#Las Cruces BLM

[tpeckarsky]

Your Moon, Your Mountains

I wanted to make a quilt for my newlywed friends. Here is their request:

We would love a quilt made by you! One of the things I’ve been loving most about our house is seeing the moon come up over the mountains and the stars out so clearly. I think a quilt along that theme would be so wonderful. I lean more towards cooler colors—blues, greens, blacks, and whites, but don’t let that hold back your inspiration.

So I made the “Your Moon, Your Mountains” quilt: Since my friends live in New Mexico, my inspiration was the Organ Mountains--Desert Peaks National Monument, captured in a Bureau of Land Management photo by Patrick Alexander, Las Cruces District Botanist.

Nick is from Australia, so I backed the quilt with a gorgeous aboriginal print fabric, which certainly evokes a star-studded sky.

The whole design was a surprise, and they loved it. The craziest thing was hearing Sarah say, “I know the photographer!” because of her connection with the BLM. Who knew?!? It was one of my most rewarding projects.

[valhikes]

Las Cruces District BLM, New Mexico.

It was raining in the morning, but I shouted "Hurumph!" at the world and headed out anyway. It was still raining as I started, but it finished up after a while. The wind didn't finish up for a long while more. Had I let the weather turn me away, I'd have missed these pillared hills and the grand view from the top of Coyote Peak.

[wanderingwarrens]

Southwest Wanderings  Jan/Feb 2021

On our fall adventure, we were enjoying it so much, we planned our winter getaway. The 18th of January, we traveled to Arizona and New Mexico for three and a half weeks. We set out to explore and visit our beautiful National Parks.

Having lived in California all her life, Becky has been close to but not visited Joshua Tree National Park. We drove through the park and saw some impressive rock formations and a variety of cacti.

Quartzite was our next stop. We camped on BLM land out in the desert. The “Big Tent” was set up for all the RV’ers. We had fun exploring the desert and relaxing. Played some corn hole and lots of cards. LOTS of cards! (don’t worry Rod, we won’t include a picture of the final score sheet)

Thinking we were going to head north and go to the Grand Canyon next, we had to change plans. Watching the weather, it made more sense to go the southern route and come back the northern route. We stopped outside of Phoenix for a few days. It would have been great to be in the area during late February, early March to see some of the MLB spring training. We did get to go see Chase Field, American Family Fields and Goodyear Ballpark.

Rod has wanted to experience Waffle House, so we made sure to stop at the first one we came to. Of course, it was yummy!

Saguaro National Park is outside of Tucson. It actually is in two parts and surrounds the city. We went there and were so impressed that a park full of cacti could be so beautiful in January! We took a nice trail up to a viewpoint and then followed a loop road around the park. Another gem we did not expect to find!

Joe and Rod visited the Pima Air and Space Museum. It’s the largest non-government funded aviation and space museum in the world. It has over 400 historic aircraft and sits on eighty acres. They sure enjoyed their time there.

Tombstone Arizona is a historic town close to Tucson. It is best known as the site of the gunfight at the O.K. Corral. We were able to see a fun and well done reenactment of the gunfight and go into a few of the shops in town.

From Tucson, we went to Las Cruces, New Mexico. It was fun exploring the area. We drove up to the town of Hatch, which is the Chile Capital of the World. Found some good salsa and hot sauce there.

White Sands National Park was amazing. It is 275 square miles of white sand dunes composed of gypsum crystals out in the desert. The dune field is the largest of its kind on earth.

Carlsbad, New Mexico was our next stop, as we were able to travel to two National Parks from there. Roswell, New Mexico is close by, and the KOA we stayed at had a fun photo op.

Rod and Becky enjoyed riding out a rough dirt rode to a lake.

We went just over the state line into Texas to go to Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Guadalupe Peak is the highest point in Texas at 8,749 feet. It’s mostly a destination for hikers and since we aren’t big hikers,we enjoyed our time touring the Frijole Ranch.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park was nothing like I expected. I thought it was a small cavern that you walked down into. I had no idea I would be taking a elevator 750 feet down into the earth. In the cavern, there is a large limestone chamber called the Big Room. It;s 4000 feet long, 625 feet wide and 255 feet high. It’s the largest chamber in the U.S. and the thirty-first largest in the world. It was beyond impressive! 

Roswell, New Mexico is always a fun town to go to. The International UFO Museum and Research Center is very well done and has a lot of interesting displays. The whole town is in on the alien theme.

We visited the Petroglyph National Monument while staying in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A lot of the museums and gift shops are closed in New Mexico, but we were able to get some information outside of the visitor center there. Petroglyphs are designs and symbols carved into volcanic rocks by Native Americans and Spanish settlers 400 to 700 years ago. We took a short hike on the Mesa Point Trail. Very windy but great views!

We traveled back into Arizona on Interstate 40 and stopped at Petrified Forest National Park. The northern part of the park extends into the Painted Desert. We assumed, being from northern California, it was going to be green and foresty, but the forest is no longer and the trees have petrified. The area is known for its fossilized trees and colorful desert landscapes. The park has the largest concentration of petrified wood in the world.

Of course, traveling on Interstate 40, you have to stop and be “standing on the corner in Winslow, Arizona”. Yes, it was such a fun site to see.

Outside of Winslow, we stopped at the Meteor Crater and Barringer Space Museum. We were all shocked to see how big it was! The crater is about 4000 feet in diameter and about 600 feet deep which rises about 200 feet above the plain. The museum had excellent displays, a simulation space ride and there were many overlooks at the crater.

Flagstaff was a nice area to stay a few days. Had some down time, did some shopping, and of course played cards. Lots of cards! We traveled to Sedona for the day.

Our next stop was Williams, Arizona. We stayed at the Grand Canyon Railway RV park there. Rod and Denise had never been to the Grand Canyon before. We had perfect weather to visit the park for the day and there were no crowds.

Just before we got back into California, we went to Lake Havasu. We had never been there before. It was a great place to see, especially the London Bridge. Though the best part of that stay is when Becky and Rod tracked down their cousin Lori, and surprised her at her home. We hadn’t seen her for probably almost 50 years! Wish we had taken pictures! Next time! Soon!

We boondocked on BLM property just north of Lake Havasu City and had beautiful sunrise views.

On our way back, we stayed in Kingsburg, CA at the Kingsburg RV Resort. Nice RV park and great place to stay not to far from home.

Jeep is hooked up and we’re heading home!

So happy that we could get out and wander again. So good for the soul! Thanks for following our wanderings! Love, Joe and Becky

[drippingspringsguide]

Free Family Guide in Dripping Springs

Fun Things to Do in Dripping Springs with Kids: Family-friendly activities and fun things to do. See Tripadvisor's 1,897 traveler reviews and photos of kid friendly Dripping Springs attractions! Guide To Dripping Springs - Austin Moms austinmoms.com/2019/07/12/guide-to-dripping-springs Dripping Springs exudes a small-town country feel while still being located less than 30 minutes from Downtown! Dripping Springs is exploding by the minute with new housing communities, new restaurants and new retail spaces. The vibe of the city provides a sense of community and a strong family focus.

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Dripping Springs Natural Area | Bureau of Land Management

www.blm.gov/visit/dripping-springs-natural-area The Dripping Springs Natural Area has a visitor center, handicapped-accessible restrooms, 12 picnic sites, and one large family/group picnic site that can be reserved through the BLM Las Cruces District Office (see Contact Information on the right). There is no camping and pets are allowed only on designated trails.

Dripping Springs | Premier Family Physicians

www.pfpdocs.com/dripping-springs Dr. Sharman has cared for the medical needs of the Dripping Springs community since 2001. Just like the community, our team is growing. We are excited to have Dr. Amjadi and Dr. Bobb join our care team! Premier Family Physicians is a full-service clinic that provides prompt and courteous care for the whole family.

Dripping Springs ISD / Homepage

www.dsisdtx.us Dripping Springs High School students performed extremely well on Advanced Placement (AP) exams administered in the Spring, according to a report from the College Board, with many students honored as AP Scholars at various levels.

Dripping Springs Family Counseling Therapist

www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/family-counseling/tx/dripping-springs Find Family Counseling Therapists, Psychologists and Family Counseling in Dripping Springs, Hays County, Texas, get help for Family Counseling in Dripping Springs.

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www.yellowpages.com/dripping-springs-tx/family-medicine-general-practice Dripping Springs Family Clinic. Physicians & Surgeons, Family Medicine & General Practice Speech-Language Pathologists Physicians & Surgeons, Public Health. Website (512) 858-4166. 104 W Mercer St. Dripping Springs, TX 78620. 3. Cameron Maxwell Kielhorn, DO.

Kids Places Dripping Springs TX 78620

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Dripping Springs Family Clinic in Dripping Springs, TX

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10 TOP Things to Do in Dripping Springs

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Home - Focus on the Family

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Community Services - Dripping Springs ISD / Homepage

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About Dripping Springs

www.destinationdrippingsprings.com/p/aboutus/aboutdrippingsprings Dripping Springs is well-known as the "Gateway to the Hill Country." Located just 25 minutes west of Austin, Dripping Springs is home to spectacular natural wonders, historic treasures, unique shopping, eclectic live music venues, exciting rodeos, a plethora of wineries, craft breweries and local distilleries and legendary hospitality.

Dripping Springs Real Estate - Dripping Springs TX Homes!

www.zillow.com/dripping-springs-tx What are the most popular housing types in Dripping Springs, TX? The substantial percentage of single detached homes in the housing stock of Dripping Springs is an important part of its character. Roughly 40% of properties in this city were constructed after the year 2000, while most of the remaining buildings were built in the 1960s and the 1980s.

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Dripping Springs Resort - Visit Estes Park

[mypubliclands]

Women’s History Month: Evelyn Trieman & Jennifer Montoya

March is Women’s History Month, and throughout the month, we’ll be highlighting some notable women in BLM. Every day, the women of the Bureau of Land Management help the agency make history and fulfill our multiple-use mission.

In honor of Women’s History Month, the BLM congratulates two employees who were recently recognized for their efforts in public land conservation.

Evelyn Treiman and Jennifer Montoya, employees with the Bureau of Land Management in Las Cruces, New Mexico, were recently honored by the Wilderness Society as recipients of the 2018 Comparative Analysis of Particular Excellence (CAPE) Award. It recognizes BLM staff and offices who are leading the effort to conserve and protect the many values of public lands. Treiman, an Outdoor Recreation Planner, and Montoya, an Environmental Specialist, were recognized for their “Lands with Wilderness Characteristics” (LWC) work on public land in Otero, Sierra and Doña Ana counties.

The LWC update was part of the land use planning for the TriCounty Resource Management Plan (RMP). Its objective was to assess public lands within the planning area in order to determine whether wilderness characteristics are present outside of existing wilderness study areas (WSAs). These characteristics include size (at least 5,000 acres), naturalness, outstanding opportunities for solitude or primitive and unconfined recreation and supplemental values.

As the planning lead for the TriCounty RMP, Montoya assisted Treiman with the LWC data analysis. She coordinated the District management review and recommendation process and posted the “Wilderness Characteristic Inventory” report on eplanning, using the data in the RMP Supplement. The two-year LWC inventory update consisted primarily of field work with some additional office consultation and documentation, including a review of the 1979 New Mexico Wilderness Review Summary and the 1980 BLM New Mexico WSA Decisions. It also included verifying and updating the Geographic Information System (GIS) layers and maps for accuracy.

Altogether, the team inventoried more than 1.3 million acres of public land, evaluated 1,054 routes and ultimately identified 102 areas with wilderness characteristics within the RMP planning area. The total inventory also included 1,715 photos and 465 maps to support the evaluations.

The BLM congratulates Evelyn Treiman, Jennifer Montoya and their dedicated team who contributed to the success of this review. 

[rvanihilism]

1/26: overnight a blizzard started at Aguirre Springs and it snowed through most of the next day. the roads were pretty impassable and people were sliding around so we called the BLM office and they said “hey this is Las Cruces New Mexico so we don’t really ‘scrape’ the roads up there”.... we wound up staying an extra night or two! very beautiful, fortunately.

[spiceontheroad]

Still in New Mexico near Las Cruces. On BLM land called Organ mountain trail. Many coyotes yelps at dusk and dawn.

Organ mountains are not named after human organs but pipes on the back of an music organ.

[redhiredjobs]

New Job Opening in United States :

Applicants must pass a Department Of Interior security background check and should possess a valid driver’s license with a clean driving record.

- March 28, 2020 at 12:44PM

[valhikes]

Las Cruces BLM, New Mexico.

Went along the CDT for a bit, then up and around a bunch of mountains. Accidentally found some old routes of the CDT. It's been moving around a bit. Found some little peaks too.

[mystlnewsonline]

Bureau of Land Management News: BLM issues final environmental impact statement for the Copper Flat Copper Mine

Bureau of Land Management News: BLM issues final environmental impact statement for the Copper Flat Copper Mine

LAS CRUCES, NM (STL.News) – The Bureau of Land ManagementFriday released the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Copper Flat Copper Mine. This document analyzes the potential environmental effects from the proposed Copper Flat Mine in Sierra County, New Mexico, and recommends potential mitigation measures. The Federal Register publication of the Notice of Availability begins a…

[carygarman980]

Just Park It: FREE and Off Grid in Las Cruces

On our late fall tiny house road trip through southern New Mexico, it felt like spring. Warm, sunny days and cool nights. We discovered an enchanting free boondocking site on the outskirts of Las Cruces. For four days, our backyard was the rugged Organ Mountains. Specifically, we were parked in a Baylor Canyon BLM dispersed […]

[mypubliclands]

Bioblitz joins BLM and citizen scientists in the Organ Mountains

The Bureau of Land Management Las Cruces District recently sponsored its first Bioblitz at the Dripping Springs Natural Area, attracting volunteers from the surrounding communities to learn about the biodiversity of the Organ Mountains. The Natural Area is part of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument and is a popular site and great source for science.

With the help of 114 citizen scientists, the BLM recorded over 130 species of plants, lizards, moths, butterflies, bats, birds and small mammals, despite the uncharacteristically cold spring day.

During the bird hikes, citizen scientists recorded 26 species of birds that are commonly seen in the area. During the process of banding birds, the team was able to record migrant birds that are not easy to see or hear. Such birds typically will not sing since they are not in their breeding grounds. Plus, they travel long distances, so the birds try to conserve their energy, only stopping to feed quickly and continue on their journey. Two of the birds recorded were the gray flycatcher (Empidonax wrightii) and the orange-crowned warbler (Oreothlypis celata).

The migration route of the two species passes through southern New Mexico, but they are more frequently found in riparian areas near the Rio Grande instead of the mountains. The gray flycatcher is especially rare. According to citizen scientist records, the last gray flycatcher sighted at the natural area was in September 2016. However, there have been other sightings in the northern portion of the Organ Mountains (the Natural Area is nestled at their base). Elsewhere in the mountains, the last sighting was in September 2017. The first record of a gray flycatcher was in October 2006. Since then, there have been only 28 sightings.

For the Bioblitz bat program, a BLM expert conducted acoustic monitoring of the bats using a SonoBat program on her Microsoft Surface tablet and a Pettersson M500 microphone. There are some limitations to this surveying method since some bat species have a lower detection rate than others, and it is difficult to quantify abundance. This method is better served to determine species composition. The upsides to it, though, are that no permit is required and it is not invasive. This has been of special concern recently since the emergence of white-nosed syndrome, as catching bats in mist nets can further spread the fungus that causes the devastating disease.

Citizen science opens the doors of scientific inquiry to anyone who has an interest. Anyone can make a meaningful contribution to science, regardless of their expertise. At this event, while the highest number of observations was made by a BLM botanist; the second highest was made by a 6th grader!

At the end of the event, everyone who volunteered came away with a sense of accomplishment and the affirmation there is so much more life in the Chihuahuan Desert and our local mountains than they realized. All they had to do was look for it.

From this Bioblitz and future ones, the BLM will be able to generate a list of flora and fauna to help the agency make management decisions and educate visitors. The BLM is also teaming up with a local geographer and poet to convert its biodiversity inventory into a “poetic inventory,” connecting art to science in order to provide a different perspective on the natural environment.

Story by Daniella Barraza, Bureau of Land Management. Photos courtesy of Christina Selby.

[laaventuramexicana]

Road Trip Day 2

Today was everything you hope a road trip will be. Unexpected discoveries, beautiful weather, easy driving, slap-happy jokes, and a remarkably calm dog in the back of your car. We began our morning on route 66, stopping at an simple but friendly diner called Annie’s. Next we made our way to White Sand Dunes National Monument. These babies are gorgeous. Reminded us of the Great Sand Dunes of Colorado, except snow white. The sand is also much wetter; there is water coursing underneath, and if you dig just a couple of inches down from the top, the sand is cool and damp, reminiscent of being at the beach. Luna had a blast, but was overheating a bit and began digging sand pits underneath rough brush. After a couple hours at the park, we were back on the road and driving to Las Cruces. On the drive you are treated to the gorgeous and dramatic Organ mountain range. We sought out Dripping Springs BLM, where we took a 2.5 mile hike and admired the climbing areas. We spoke with a climber on the trail who said there is some really great granite climbing, including a 10 pitch-ish grade 5.6 route (sounds like my kind of climbing). Obviously we have to come back! Finally we had “Mexican hot dogs” for dinner at Andele’s Dog House. We were charmed to find these things because we recently attended a house party where the two New Mexican hosts fed us Mexican hot dogs--hot dogs wrapped in bacon, cooked, then smothered in a wide variety of toppings including the typical Ketchup and mustard, but also baked beans, jalapeños, salsa, cooked and raw onion, and cheese. YUM. To top it off and ensure we gain at least 5 pounds just on the road trip down, the 24oz beer is only $.50 more than the 16 oz beer, so, the choice is obvious. Now the icing on the cake. When we arrived at our hotel, we encountered our neighbor with a beautiful collie (think Lassie) standing in a common space near our door. We let Luna hop out of the car since our door was right there. She immediately shouted “Get your dog on a leash!” As Luna made an initial approah to say hi to the Collie, the owner yelled “GET BACK. STOP. IT’S THE LAW TO HAVE YOUR DOG ON A LEASH!” We sheepishly apologized but as I walked into the room I was singing “It’s the law, It’s the law!” The reason this is so hilarious is Bernardo and his brother, who are Mexican, were tickled to death on their road trip through the US (some 15 years ago) by all of the signs demanding people do something and emphasizing “It’s the law”. Buckle up, It’s the LAW. No drinking and driving. It’s the LAW. Well, this was our last chance for someone to tell us about the law before crossing into Mexico tomorrow morning, so thank you neighbor.

PS. I took a picture of her license plate in case she decides to deflate my tires or something. As I did, I noticed her bumper stickers: “Wag more, Bark Less”, and “Dogs are people too.” Do people belong on leashes? I’m sure I’ll have an entire post about the stupidity of always having a dog on a leash. Trained dogs are much, much better behaved off leash than on. But that is for another day. 

Abrazos y besos!

[andyshikingblog]

Organ Needle Summit Trek

Rated toughest hike in New Mexico by the BLM

Skill Level: Intermidate to Advanced

(Short 3rd Class scramble before summit)

Trailhead coodinates begin:  32°20'7.72"N 106°35'50.26"W

GPS track: RK_kml _2016-12-04_0811

WHere: Organ Mountains Desert Peaks New Mexico

Distance:4 miles

Elevation: 8090 ft Gain: 4000ft

Time to Complete: 6-10hrs

What to Bring: 3 Litres water - Grippy shoes - 10 essentials

Directions from Las Cruces

Hike from La Cueva trail head staying to the left till you reach CHECKPOINTt01

32°20'8.64" N 106°35'20.05"W

The orange markers will guide U... follow them.

CHECKPOINT02 keep to the right along the arroyo

32°20'25.12"N 106°34'41.32"W

Stay on the trail till you get to the yellow rock... Cant miss it

32°20'29.49"N 106°34'26.94"W

Less brush as you gain altitude. trail has been maintained well and is easy to see.

Juniper Saddle

This is usually the halfway rest point for most hikers.

32°20'38.90"N 106°34'1.93"W

Follow the orange markers, then walk up the dry waterfall.

32°20'40.80"N 106°33'57.23"W

If you followed the markers you will be in Dark Canyon. keep heading up...

Looking west, getting close. Keep left heading to the east side of the pass.

Short climb then a left to the summit

[valhikes]

Las Cruces District BLM, New Mexico.

One last bit of peakbagging in the desert before heading for cooler climates to the north. Got to explore a little wilderness study area while I did it.

[valhikes]

Las Cruces District BLM, New Mexico.

I wanted to get both Pyramid peaks, so I decided on an approach and took on South Pyramid. To fill the rest of the day, I chose Lightning Dock to go with it although many were available.