September 1, 2006    The Official Newsletter of the New Mexico 4-Wheelers    www.nm4w.org

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Meeting was held at the home of Chuck & Ethel May Peeples.  Lauri Rector called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm sharp.

Guests:  Paul Caskey, Phil & Rose Torrez, Preston & Melissa Garner, Rance & Elizabeth Cochrane, Derek Schmidt, Jane Bell.

Members Present: Glenn Bontly, Mike & Kristy Coe, Kevin Cox, Eric & Lisa Finch, Erwin & Jeannie Greven, Rodger & Barbara Hall, Ron Hyman, Ed & Lyn Kausche, Phil & Carol Kennicott, Tony Lauderbough & Greta Berry, Jason & Sara Lavy, Jerry & Barbara Marx, Cliff & Jeanne Meier, Bob Norton, Chuck & Ethel May Peeples, Tom & Carrie Phillips, Jeff & Lauri Rector, Mike Robertson & Kathy Wolf, Corey & Tiffany Ryan, Jack & Stella Sierra, Justin Simenson, Carlos & Laurye Tanner, Bob Telepak, Paul & Mary Thompson, Craig & Mary Turpin, Frank R. Whiston, Frank G. & Beth Whiston, Mark & Joan Wolf

Secretary’s Report – Beth Whiston:  Everybody accepted the minutes as printed in the newsletter.

Treasurer’s Report – Paul Thompson:  $4,647.02 (after he bought his NEW truck!).  That includes a little over $1,000 from dues, $1,446 from the quarterly.  Paul pointed out that the club needs to think about how to spend the money.  He gave a detailed report to Lauri.  Think about priorities with these available resources. 

Vice President’s Report – Mark Wolf:  There were two runs since the last meeting.  The Jemez trip was two weeks before CO.  Eleven vehicles were there.  The group did Ridge Road by the tunnels, and San Miguel Peak.  It was a good day.

Next was the Summer Quarterly in Ridgeway. CO.  There were a lot of problems, including Wolfie.  There will be no fines; a lot of people paid money to attend this event so Wolfie is going easy.  Mark had some problems with his trailer and received a lot of help from Harold Off out of Farmington.  Tom Phillips had a bad time too, he lost the turbo in his truck.  Tom had to leave parts along the road.  Somebody went bask to rescue parts for him.  Glenn broke a bolt on his suspension, and got everything fixed.  A guy in Silverton helped him a lot.  AND then there’s Chuck.  He was up there early…ripped the (TJ) track arm bracket out of the frame!  There was ONE fine…a run on Saturday, the leader was riding with somebody because he was broke down.  Let’s just say that there was a naked passenger in another vehicle.  Children were exposed and blinded for life.  Somebody took the T-shirt “Jeep Naked” a little too seriously!  A good time was had by all. 

Trip Chairman’s Report – Frank Whiston:  Most recent trips were Jemez trip on July 16, 2006 led by Mark Wolf and the SW4WDA Summer Quarterly in Ridgeway, CO. on July 27 – 29.

August 26, Frank G. Whiston will lead a group to the Valles Caldera National Preserve.  Usually the only way a person can access this area is through scheduled tours, which include a fee.  We will be able to travel normally-restricted access roads during this one-day-only opportunity with no access fees.  There will be two routes offered.  One suitable for cars to drive on that is 13 miles long.  The other is a 26 mile route called a “primitive dirt road”; limited to high clearance vehicles.  Frank does not expect there to be much 4-wheeling, but it should be beautiful!  There will be educational booths ranging from geology and history, to recreation hunting and fishing.  Will they be listening to input?  We’ll see.  Frank will entertain some GPS logging if time permits after the loop has been completed.

Labor Day weekend, Frank G. is also leading an exploratory run in the Zuni Mountains.  Bluewater Lake State Park will serve as base camp.  He will be traveling down there on Friday.  Trail rides will depart on Saturday and Sunday.  A potluck is planned for Saturday evening.

The 9^th Annual Palo Duro Challenge is scheduled for September 22^nd – 24^th by the Amarillo Jeep exclusive club.  Frank G. Whiston has information if anybody is interested.

Lauri Rector reported:  Mark Werkmeister wants to go to Gordy’s Hill on September 23 – 24.  The rain and water wiped a lot of stuff out.  Waterfalls could be fun!  These will be more difficult trails.  If you want to go and do something a little more easy, volunteer to lead a trail.

Paul Thompson announced that he will be attending the SWFWDA Fall Quarterly on September 28 – October 1.  This will take place at the Y.O. Ranch in Texas Hill Country.  For more information visit www.yoranch.com.  If you plan to go, contact Paul Thompson.   

Tom Hurt is doing his Annual Red River trip on September 29^th – October 1^st.  On Saturday he will lead a run to Goose Lake on free fishing day.  Sunday’s run will be up to Greene Peak.

Oct 3^rd – 8^th Frank G. Whiston has a trip to the Needles district of Canyonlands tentatively scheduled.

Mary & Craig Turpin are planning another Balloon Fiesta 4-wheeling event.  Pilots are willing to trade rides for a 4-wheel!  Drivers can fly in the morning then the 4-wheelers take the pilots to go for a ride in the afternoon.  Contact Mary Turpin if you are interested.  Mary will send out an e-mail in the next few weeks with details. 

Wolfie announced a Caballo Lake trip with a date TBA. 

Director Environmental Affairs Report – Mark Werkmeister:  Mark was not present.  Lauri did have information for the group.  Wolfie, Lauri Rector, and Jerry Marx attended the Espanola District meeting on the roads issue on Thursday, August 10^th.  It was a good meeting, but one that requires immediate action from all of us.  The forest service wants trails to be 100% GPS’ed no later than September 30^th, 2006.  That is not enough time.  We need to write the Forest Supervisor and demand more time to complete our inventories!  After they know the trails, there needs to be engineering analysis, an appeals process, maps need to be ready for 2010!  NM Off Highway Vehicle Association has GPS logged many miles.  They will almost all be single track trails.  Trails that are closed now will not be in the inventory, and not considered to be re-opened; unless we resubmit it.  The club needs to get out in small groups to GPS trails.  We need to make sure we don’t GPS trails that have already been done.  Maybe a list can be placed on the member website to keep track.  Pat Brady has some information that can be placed on the website; he is a coordination point for all this data.  He will make a list of GPS coordinates.  At this point he does not have a list of trails that have been documented.  All we have is what’s on Glenn’s website.  Everybody just needs to go up and do some exploring!  Send an e-mail when you go on a trail, let everybody know it has been GPS logged! 

This club needs a coordinator for this issue of what trails to run.  Barbara Hall is going to head a committee to organize trails that need to be run.  Please step up to volunteer.  Contact her if you can help. barbarahall22@earthlink.net

Questions asked by members:

Q: What format does the Forrest Service use for GPS?
A: By law, the FS has to accept what we give them.  Any format is fine.

Q: Where should we start the tracks? 
A: Wherever you start; off a major road.  Anything and everything.  There are many trails that we run that are not on maps! 

Q: Is it every forest in the state that is requiring this?
A: It is Forest Service and BLM nation wide.  We have not heard from BLM.  Many states have been dragging their feet.  Everybody is required to do this. 

Q: What trails do we need to do this on?  Is there a list of what we can GPS?
A: We need to coordinate our efforts, and soon.  We need people to volunteer to lead trails.  Maybe e-mail the trails to people and then take volunteers. 

Q: How much more time do we want if we ask for an extension?? 
A: 4 months is reasonable, by next Spring.  Gates may be closed during winter, fire restrictions.

Lauri received a Cibola National Forest survey, (link to a website to fill out) She is not sure if they want to hear what she has to say or the whole group.  Everybody should fill out that survey.  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?A=139527940E28022.  If you have ideas of what is important to say, let Lauri know.  She will do a survey to represent the club.  Send her an e-mail with feed back. 

Cibola National Forest wants to conduct personal interviews with people.  Lauri has one scheduled.  She is looking for somebody who would like to be a part of that and help her.  That is all that Lauri knows that Cibola has done.  Each forest is setting there own schedule.  Sustainable, safe and fun are the three goals they want to meet.  Glen has a schedule of the meetings.  It is also on the Santa Fe National forest website.

The Jemez Ranger District is having a meeting on August 15, Wednesday 6:00PM at the Wallatowa visitor center in Jemez.  We need to pack the house.  Lauri has a form that you can fill out if you can’t make it.  It can’t hurt to fill one out. 

Program Chairman’s Report – Jerry Marx:  We are getting low on club apparel.  It is time to replenish.  Jerry would like to place a new order.  We have to get in the $500 to $600 dollar range to get a good price.  If you have a specific want/desire let Jerry know, he will try to fulfill.  Let him know what size you want.  A motion was made to allocate $650.00 - $750.00 for a new order.  All were in favor.

Paul mentioned that the winner of the 50/50 pot should not be allowed to re-donate.  Keep it!  There was a discussion about other members feeling that they need to do that as well.  It will be up to that winner to do what they want with the money.

Historian’s Report – Laurye Tanner:   Club members have posted on Snapfish!  They did a great job.  E-mail Laurye if you need help.  Let Laurye know if you want a print she can send it to you in e-mail.

Webmaster & Editor’s Report – Glenn Bontly:  We still have a website and a newsletter!

Old Business:  Lauri awarded the member with the highest amount of points to Paul Thompson.  He was awarded a $50.00 gift certificate for Desert Rat.   Desert Rat really came through!! They made the gift certificate for $100.00 but only charged $50.00!  Thank you Desert Rat.  Congratulations Paul & Mary Thompson. 

Paul Thompson, Mark Wolf, and Glenn Bontly were all nominated as 4-wheeler of the year!  Nominees went in the house for members to vote.  This is a way to say that we recognize and appreciate a specific member.  Votes were counted and Glenn Bontly has been voted as our new 4-wheeler of the year.  A plaque will be presented to Glenn next month.  Thanks, Glenn for all your hard work and devotion to the club.

Mark Wolf commented that everybody did an excellent job with the Summer Quarterly.  He thanked the committee for all their hard work.  Cliff Meier worked hard and organized the trails/trips.  Jeanne Meier and crew did a great job organizing the registration there in Ridgway.  Mike Coe did a wonderful job coordinating that great food.  Marcia Duggar also worked hard handling the registration.  Trip leaders, thank you as well.  We were very organized and had a great time.  Ed found the state park.  Thank you Mark Wolf for being the leader! 

New Business:  Paul Caskey has enough points to be voted in and was!  Welcome to our club, Paul!  Mark Wolf reviewed the point system.  Information about the point system can also be found on the club website.

We always do some sort of community service around the holidays.  Lauri wants to appoint a committee to come up with some ideas.   We want to know the project before voting on an amount to donate.  Jerry Marx will be a coordinator.  Let Jerry know about a charity that you know or like.  Give him information by next months meeting. 

Paul Thompson noted that we need to also think about how to spend our club money.  $3, 875.65 was spent last year.  Paul will try to put a list together of what the club spent money on last year. 

Mark Wolf motioned that we take $500.00 profit from our summer quarterly and donate it to United Four Wheel Drive, they are having financial trouble.  All were in favor to table the motion until next meeting.

Meeting adjourned at 8:00 PM.

Thanks to Chuck and all of his family for the great hamburgers!

Winner of the 50/50 drawing:  Paul Caskey won $63.00 in the 50/50!  Wow!  Voted into the club and winning money!  What’s the trick, Paul?  $127.00 was collected for the raffle.  $64.00 of it went to the club.

What a very busy first month I’ve had.  There have been public meetings for the Santa Fe Forest Travel Management process as well as an interview with a conflict management contractor for the Cibola National Forest – also as a part of their Travel Management process.  But, I think things will get even busier as I try to help GPS trails in the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) and possibly Cibola National Forest.  But, it’s all good.  Helps to keep me out of trouble and I have learned a lot (and have much more to learn) and have fun too!!!

But, something has been weighing very heavy on my mind, with the September 30^th cut off date set by SFNF and the very soon to come dates set by Cibola; can we get help from any other off-road enthusiasts in the Albuquerque area?  I know they are there – I see them Saturday and Sunday morning heading out to the Puerco and see them those same evenings heading home.  I see Jeeps with stickers on them, with almost the exact same design as our club’s.  I hear about them going down to Gordy’s Hill and playing in the water down there and I’ve heard that they have found the way out to Cimarron Mesa to play out there.  I don’t recall them being at Gordy’s Hill or Cimarron Mesa when we were building those trails and having work days - Gordy’s Hill work was on the event schedule.  I didn’t see them at the Jemez public meeting last week or in Espanola the week before that, but I do remember seeing them in the Jemez district riding the trails just a few weeks ago.  Hopefully they won’t just sit back on the Travel Management work and leave it all to us.  Ok, I’ll stop now.  I’m not behooved to name names or to dog anyone, just sharing some thoughts with you.

Oh, I must give many thanks to those of you who have stepped up and volunteered your time and effort on the Travel Management.  I know that there will be more volunteers coming forth in the next few weeks.  This club ROCKS!!!

For those of you new to the club or those of you who are just cruising our web site; we have slide shows of our runs on the Internet.  The new web site address for the club pictures: http://www1.snapfish.com/home/t_=30021019.

If you do not want to personally register with Snapfish, you can use nm4wphotos@earthlink.net as your login, and jeepers as your password.

For those who are taking pictures on our trips, please e-mail me at lauryert@yahoo.com, or give me a CD of the pictures you have taken.  Please let me know the name of the event and who took the pictures.  Remember to save your originals.  You can also email me and I will tell you how to post your pictures to this site.  PLEASE write on the first picture what run this is and who took the pictures.

Glenn and I are trying to get pictures of our members to add to the web site roster on the Member’s Only Page.  Please e-mail Glenn or me your picture.  If you do not have a good picture; I will try to bring a camera at the next meeting and will be glad to take your picture there.

“Seasoned knees” were the impetus for Tony Louderbough buying his Jeep and joining NM4W.  For someone who grew up hiking and sometimes carrying a 45-lb. backpack, it was tough to acknowledge that his knees weren’t taking kindly to long and strenuous hikes.  Nowadays, he and Greta still hike—they just use the Jeep to get them to jumping-off places.  Says Tony, “The Jeep will take us to 5,000 ft., and then we’ll hike the last 2,000 ft.”

Tony actually had a four-wheeling stint in his late teens, when he had a BMW motorcycle and his brother had a Nissan Patrol.  They sometimes traded vehicles and Tony remembers taking the Patrol into the Manzanos.  Then came school, family, and career—and not enough time or money for four-wheeling.

Three years ago, Tony and his wife, Greta (pronounced like Rita with a G), rented a Jeep in Ouray.  After paying $150/day rental fees and having the Jeep scrutinized for the tiniest scratch, they decided to get their own Jeep.  In January 2006, Tony bought his 1999 Wrangler TJ from a Tucson resident.  For this long-distance purchase, Tony cajoled his daughter, a University of Arizona student, into checking out the TJ.  She crawled under the Jeep, cell phone in hand, checking this and that for Dad (sounds like Dad owes daughter for that one!).

Tony learned about NM4W online and from member Jordan Souza who sold him a roof rack.  After earning their points, Tony and Greta joined NM4W in July 2006.

Tony is at a crossroads with his Jeep.  It’s stock and has a 6-cylinder, manual transmission.  He’s added rocker guards and 31” MT/R tires.  But now that he’s had the TJ off road, he’s thinking lockers, axles, and Dana 44s.  He’s pondering whether to upgrade the TJ or trade for a Rubicon (the proverbial boys-and-their-toys dilemma).

Now, back to the interesting stuff, Greta is a Farmington native and moved to Albuquerque to attend UNM.  A Social Worker for many years, Greta now operates a home-based business, Human Initiatives Inc.  She’s a job profiler, meaning she identifies types of professions and current job skills needed by industry.  For example, she learned that Landscape Technicians didn’t have the skill to back up a truck and trailer.  So TVI (we’re now supposed to call it Central New Mexico Community College) incorporated backing up a truck and trailer into the curriculum for Landscape Technicians.  Greta’s findings helped business, students, and the school.

Tony was born in Watertown, Connecticut and moved to Albuquerque at age 9.  His father had come through Albuquerque during the war and after one too many gray, cold winters moved the family to New Mexico sunshine.  Tony earned his Social Work degree at NMSU and works for the State of New Mexico, Adult Protective Services Division.  A Social Worker and Investigator, he investigates abuse and neglect in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities.  Tony says, “It’s a ‘fun’ job because you do something extremely useful.  We bust bad people who do bad things to the elderly.”  Tony stresses that many facilities are good and there are just a few bad apples.

Greta and Tony have two daughters.  Sarah is a Montessori teacher in Portland, Oregon and Jeanne is a PhD student in Molecular Biology at the U of A (she’s the daughter who crawled under the TJ).  The family has two dogs, Cleo and Chancellor.  They’re pound dogs and a bit large for the Jeep—so they haven’t been on outings yet.

An interesting family story is how Greta’s sister, Marty Morgan, became an Albuquerque resident.  Greta’s father passed away on August 24, 2005 (our condolences to Greta).  The day before Hurricane Katrina hit, Marty, a New Orleans resident, left New Orleans to attend their father’s memorial service in Farmington.  The hurricane spared the family’s home, but not their jobs.  The family relocated to Albuquerque and her sister got a job at Intel.  Greta and Tony’s nephew, Marten, was given a scholarship at Sandia Prep.  This generosity allowed him to complete his education at a high school on par with his New Orleans school.  Greta, her sister, and their families are happy they ended up safe and sound in Albuquerque.

Greta is an accomplished “tool girl” according to Tony.  She excels at landscaping and carpentry.  Tony likes to cook, especially pasta (he’s Italian) and fish.  Their favorite pastime is traveling to scenic, outdoor areas.  Cities don’t hold much interest for them.

Their ultimate dream is a long-term camping trip from the Canadian Rockies to the Alaskan Yukon.  But for now, they look forward to shorter trips—the Valle Calderas driving tour on August 26, maybe something in the Silver City area, and more trips to Colorado.  They had a great time running Imogene Pass and Buffalo Boy at the NM4W-hosted Southwest Four Wheel Drive Association’s Summer Quarterly.

As a two-month member, Tony appreciates NM4W members’ willingness to share driving tips (picking lines, using low range, etc).  He’s equally appreciative of the group’s Tread Lightly philosophy.  “It’s important to be proactive in preserving what we respectfully do in the forest.  We need a club to advocate our use.”  Well said from an outdoor enthusiast with seasoned knees whose seeking access to the backcountry via Jeep.

Greetings NM4W club members!

First of all, I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to attend a meeting, GPS a trail, or gotten involved in any way in helping to define the future of motorized recreation on the Santa Fe National Forest!  Those that have taken the time to be involved are owed a great deal by the others whose schedules have not allowed them to participate.  Those that have been involved will be owed a great deal of gratitude by everyone who enjoys the Santa Fe National Forest trails for years to come!

Here is a quick report of where the process is, where it is going, and what YOUR next steps should be. 

First of all, an update on the process:

The Forest Service is about two thirds through their initial “kick-off” public meeting schedule.  If you haven’t been able to attend one yet (and I highly recommend that you try to attend one) the best opportunity is the meeting in Santa Fe on Wednesday night, 30 Aug.  It is at the Unitarian Church Auditorium located at 107 W Barcelona Road in Santa Fe.  The meeting is from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.  It is best to be there by 6:00 pm as this is run as an actual meeting with an agenda, and not an “open house” format.  It will be possible to leave earlier because most of the information is in the first two hours of the meeting.

And now, on to the “where it is going”:

There is currently a deadline of September 30^th for the FS to receive all user input to the trail inventory.  By “user input”, I mean GPS tracks of any routes that we want considered, that are not currently on the FS maps.  More on this later in the report.  Based on user input at the previous meetings, the FS is considering a revised schedule, but will not make the decision until after all of the kick-off meetings have concluded.  So if you want to help influence their decision, attend the Santa Fe meeting on the 30^th and make it clear that we welcome an extension!  The Forest Service has clearly indicated that they will take all forms of route information.  This includes GPS tracks from common GPS units like Garmin, Magellen, etc., lines drawn on maps, copies of old maps, even sketches on the back of napkins.  BUT, naturally, the better the information, the easier it is for them to add it to the inventory so GPS information is the most useful.

One of the issues that the FS heard the loudest at the Jemez meeting (and I am assuming at other meetings) is the availability of the current inventory on maps that are available to the public.  After the Jemez meeting, the FS agreed to publish the maps in a format (Adobe/.pdf) that is much easier to access.  They were able to accomplish this by the following Friday!  The maps are currently posted on their Travel Management website toward the bottom of the page.  The maps that we primarily need to look at are the first and third ones on the list.  These maps consist of the background, the routes, AND the FS road numbers for the east and west side of the SFNF.

Due to the background, these are HUGE files with the west half being almost 30MB.  You will need a pretty fast connection to be able to successfully download the map before you fall asleep or get so hungry that you order a pizza.  I am seeking a place to get hard copies of these maps produced at a reasonable cost.  Even if it costs us a bunch (I was quoted up to $10.00 a square foot which would make the maps $120 a piece!), we can produce one for “group” use.  I hope to have maps produced this weekend.  If I can get some made, I will post the information and/or set up a time and place for us to review them as a club.

And that brings us to next steps.  It is still very important to get all of our routes GPS’ed by September 30^th if they are not on the current Forest Service maps.  BUT, and this is a big “BUT”, please take the opportunity to check the FS maps to see if the routes are already there.  If they are, GPS’ing is a complete waste of our time and effort.  If the routes are already on the inventory maps, we don’t need to GPS them!!!!  I have checked the maps pretty extensively, and they seem to be very complete.  So….please check the maps, determine what needs to be GPS’ed and then work on the stuff that is missing!!!!  I think it will be primarily little connectors or slight reroutes that need to be mapped if anything at all.

After the inventory process is complete, we will be moving into the next step, which is to identify the routes and route networks that we want identified as part of the motorized recreation system.  Just because the routes are in the inventory and on the maps, doesn’t mean that they won’t still be eliminated during the rest of this process.  We need to create logical loops and networks incorporating our favorite routes.  We need to identify any additional links that need to be added to create the loops and networks.  Ultimately, we will need to produce a “Citizen’s Proposal” that formally nominates these routes as appropriate for motorized use.  I guarantee that the FS will be receiving a citizen’s proposal from the closurists and WE WON’T LIKE IT.  We need to make sure that we have produced our own proposal that provides an opposing viewpoint!  I will have much more information and methods on this (we have examples to use as a template) as the process moves along.

First things first though…

1. Attend a “kick-off” meeting if your schedule allows and you haven’t attended one yet.  See the remaining schedule here:  http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/sfe/travelmgt/tmrad.pdf

2. Review the inventory maps that the FS has posted to the web site.  See them at:  http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/sfe/travelmgt/index.html

3. Compare the inventory maps to our own knowledge of our routes.  Don’t forget to look at things other than the western ridge of the Jemez.  How about the stuff on the Caja del Rio?  Tank Trap?  And etc.

4. GPS anything that is missing.

5. Stay involved, vocal, and positive! 

 Mark
Your humble DEA

All: I want to personally thank your new President, Lauri Rector, and also Jerry Marx for attending the Espanola District meeting on the roads issue with me.  It was a good meeting, but one that requires immediate action from all of us!  We need to write the Forest Supervisor and demand more time to complete our inventories!  They want this all to be 100% GPS’ed and turned in NO LATER THAN September 30^th, 2006!!!  That is typical of the US Government, but an issue that demands we be prepared to act.  The maps that each district has are available for download from the websites.  Unfortunately, we cannot access (unless Mark Werkmeister can get Gordon Spigel to share his work) what has already been done and not duplicate efforts.  That is a bummer and one that will take us more time.  Please leave your time open for this all important effort in the next two months!  We will need every abled body and GPS smoking a gun to get this done.  WE WILL NOT HAVE A SECOND CHANCE!!!!!!!  Thanks!  Wolfie

Members:  I attended the Cuba District meeting last night and heard something that I had not heard before at these meetings – part of this review is to potentially abolish the 300’ rule for dispersed (undeveloped) camping!  That means all of you hunters and people that do not like to use developed campgrounds (like our favorite retreat in the Jemez) would be banned from using these types of areas for camping.  They are also looking at limiting or totally restricting game retrieval.  Let’s get out there and show ‘em we don’t like that one!

Also, Mr. Potts (USFS) said that he had taken quite a few calls and e-mails from the ANTIs saying they want ALL routes closed and to take the cattle with them. We need to “Pack the house” on August 30^th in Santa Fe!  They said the Church holds 150 people – let’s fill it up with ONLY motorized folks!  See you there!

Wolfie, VP & Sheriff

It is well known that the most coveted awards are those bestowed by one’s peers.  I am truly honored that you voted me as NM4Wheeler of the Year.  It is my pleasure to maintain the club web site and to publish the Trail Tales each month.  Your support of me in these two endeavors really makes my job easy!  Thank you!!!

OK, so our Balloon Fiesta/Jeeping event is going a little bit different direction than I expected, but it sounds like fun.

In brief - as we announced at the last meeting, Craig and I are working on organizing another Jeep/Balloon Pilot day of "play with big toys" (that's what it works out to! :)

We are shooting for the last Friday of Balloon Fiesta (10/6), although that is somewhat tentative, as is much of Fiesta since it is so dependent on weather.

Here's what we did last year - kind of what we expect this year:

Pilots were generous enough to offer that any off-roader who would drive for off-roading would get to fly.  This had to be coordinated, sometimes at the last minute (that weather thing again - at least one morning (Wed??) Mark Berglund was at my house at 5:00 a.m., until we got the call that flights were scrapped for the day - thankfully he still speaks to us!).  While I cannot speak for them and extend the offer in their place, I will say that we crew for a fabulous group of Canadians.

After flying Friday morning, we met for pizza at our house (north valley) and went out off-roading for the afternoon.  Some even went to dinner that night (pilots and NM4Wers), making for a whole lot of hours spent together that day!

If you haven't heard the story - some of the pilots thought we were going to go out and drive around on some dirt roads for a while, and maybe see some cows.  While NM4Wers consider the Rio Puerco fairly mild overall, the pilots thought we had gone crazy.  Snoopy's Rock caused panic in some.

Everyone had a blast, though.  We all concluded we all have big toys that cost way too much, that we hope not to die in, and that another group out there thinks is crazy and maybe odd.  It was a great "meeting of two worlds" kind of experience.

I do not know how many vehicles are required right now.  Last year we took 6 vehicles and about 19 passengers (there was some squishing involved :).

So basically, if you have any interest, and a somewhat flexible schedule, let us know if you would like to join us.

***As you may have notice I am also forwarding a note from the AIBF Community Realtions Rep, Kathie.  I have worked with her on other stuff before and she is a huge inspiration for anything AIBF related.

She would like to get some off-roaders together with some pilots to do some PR about our community-building endeavor.  AIBF is looking at it as an opportunity to recruit crew (human interest/bonds between crews and pilots) and NM4Wers could get some great PR for being generous community hosts.

Those NM4Wers/VJC's who went with us last year (Chet, Phil, Bill, Chris, Mark) would be able to speak to last year's play day.  Those of you who would like to go this year could help present enthusiasm for sharing hobbies and making out-of-towners feel welcome in ABQ.

If you think you could make it on Fri (1 Sep) or Sat (the 2^nd), please let me know ASAP.  I will keep a tally and let Kathie know ASAP.  I will then relay info back to you (NM4Wers) about next weekend as I get it.  As Craig does not work Friday, and I have some flexibility with my job, either day would work for us.

:) Mary Turpin

Hi Mary,

I really, really want to stage a press event with balloon and chase crew next week (Friday morning or Saturday morning) if possible.

Can you get your pilot and your “Jeepers” out to the park at 7:00 am on either of those days?  If so, let’s get working on it!  We really, really need chase crew, and this will help our mutual causes tremendously!

Kathie Leyendecker

No one pointed out my error, but in my reminder last month about dues, I misstated that “according to the By-Laws, if you are not paid up by the end of September, you will be dropped from the membership roster . . .”  In reality, it’s the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that identify when dues must be paid and it states that you will be delinquent on 1 Sep, not the end of Sep!.  Sorry for the confusion.

Aluminum Cans: Our club saves and recycles aluminum cans.  Money from the sale of cans goes into our club treasury.  Please bring your crushed 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 trail-tales@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 trail-tales@nm4w.org, or Trail Tales, 11404 Oceola Rd SE, Albuquerque, NM 87123.

Please see the Events Schedule Page

Trail Tales
11404 Oceola Rd SE
Albuquerque, NM 87123

trail-tales@nm4w.org