Valles Caldera a Wonderful Winter Adventure

The winter is a great time to visit the Valles Caldera National Preserve especially when it's blanketed in a sea of gleaming snow.

“Anytime is a good time to visit the preserve,” says Kimberly DeVall, Chief of Interpretation and Education for the National Park Service’s preserve in the Jemez Mountains. “But when we have all this snow it’s really special, simply serene.”

The 89,000-acre preserve off N.M. 4 near the village of La Cueva between Jemez Springs and Los Alamos is a great place to go cross country skiing, snowshoeing or just sightseeing when winter delivers snowy weather.

And it’s made even better because the preserve isn’t charging its usual $25 entrance fee again this winter.

Those seeking the kind of quiet solitude only a wide expanse of snow-covered pasture and deep forest can provide will find just that at the preserve.

During a recent visit one could see people on skis and snowshoes dotting the huge snow-covered pasture formed by a collapsed volcano.

Inside the visitor center, found a couple miles off the highway, volunteers answered questions and handed out maps to guests while a stack of logs blazed away in the fireplace. The center offers snacks, beverages, books and gifts as well as snowshoe and ski pole rentals.

Visitors can ski or hike to the nearby “cabin district” where the park’s headquarters, employee housing and several rustic log cabins are nestled among the trees. Numerous movies and televisions shows have been shot at the Caldera including “Longmire” which features these iconic cabins.

A visit here provides the opportunity to listen to the breeze in the trees, enjoy the scent of pine in the cold crisp air and take in some spectacular views.

During warmer months visitors will find herds of elk, soaring bald eagles and other wildlife to view at the preserve. There’s plenty of wild brown and rainbow trout to fish for in several creeks and rivers as well as hiking, biking and other outdoor recreation to be enjoyed.

For more information about the Valles Caldera National Preserve please their website at https://www.nps.gov/vall/index.htm.

The preserve was formerly the private Baca Ranch purchased by the federal government in 2000. It was originally operated as a trust overseen by a board appointed by the president of the United States. Public use was very limited under the trust and the National Park Service was later chosen to take over its operation in October 2014.

DeVall, who worked with the original trust as a recreational program manager applied for and was hired to work for the incoming National Park Service administration. She has since helped implement changes to provide greater public access to the many outdoor recreational opportunities available at the preserve.

If You Go:

From Santa Fe head north on US84/285 to Pojoaque and take State Road 502 to White Rock and then follow State Road 4 up through the mountains and upon emerging into a great, open area look for the entrance to the preserve on your right, further down the road, about 65 miles. Make a round trip of it by continuing on State Road 4 through Jemez Springs and Jemez Pueblo to State Road 550 for a quick drive down to Bernalillo and then back up to Santa Fe on I-25. Great green chile cheeseburgers and cold beer can be had in a classic New Mexico bar, the Los Ojos, in Jemez Springs.

Ice Fishing at Fenton Lake

Fenton Lake in the Jemez Mountains is open for ice fishing this winter.

“It’s been really great,” says Manny Sanchez, manager of Fenton Lake State Park. “We’re well stocked and people are catching plenty of fish.”

The lake hasn’t been open to ice fishing for several years but this year’s winter storms and colder temperatures have produced ice thick enough to safely support anglers, Sanchez says.

The lake has been stocked with thousands of trout in recent weeks and the fishing has been reported good with meal/wax worms, salmon eggs, spoons or other baits and lures jigged off the bottom.

It remains to be seen how long the ice will hold up so it’s best to hit this lake sooner than later. Sanchez thinks the ice which is over a foot thick should last another three weeks or so.

“It’s not busy during the week so that’s a good time to come too,” he says. Weekends have been busy at the popular park that serves outdoor recreation enthusiasts from the Albuquerque, Los Alamos, Espanola and Santa Fe areas. 

To get started all an angler needs is an axe to chip through an already existing hole and a slotted kitchen spoon to keep it clear.

“There’s already hundreds of holes drilled out there,” Sanchez says.

Anglers venturing out onto the ice might want to wear strap-on cleats as it can be very slick going, Sanchez says.

Bring a sturdy plastic bucket to carry your gear in and then sit on. Dress warmly and in layers.

Adam Vigil, 7, of Taos shows how its done at Eagle Nest Lake back in 2008.

Other than that keep the wind at your back, the sun in your face and enjoy the fishing. 

The park has five camp sites with electricity available for $14 a night. Three are first come, first served and two can be reserved through the state parks reservation website at https://newmexicostateparks.reserveamerica.com/.

Anglers with a valid fishing license needn’t pay a $5 day use fee but will have to leave their vehicle in a lot by the park entrance and walk in.

Visit www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SPD/ for more information about New Mexico State Parks including the latest information about conditions or call the park at (575) 829-3630. 

Fishing licenses bait and tackle and groceries can be purchased at Amanda’s country store in La Cueva. Visit www.jemezcentral.com for more information about visiting the area including fishing reports and local businesses. 

Other lakes open to ice fishing in northern New Mexico include Heron and Eagle Nest and Mundo on the Jicarilla Apache reservation. The Albuquerque area drains also provide good winter trout fishing.

Future of State's El Camino Real Museum Remains Uncertain

State officials  will renew their efforts to find a good use for the closed El Camino Real Historic Trail Site in the desert off Interstate 25 between Socorro and Truth or Consequences.

The $10 million, 14-year-old, 20,000-square-foot building sitting on a 120-acre site has been shuttered since late 2016 due state budget cutbacks.

“The remote location didn’t help it any either,” said Patrick Moore, director of New Mexico Historic Sites. “Access was an issue and visitation was low.”

The award winning building housed a museum dedicated to the 1,500-mile Camino Real trade route that ran between Mexico City and Santa Fe.

Spanish conquistador Don Juan Oñate and his army of settlers used the route in 1598 to conquer New Mexico.

Former Governor Bill Richardson’s administration created the museum originally called the El Camino Real International Heritage Center. It was built about a mile and half off the highway with no immediate exit. 

Motorists had to instead exit a few miles down the highway at the Santa Fe Diner where they could double back along the frontage road to a gravel access road just behind a rest area on the highway.

Moore noted that in fiscal year 2016 the historic site cost about $400,000 to operate while only earning about $7,000 from an estimated 1,500 paid visits.

Several years of severe state budget cutbacks under Governor Susana Martinez’s administration eventually forced the closure, he said.

All of the historic items that had been on display at the site have been returned or stored and the building and its adjacent staff housing area remain vacant.

Since the closure the city of Socorro has pursued its own plans to open a museum dedicated to the Camino Real. Those plans include utilizing volunteers that formerly worked at the state’s historic site. 

Moore said he doesn’t expect to see the site’s building and property reopened for its original purpose or put up for sale. A possible use would be having academic institutions use it for teaching, research and conferences.

“We’re going to explore all possibilities,” he said. “It won’t be left in limbo.”

Ambitious Rio Grande Trail Project Moves Ahead

Dona Ana Mountains near Las Cruces

The Rio Grande Trail Commission is scheduled to meet Dec. 20 in Santa Fe to vote on adoption of the Rio Grande Trail Master Plan.

The ambitious plan seeks to create a nearly500-mile long trail system along the Rio Grande corridor to enhance the state’s outdoor recreation industry.

The meeting will begin at 1 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 20 at the State Records Center and Archives’ Piñon Room, 1205 Camino Carlos Rey in Santa Fe. 

The master plan can be reviewed on the state’s Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department’s (EMNRD) website at http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/. Send any comments about the plan to john.busmeyer@state.nm.us.

Commissioners are slated to vote during the upcoming meeting on adoption of a 1.9 mile stretch of existing pedestrian walkway in the city of Elephant Butte to add to the trail.

The additional mileage will join another 87 miles of trails already adopted that are primarily found within many state parks that exist along the route including Elephant Butte Lake, Caballo Lake, Leasburg Dam, Mesilla Valley Bosque, Percha Dam and the Rio Grande Nature Center.

Existing trails along the river in Las Cruces and within the Rio Grande Corridor National Monument in northern New Mexico also have been adopted, said John Busemeyer, a planner with the State Parks Division of EMNRD.

 

The Big River within the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument

The project was launched with bi-partisan legislation and signed by Gov. Susana Martinez in 2015 to create a commission to oversee the project.

The project envisions a nearly contiguous trail system along the Rio Grande Corridor from the Colorado to Texas state lines. The system when finished would include established trails, interpretive signage and camp sites along the way.

The plan seeks to bring together on a voluntary basis many different groups including municipal, county, state, federal and tribal government agencies as well as private landowners.

The long-term project when complete will add another destination for outdoor enthusiasts to hike much like the state’s section of Continental Divide Trail (CDT). The national trail spans 3,100 miles from Mexico to Canada and brings thousands of visitors to the state annually.

Hikers on the Continental Divide Trail at Hopewell Lake in northern New Mexico.  

The CDT provides a rugged, backcountry experience for users, with an emphasis on conservation and self-reliance but the Rio Grande Trail will offer a more accessible way for people to explore the state, with less challenging terrain, closer proximity to cities, and developed amenities, according to the Rio Grande Trail Master Plan.

New Mexico’s outdoor recreational industry includes hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, sightseeing, bird watching, golfing, skiing, mountain biking, horseback riding, motorized off-roading and other outside activities.

The industry brings in about $10 billion in consumer spending each year, supports close to 100,000 jobs across the state and generates almost $3 billion in payroll while providing more than $600 million in taxes to government coffers, according to reports from the national outdoor industry association. 

For more information about the Rio Grande Trail please visit www.riograndetrailnm.com.

See where N.M. candidates for governor stand on key outdoor issues.

With over 40 percent of New Mexico’s land in public hands, great weather and friendly people, the state has long been an outdoor recreation mecca.

The state’s outdoor recreational industry brings in about $10 billion in consumer spending each year accounting for an estimated 10 percent of the state’s gross domestic product, according to the most recent academic and business studies.

The industry supports close to 100,000 jobs across the state and generates almost $3 billion in payroll while providing more than $600 million in taxes to government coffers. 

The state Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF) issued more than 250,000 licenses to resident anglers in 2017 and another 185,000 licenses went to non-residents, according to agency statistics.

 

The fly fishing industry on the San Juan River at Navajo Dam alone produces up to $30 million in business every year while anglers spent about a total of $268 million statewide, according to department reports.

New Mexico’s hunters bought about 115,000 licenses from the department in 2017 while another 87,000 went to out-of-state hunters.  Hunting accounts for an estimated $342 million in direct spending, according to department reports.

Hiking, camping, sightseeing, bird watching, golfing, skiing, mountain biking, horseback riding, motorized off-roading and other activities also contribute greatly to the state’s $10 billion outdoor recreational economy.

Outdoor enthusiasts represent a large constituency of New Mexico voters and with that in mind we ask the candidates for governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham and Steve Pearce, both state lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives, to share with our readers their views about some outdoor recreational issues. 

What outdoor recreational activities do you enjoy and when and where was the last time you did so?

Michelle Lujan Grisham

Lujan-Grisham:

As a 12th generation New Mexican and lifelong resident of this state, I’ve been privileged to benefit from our beautiful lands and natural resources. I hike, bike, fish, and ride horseback across New Mexico. I went fly fishing and hiked in the Valles Calderas this past weekend, recently horseback riding in Canjillon at the Carson National Forest, and cycled at White Sands National Monument and El Malpais National monument as part of our campaign’s 33 county Jobs and Leadership Tour last month.

Steve Pearce

Pearce:

Hunting, fishing, and hiking. I take every opportunity I can to enjoy our beautiful state. In line with keeping up with both a Congressional schedule and a campaign schedule, I especially try to find any opportunity afforded me to get outside and hike. Most recently I spent a few hours in the Organ Mountains. As for hunting, I took my granddaughter on her first turkey hunt in Lincoln County last season. Unfortunately, I have not had the time to hunt yet this year but I'm looking forward to getting back out there after the election. 

Where do you stand regarding commercial wildlife trapping on public lands?

 Lujan-Grisham:

Our land and wildlife management should work to maintain existing ecosystems and promote animal welfare. While there are specific instances where individual animals are causing serious and possibly life or property-threatening damage or depredation, New Mexico should commit itself to implementing a science-driven, 21st century wildlife stewardship model that reduces the potential to indiscriminately catch, maim or kill wildlife and domestic pets.

Pearce:

I support limited and regulated trapping on public lands, including commercial trapping when it serves State Game and Fish management interest. New Mexico is home to a diverse and unique culture and heritage. We must find the correct balance of protecting the outdoors and our species, as well as our citizens ability to hunt and trap.

Do you support or oppose changing the law requiring euthanization for rabies testing of wildlife involved in attacks upon humans such as the case involving the Valles Caldera trail runner?

 Lujan-Grisham:

I would support a study within the Department of Game and Fish to examine the impact of and alternatives to the current law, which requires euthanasia in all circumstances when a human is attacked. We ought to look at possible alternative methods for testing for and assessment of rabies risk, while ensuring that the Department of Game and Fish and its staff continue to prioritize keeping people safe from harm.

Pearce:

Oppose, at this point. I would work with the Department of Health, Game and Fish, and the State legislature to update the law, should it be necessary in the future.

What is your position on recent proposals to merge the state Department of Game and Fish and the State Parks Division to maximize resources and improve services?

 Lujan-Grisham:

In recent years we’ve seen legislation and proposals that would expand and/or alter the scope of operations for NMDGF, or merge it with other agencies.

 I support the study of proposals like merging the department with the State Parks Division that could potentially help to ensure adequate resources for the management of non-game species currently under the purview of NMDGF, create efficiencies,  Any such change must be conducted with careful preparation and analysis to ensure that there are no discontinuities in important services and that that funding is available for all aspects of service. I will work to evaluate this change, solicit public and stakeholder input, and ensure any such change is coupled with adequate funding for the department to meet its goals.

Pearce:

I oppose this proposal. These entities have two unique and vital missions to the success and health of New Mexico’s natural beauty. As they currently stand, they have the resources necessary to complete their missions successfully. As Governor, I will ensure they also have the proper management to continue on the progress and positive impact they are making on our State.

What do you think of the idea of creating a state office or agency to support and promote outdoor recreation in New Mexico?

 Lujan-Grisham:

I believe that a creating state office of outdoor recreation, done the right way, is a clear step in the right direction to promoting and expanding this growing industry. This $10 billion dollar economy is one of New Mexico’s strongest growth opportunities. In forming this office we should bring together stakeholders from industry, local businesses, outfitters, conservation groups, federal agencies, and those engaged in outdoor recreation to chart the best path forward as we look to coordinate and leverage the incredible resources our state has to offer. I will support key performance measures for the office in terms of economic growth, conservation, and enhancements to our outdoor recreation infrastructure.

 Steve Pearce:

I believe it is a premature decision. Game and Fish, State Parks, Forestry, and Tourism all have a role and responsibility to play in providing the best experience possible for New Mexicans and visitors alike. I will work as Governor to ensure they have the management and coordination to continue expanding opportunity and protecting access to our public lands. The State has the proper resources in place to promote our beauty - it needs to focus on coordination and action over the creation of more bureaucracy.  

For more news and information please see the Albuquerque Journal's election guide at https://www.abqjournal.com/election2018.