Latest Newsletter - November/December2009 issue of the Rio Grande Sierran is online. (pdf 2.4Mb - opens in new window or tab).

 

Northern Group Outings - click here to view all through end of December 2009

Thurs., Nov. 19 • Easy/moderate hike – Dogs OK.  Call for details. Eliza Schmid (505/474-5846).
Sat., Nov. 21 • Easy hike in Cerrillos Hills –
4.5 miles. Dogs on leashes OK. Cynthia Good
(505/699-2717).
Sat., Nov. 21 • Santa Fe River cleanup – See p. 11. of latest Sierran newsletter
Sun., Nov. 22 • Strenuous Abiquiú red-rock ramble – 12+ miles, all off-trail, some scrambling, some exposure. David Wargo (512/971-0090).
Thurs., Nov. 26 • Easy/moderate hike – Dogs OK.  Call for details. Eliza Schmid (505/474-5846).
Sat., Nov. 28 • Moderate hike to Buckman Mesa, plus side trips – 6-7 miles, 1100' gain. Dogs OK.  Norbert Sperlich (505/474-4354).

Pajarito Group Outings -
Sat., Nov. 14 • Strenuous hike to Ancho Rapids & Frijoles Canyon, with car shuttle – Some steep, off-trail sections. 11 miles, 800' gain. Michael DiRosa (505/663-0648 home, 505/667-0095 work).

Sat., Dec. 5 • Strenuous outing in Cerro Rubio
area near Valle Grande and Toledo – Hike or
snowshoe, up to 10 miles and 1400' gain with
steep sections, depending on conditions. Michael Di Rosa (505/667-0095 work, 505/663-0648 home).
Sat., Dec. 12 • Cross-country ski at Cumbres
Pass – Skill level intermediate, aerobic activity
moderate to strenuous. Backcountry skis or
tele skis and skins recommended. Bring layered
clothing, lunch, water, sunscreen. Jean Dewart
(505/662-9592, by Tues., Dec. 8).

Southern Group Outings -

Saturday, November 14 • Meet at the Forest
Service office in Truth or Consequence for an
8:00 a.m. departure to Luna Park in the southern San Mateo Mountains – Luna Park provides outstanding landscapes of the Rio Grande Valley and or the San Mateo Mountains, plus Paleo-Indian sites. Bring your camera and lunch. We will walk along the road and perhaps up on the ridge line. This is an easy hike. Call Margot at 575/744-5860.
Saturday, December 12 • An outing to see
the fabulous petroglyphs at Tonuco with Dan
Lorimier and Margot Wilson – Outstanding views with scrambling over large and small boulders. Call Margot for reservations at 575/744-5860.

Elsewhere in the news:

1. TRANSPORTATION AND CLIMATE - CREATING A TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM FOR THE 21ST CENTURY.  Our nation’s transportation policy is in desperate need of reform. Significant portions of America’s roads, bridges and transit systems are in a state of disrepair. Our auto-dependent transportation sector consumes two-thirds of the 20 million barrels of oil used each day in the US and emits roughly one-third of the nation’s greenhouse emissions.  Click here to read the full statement from the  Sierra Club National office.

2. Thursday, October 29, 2009
   Bingaman & Udall: $10 Million Will Support Geothermal in New Mexico
   WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall today announced that the U.S. Department of Energy has released over $10 million for four New Mexico projects aimed at exploring and developing new geothermal fields and research into advanced geothermal technologies. Funding comes from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.
   Thursday, October 29, 2009
   “Geothermal energy can be a cost-effective and environmentally friendly form of energy production. This funding will help New Mexico take advantage of the current technology, and make investments in advancing this important technology, as well,” Bingaman said
   “Advanced geothermal technology holds immense potential as a carbon free energy source and economic stimulator,” said Udall. “Much of our state is a known or potential geothermal resource, so we are in the perfect position develop another source of energy and create jobs in the process,” Udall said.
   Click on the link to read more: http://bingaman.senate.gov/news/20091029-01.cfm
3. Felicity Barringer writes in the New York Times: "White Roofs Catch on as Energy Cost Cutters".
4. Paul Pirttinen of the New Mexico Mountain club, is asking us to support The San Juan Mountains Wilderness Act.  For more information go to congressman John T Salazar's site.
5. Read how Dan Baker, a bicyclist and a recepient of the 2008 Sustainable Santa Fe Awards, is building his own electric plug-in vehicle, Zappy, at EnviroKarma.org.

Click for Carl Pope's latest message, the Compass, and The Green Life.

See list of Recent Rio Grande Chapter accomplishments.

Check out National Sierra Club Outings and local NM hikes below.

• ...more on Selected outings page.

• San Juan Basin Badlands Tours

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Photo courtesy of Mary Katherine Ray

New Mexico Mining and Minerals has announced the public meeting and comment period on the proposed Beryllium exploration permit near the Monticello Box and Warm Springs.

Hearing Date: December 1, 2009

Place: Civic Center, 400 W. 4^th Street, Truth or Consequences, NM

Time: 6PM

 The question at hand is whether to allow drilling of more bore holes above the beautiful Monticello box, to a depth of 2000 ft in order to further establish the extent of the Beryllium containing deposit.

What is at stake is the unacceptable risk to the abundant perennial Alamosa River and geothermal warm springs. The impact to the water could devastate wildlife including the federally endangered Alamosa Springsnail which occurs no where else on earth and the federally threatened Chiricahua Leopard Frog. Two others species, the Ovate Vertigo snail and Wright’s Marsh Thistle are critically imperiled. Knowing the extent of the ore deposit only serves to strengthen the sense of entitlement the mining corporation will have to open a full bore mine which will change forever the character of this area. The farming community downstream, the riparian corridor the stream supports and the vibrant and diverse wildlife that depend on it could all be lost.

Please mark your calendar and attend this meeting.

 Written comments are also needed. Double your impact by editing the letter below and e-mailing to joe.vinson@state.nm.us or write to:

Bill Brancard, Director

Mining and Minerals Division

NM Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department

1220 south St. Francis Drive

Santa Fe, NM 87505

 

Deadline for written comments is also December 1, 2009

  Dear Mr. Brancard,

       I am opposed to the drilling of additional test holes to search for Beryllium adjacent to Monticello Box, the Alamosa River and the historic Warm Springs.  Questions regarding the appropriateness of any mining activity in this location are profound and serious. Even exploratory holes to the depths indicated in the application threaten the functioning of the springs. The hydrology of the area is not well-understood and placing it at risk is foolhardy. The vibrant riparian habitat supports a diverse wildlife community which all depends on the water in what is otherwise very a dry surrounding.  Moreover, the federally endangered Alamosa Springsnail is perfectly adapted to the water temperature and chemistry of the Warm Springs. It occurs nowhere else on earth and its imperiled status reflects how easily it could be lost.  Evidence of human occupation goes back over a millennium.

    The Monticello box and warm springs complex are treasures for their beauty, abundant water and natural and cultural uniqueness. Please don’t allow them to be despoiled. Put a stop to beryllium exploration.

 

Please include signature and contact information.

For more information contact Mary Katherine Ray, Rio Grande Chapter Wildlife chair at mkrscrim@kitcarson.net or 575-772-5655

 

• ELECTION VICTORY: helped 95% of our endorsed candidates to election in 2008.
• Protested against ASARCO smelter in El Paso, now scheduled to be dismantled.
• Continued fighting 4 corners power plant emissions permit through EPA.
• Lobbied in NM legislature with full-time lobbyist and volunteers.
• Opened Las Cruces Office.
• Educated businesses on energy reduction thru expansion of Cool Biz in Santa Fe: www.coolbizsantafe.com.
• Led 234 outings in NM and TX including: Hikes, Snowshoe tours and instruction, Cross Country skiing, Bike tours, Tours of fragile areas including archeological sites and potential Wilderness, Highway roadside maintenance, and River trash and vegetation maintenance.
• Published numerous articles and updates in 6 issues of Rio Grande Sierran, online at riogrande.sierraclub.org.
• Actively promoted the Cool Cities program through education and energy use reduction:
  1. Distributed over 20,000 compact-florescent bulbs in Albuquerque.
  2. Trained teachers on benefits of CFLs, who in turn are educating students.
  3. Recruited the City of El Paso to sign on to Cool City designation.
• Promoted responsible use of landfills through support of City of El Paso proposal to close Sunland Park to El Paso waste.

    John Buchser, Chapter Chair

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Go to: National Sierra Club
"Goals" Page.

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