Recreation

Efforts to Designate Columbine-Hondo as Wilderness Continue

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Courtesy/Jan Studebaker

STATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Wednesday, during a Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing, U.S. Senators Tom Udall, D-N.M., and Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., who serves on the committee, continued their effort to designate the 45,000-acre Columbine-Hondo area in Taos County as wilderness.

Udall and Heinrich introduced the proposal, S. 776, the Columbine-Hondo Wilderness Act, earlier this year. A companion bill, H.R. 1683, was introduced in the House by Representative Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.-03).

The legislation would expand the Wheeler Read More

National Forest Christmas Tree Cutting Permits Begin Nov. 25

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Courtesy/USDA

USFS News:

Santa Fe National Forest offices and various vendors in Los Alamos, Santa Fe, Pecos, and Las Vegas will begin selling Christmas Tree cutting permits Nov. 25.

Trees may be cut between Nov.25 and Dec. 24. If you plan to cut your tree on Thanksgiving Day, please purchase your permit ahead of time, because all Forest Service offices will be closed Thanksgiving Day.

Cost is $10 per tree (up to 10 feet). For trees taller than 10 feet, an additional permit must be purchased. The tags are also good to dig up a living tree.

For Christmas tree maps, guidelines, Forest Service and vendor Read More

Holiday Events in Taos

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Staff Report

TAOS—Many people are opting to reduce stress associated with the holidays and spend them at a new destination such as Taos, New Mexico especially with the Town’s unique “Yuletide in Taos” events taking place Nov. 29–Dec. 31.

Taos was named one of Yahoo’s! top five “Best Destinations for Your Christmas Vacation” in the U.S. (November 2013) and one of Travel and Leisure’s top picks for “Best Places to Spend Christmas” (October 2013).

Beginning Nov. 23, shoppers can start their holiday shopping while saving on sales tax with tax free shopping at participating downtown stores. Tax Read More

Free Days and Christmas Tree Sales Highlight Valles Caldera’s Winter Calendar

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Snowshoeing on the Valles Caldera. Courtesy/VCNP

Horse-drawn sleigh and wagon rides offer visitors an hour long excursion through the Valles Caldera’s winter landscape. Courtesy/VCNP

VCNP News:

Jemez Springs – Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and sleigh rides highlight a full calendar of activities and events at the Valles Caldera National Preserve this winter. In addition, two free trail access days will be offered. Dogs are permitted on the K9 Trail and non-groomed areas.

Winter hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at the Valle Grande Staging Area. The Preserve Read More

North Pole Workshop/Luminaria Walk Dec. 6

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COUNTY News:

Start an annual holiday tradition at the North Mesa stables. Dress warmly, wear your walking shoes, and enjoy the North Mesa Stables lit up with luminarias and holiday lights. Afterwards join us at the Posse Lodge for professional digital photographs with Santa and his elves, warm drinks, light refreshments and a holiday craft.

Join us 5-7 p.m. Friday Dec. 6 at the Posse Lodge. The event is free! Photos with Santa will be a $5 donation to benefit the recreation Scholarship fund.

For more information about “North Pole Workshop,” visit the website at https:////www.losalamosnm.us/rec Read More

NPS Names Intermountain Regional Director

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Sue Masica will lead one of seven National Park Service regions. Courtesy/NPS

NPS News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis has named Sue Masica as the Service’s Intermountain regional director, responsible for leading 6,000 employees and 91 national parks visited by more than 42 million people annually. Masica, who serves as the Alaska regional director, assumes her new position in Denver in January.

 “Sue has an incredible track record of tackling tough issues and finding innovative solutions,” Jarvis said. “Results-oriented and goal-driven, Read More

Valles Caldera Modifies Hunt Lotteries

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VCNP News:

  • New Format Expected to Boost Participant Numbers

JEMEZ SPRINGS – The Valles Caldera Trust has made dramatic changes to its elk and turkey hunt lotteries, which are expected to deepen the pool of applicants during these difficult economic times.

The Trust will combine a reduction in lottery application fees with a one ticket per hunt code purchase limit to attract more participants. The Trust will also eliminate multiple-ticket discount purchases. The changes are effective immediately and will apply to the 2014 hunting seasons.

“In the past, every ticket had an equal chance Read More

Bustos, Clark and Ferreria Strike Gold for Los Alamos School of Gymnastics

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Suyana Ferreira earning the gold on paralell bars. Phoro by Laura Trader

Ashley Bustos earns silver on the balance beam. Photo by Loui Janecky

LASG News:

Ashley Bustos, Anna Clark and Suyana Ferreria of Los Alamos School of Gymnastics placed first in the all-around competition in their divisions at a meet Nov. 2 in Rio Rancho. The gymnasts brought home 19 medals for their team.

Twenty-two Atomic Tumblers attended the meet in Rio Rancho, eight gymnasts competed in the USA Gymnastics Junior Olympic (JO) Program, six in the USA Gymnastics Xcel Program, and four gymnasts, Anna Clark, Suyana Ferreria, Read More

PEEC Amateur Naturalist: Taking Flight

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Jorge Ayarza from Colombia is teaching students about catching and handling birds with mist nets. Here the students are having a hands-on experience with the soft bags that are used to safely transport birds from the nets to the data collection area. Photo by Stephen Fettig
 
Maria del Pilar González Barroso from Mexico and Diego Alejandro Cueva from Colombia view a Townsend’s Warbler just before releasing it back into the wild. Photo by Stephen Fettig
 
PEEC Amateur Naturalist: Taking Flight
By ROBERT DRYLA

Particular thanks to Bandelier National Monument, Stephen Fettig, and Read More

Pajarito Mountain Freeride Team Holds Recruitment Night

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Pajarito Mountain Freeride Team. Courtesy photo

PMFT News:

The Pajarito Mountain Freeride Team will have a Recruitment/Registration Night at 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17 at Pajarito Mountain Lodge. Learn more about the team and sign up if you’re ready.

The group will watch the team movie from last season, so everyone can see what the team is all about. The team will then answer any questions. If you decide you want to join the team, there will be an opportunity to go over the Team Handbook, sign all of the necessary forms, and pay this year’s tuition. The price went down this year. It is $400 ($200 for Read More