Recreation

This Weekend At Pajarito: Feb. 20-22

February 20, 2015 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

SKI News:

Pajarito Mountain Ski Area will be open today through Monday (and every Friday through Monday for the rest of the season).

Snow is in the forecast for this weekend and it looks like it could reach several inches.

What’s Open This Weekend:

Hours:

Ticket office, rental shop and restaurant will be open at 8 a.m.;

Mountain will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and

Restaurant will be open for breakfast and lunch.

Mountain News:

Note: For updated trail conditions/counts, lift openings, etc., click here.

Friday we will have the Aspen,

Southwest Jemez Mountains Collaborative Hosts All-Hands Meeting March 12-13

February 19, 2015 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

SWJM News:

SANTA FE – The Southwest Jemez Mountains (SWJM) Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Project (CFLRP) will present an implementation and monitoring project update Thursday and Friday, March 12-13 at the Santa Fe Community College, Jemez Rooms in Santa Fe.

Thursday’s presentations are scheduled 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will focus on project achievements and monitoring results. The Friday session is 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and will focus on collaborative learning with discussions on future restoration projects and adaptive management. An agenda, campus map and directions Read More

Santa Fe National Forest Announces Changes To Cuba Ranger District Camping Areas

February 19, 2015 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

SFNF News:

SANTA FE – The Santa Fe National Forest today announced administrative changes to three of the most popular camping areas on the Cuba Ranger District.

The changes will be implemented immediately:

Clear Creek and Rio De Las Vacas campgrounds are now available for reservations through the Reserve America reservation system. Visit the links above or call 1.877.444.6777 for availability. There will still be alternate camp sites available on a first-come, first-served “walk-in” basis.
Travel Management has been implemented in the Church Meadows dispersed

Bandelier: Tsankawi Comment Period Extended

February 18, 2015 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Part of the trail in the Tsankawi section of Bandelier. Courtesy/NPS

BANDELIER News:

Bandelier National Monument Superintendent Jason Lott announced today that the public review period for the Tsankawi Unit Management Plan and Environmental Assessment has been extended through March 16, 2015.

The plan and environmental assessment evaluate a range of alternatives to improve resource protection, address safety concerns, and enhance visitor opportunities at the Tsankawi section of Bandelier. Three alternatives were developed based on the results Read More

Heinrich Appointed Ranking Member Of National Parks Subcommittee

February 14, 2015 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., was appointed Thursday as the ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on National Parks. Heinrich also will serve on the Energy and Public Lands, Forests, and Mining Subcommittees.

“America’s public lands are part of the fabric of our democracy. In New Mexico, our way of life depends on the region’s land and water, and outdoor recreation contributes enormously to our economy,” Heinrich said. “Through my position Read More

Craig Martin Launches Los Alamos County Open Space & Trails Facebook Page

February 14, 2015 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Double the joy. Photo by Craig Martin

The narrows of Rendija Canyon–the Crack–are a great place to travel through any time of year. Don’t know where it is? You can find information on this trip and others in the Bayo Canyon Trailhead brochure here. Photo by Craig Martin

COUNTY News:

Los Alamos County Open Space Specialist Craig Martin has launched a new County Facebook page for avid hiking, mountain biking and trail-lovin’ folks.

It’s called Los Alamos County Open Space & Trails. Check it out here.

Find photos of the trails and open space views on the page as Martin works Read More

Valles Caldera Honors Presidents Day With Free Activities All Weekend

February 13, 2015 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Winter on the Valles. Courtesy/VCNT

VCNT News:

JEMEZ SPRINGS — Free hiking, snowshoeing and cross country skiing will be offered to visitors of the Valles Caldera National Preserve this weekend in honor of Presidents Day.

Beginning Friday and running through Monday, Presidents Day, all day use permit fees will be waived for listed activities. Equipment rental and guided events fees will remain.

If snow cover permits, visitors will enjoy access to miles of groomed trails or be able to blaze their own trail over the 5,000 acres of the Valle Grande. The Valle Grande trail, Coyote Call trail and Read More

Los Alamos Golf Course Opens Saturday

February 13, 2015 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Los Alamos County Golf Course. Courtesy/LAC

By DONNIE TORRES

Los Alamos Golf Pro

With the mild weather we’ve experienced over most of the winter and with most of the snow currently gone from the course we are planning to open this Saturday.

Golf shop hours will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with our first tee time at 10 a.m. We’ll close the range at 3:45 p.m.

Because we are still in mid-winter, the following restrictions will be in place. Those that use carts will be restricted to paths, sorry but those that usually use a flag to access the fairways to reach their ball will also be restricted to the cart paths.

Deadline For Special Use Authorization On Santa Fe National Forest Feb. 15

February 12, 2015 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

SFNF News:

SANTA FE – The Santa Fe National Forest will implement a key change to the process of obtaining a Special Use Authorization.

Starting this year, the Santa Fe National Forest will require all proposals for outfitter and guide services for the year to be submitted no later than Sunday. Proposals received after that date will not be accepted for this calendar year. This date coincides with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish deadline for inclusion in the outfitter pool for state license tag drawings without penalty.

A Special Use Authorization is required when any use or activity Read More

Celebrate The Seasons At Fire And Ice Restoration Festival

February 11, 2015 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

SW Jemez Mnts Landscape Restoration Project. Courtesy/SFNF

SFNF News:

SANTA FE – The Santa Fe National Forest’s Jemez Ranger District and the Village of Jemez Springs will host the Fire and Ice Restoration Festival 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Feb. 28 at the Father Fitzgerald Park in Jemez Springs.

This free community event will feature educational booths and presentations that highlight the 210,000-acre Southwest Jemez Mountains Landscape Restoration Project. Special guests include Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl.

Activities scheduled throughout the day include a chain saw carving Read More