzie and his brother Perry Yazzie, who gave us some preliminary instructions concerning our tour.  We were officially divided into two groups, one for each guide, for the canyon tour.

Upon entering the canyon, we immediately began encountering ancient ruins with displays of petroglyphs and pictograph that are not visible from the rim.  Our guides took time to explain the significance and meaning of the “rock art” to the Navajo or Diné people.  They also spoke about their memories of living and growing up in the canyon.  We spent the majority of our time in Canyon del Muerto, the northern branch of the network that makes up Canyon de Chelly National Monument, as it contains most of the major ruins.  At the point where most tours end, we encountered a large group of visitors traveling in army trucks converted to open air tour buses affectionately referred to as “shake and bake”.  To avoid the crowd, our guides offered to take us a couple miles farther into the canyon to a secluded grove of cottonwood trees for our lunch stop.  In addition to the great scenery provided by this excursion, it was thrilling to be able to go where most outsiders never have the opportunity to go.

After a relaxing lunch, we quickly made our way from the upper reaches of Canyon del Muerto down to the junction of the two canyons and out to the end of the main southern canyon, which bears the name Canyon de Chelly.  Our destination, and the final highlight of our day, was the monolithic Spider Rock, towering 800 feet above the canyon floor.  Spider Rock is probably the most well recognized natural feature of the canyon.  Not surprisingly, it is sacred to the people who live there.  Navajo legend says that this prominent spire is the home of Spider Woman, the deity who taught their women how to weave.  It is also said that when Spider Woman is informed of naughty children, she carries them to the top of Spider Rock.

Our entire trip through both branches of the canyon took 10 hours, and we did not have enough time to see or do all that was available.  The 4-wheeling was easy but the scenery, history, and culture we encountered combined to make a memorable experience for those who attended.

Dear NM 4-Wheelers,

Thank all of you for your hospitality to me during the Canyon de Chelly trip.  It was my first "4-wheeling" experience and it was a blast!!  No wonder Susan and Bobby enjoy it so much.  I look forward to joining you again sometime.

Lela Marks
(Susan's Mom)

I will have information on the critical Utah Price Field Office Resource Management Plan later.  It could be pivotal as radical restrictions could be implemented by the BLM in a widespread manner.  Comments are due near the end of November.

Of immediate concern is perhaps our last chance to reopen some trails near Las Cruces, NM.  Following is some information relating to that.  If you are familiar with 4-wheeling at Las Cruces, please comment... in your own words and relating to your own experiences, of course.  Mail by November 2^nd.

Bob Norton

Members:  Please take a few moments to look at the attached files, and send a letter to the Dona Ana County Commissioners as shown.  Cut and paste, but don’t use everything as it will look like a form letter that they will treat 100 copies as one letter.  PLEASE help!!!  This is critical and must be postmarked PRIOR to November 2, 2004!!!  Your help is essential to our success!!  Don’t let us down!!  This could be our last chance to save the trails in Las Cruces, NM.

All of your previous efforts and contributions have been much appreciated and this is one that is truly critical and no lawyer can help with.  Only the membership and participants of the Chile Challenge can help.  PLEASE DO SO!!  Thank you!

Mark Wolf, President SWFWDA

All,

On November 9^th, the Dona Ana County Commissioners will have on the agenda a request by LCFWDC to proclaim RS2477 Rights of Way on roads closed to the public in 1998.  The argument is public access to public land.  These roads are in fact in a wilderness study area (WSA) and as such they were open before and should have remained opened.  This is a Study Area and has never been named as wilderness; Congress is the only entity that can do that.  We have been advised to make the financial case insofar as what Dona Ana has to gain/maintain as far as tourist dollars, motels, campgrounds, food service, and on.

I have attached two word files, one that has the e-mail and snail mail addresses for the commissioners, and the other file is some sample ideas for a letter.  What you need to keep in mind is to try to make the letter yours; don’t just copy and paste what I am sending.  It will tend to look like some canned letter.  Also, I don't think it would help our case to go bashing the BLM.

If you can attend on November the 9th at 9:00 AM, they will meet in Commission Chambers, second floor, county courthouse at 251 W. Amador.  They will also take comments from the public at this meeting.  If you have anyone in the aforementioned service industry that you can get to sign a letter or write about what our business means to them, that would help as well.  Thank you, and please don't put this off to the last minute.

Jerry Ward, President
Las Cruces Four Wheel Drive Club
P.O. Box 1344
Las Cruces, NM 88004

http://www.lascrucesfourwheeldriveclub.com/

SAMPLE LETTER TO DONA ANA COUNTY COMMISSION

Dear Commissioner:

I am writing to encourage Dona Ana County to take action to reopen long used public roads, which were illegally closed by the Bureau of Land Management.  I ask the County to assert legitimate right-of-way claims to these public roads in the Robledo Mountains under Revised Statute 2477, U.S. Code.

The public roads at issue are an interconnected set of about 11 separate routes totaling between 15 and 20 miles.  These roads, which have been used by the public for many generations, were closed by the arbitrary administrative decision of federal land managers under pressure from radical special interest groups.  Based on recent court decisions, Dona Ana County is the only remaining entity which can reverse this decision.  All existing public roads in the Robledo Mountains have been closed to the public since 1998 and will remain closed permanently unless the County acts.

Communities within Dona Ana County, especially Las Cruces, enjoy significant financial benefits from the many visitors who come to the area to engage in outdoor recreation on public lands.  As you well know, most of Dona Ana County consists of Federal Public Land.  As such, both Las Cruces and Dona Ana County should do everything possible to preserve, and develop where necessary the benefits of those public land resources and opportunities in the County.

Thousands of off-highway vehicle (OHV) enthusiasts come to Dona Ana County every year from all over the US to enjoy outdoor recreation on public lands.  Few other activities attract so many visitors specifically to this area.  These enthusiasts tend to stay multiple days, thereby multiplying their financial impact on the businesses within the county.  Most traditional tourism visitors are merely passing through.

In recent years, increasing numbers of visitors from Mexico have been coming to enjoy the remaining OHV recreation opportunities in Dona Ana County.

Most OHV recreationists who visit spend 4 to 6 nights in area hotels and patronize local restaurants, service stations, auto supply and tire stores and automotive repair shops.  Expenditures by these visitors for food, lodging, fuel and other purchases often amounts to several hundreds of dollars or more per person while they are in Las Cruces and the surrounding area.

The affected scenic and historic primitive roads in the Robledos are often described as "world class" outdoor experiences by those who have traveled them in the past.  Off-highway vehicle enthusiast magazines have provided valuable national visibility to the local area.  These motorized recreation opportunities will continue to attract visitors from across the country if they are again made available to our citizens.

Other areas of public land in Dona Ana County are likely to be similarly closed to the public if the BLM's actions go unchecked.  Pressure for additional closures will not relent and clear action by the County to prevent these unwarranted closures will be taken as tacit approval of the action.  The BLM could arbitrarily close access to numerous other local points of historical and recreational interest at the whim of federal bureaucrats or to placate the demands of radical pressure groups.

These are the reasons the citizens who use these roads to access and visit their public lands turn to the County for help.  Local citizens, with the support of enthusiasts from across the country, have tried to reverse this decision, but the courts have chosen not to consider the merits of the case.  These historic old roads will remain permanently closed unless the County acts.  No one else can do anything to open these public roads.

Dona Ana County will not be alone in asserting local control of public roads on federal lands.  Many counties through the West are disputing closure efforts by BLM and the US Forest Service.  Utah counties are particularly aggressive in fighting outside efforts to close roads needed for local use.  This case could set a national precedent for which Dona Ana County would be widely admired.

Respectfully,
Name and Address

County Commissioners snail mail address is:
180 W. Amador
Las Cruces, NM 88001

Commission Vice-Chairman Oscar Vásquez Butler, District 1:  obutler@co.dona-ana.nm.us

Commissioner Arturo C. Terrazas, District 2:  aterrazas@co.dona-ana.nm.us

Commissioner Paul B. Curry, District 3:  pcurry@co.dona-ana.nm.us

Commissioner D. Kent Evans, District 4:  dkevans@co.dona-ana.nm.us

Commission Chairman Gilbert T. Apodaca, District 5:  gapodaca@co.dona-ana.nm.us

www.co.dona-ana.nm.us/comm/commissioners.html

As Club Treasurer, Susan Miller graciously takes our aluminum cans and turns them into cash for the club.  You can bring your cans to the meeting and she will take them off of your hands.  But please help her out by CRUSHING the cans before you give them to her!  Thanks.

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