Colors and Textures of Fall in "The City Different"

For more pictures and stories see our pages at Traveljounals.net by clicking on
http://www.traveljournals.net/travelers/rmalone/journals/3615/

Black Range Lodge ; "On the Ground With WildEarth Guardians" for Wolves

Black Range Lodge, Kingston, New Mexico

Last night we joined Wild Earth Guardian staff and a freelance writer from Santa Fe and stayed at the fabulous Black Range Lodge in a remote historic town near the Gila Wilderness Area. The owners are screen writers and permaculture activists and have created a wonderful place to retreat from the crowded world. They are also supporters of WildEarth Guardians and at this year's Gala the bidding was fast an furious for the stay they donated.

Great hiking opportunities abound, as well as a chance to learn from the owner's books and videos about straw bale construction and permaculture. For info on their leadership in the area of Permaculture see their other website: http://www.strawbalecentral.com/


Check out this unique bed and breakfast installed in a building that was originally an old miner's hotel, and located in Kingston, New Mexico. For pictures of the rooms and reservations, visit http://blackrangelodge.com/

Black Range Lodge

		Catherine Wanek and Pete Fust, owners 119 Main Street Kingston, NM 88042 Phone: (575) 895-5652 Toll Free: 800-676-5622

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"On the Ground with WildEarth Guardians" for Wolves

Today we had the unique experience of participating as volunteers in an appeal for support for the reintroduction of wolves, something we have been interested in for many years.

On a huge private ranch in the Greater Gila area of southern New Mexico wolves are being bred and raised to join the 52 some odd already reintroduced into the Gila National Forest public lands after being hunted to extinction over the years.

WildEarth Guardians have been working for 15 years through the courts and now paying to retire :USFS grazing permits towards the goal of a reintroducing this endangered species and creating a sustainable population, and much remains to be done.

Our job today was to appear as representative volunteers in their end of the year email fundraising video series of appeals entitled "On the Ground with WildEarth Guardians".

Added to the drama was the fact that we could not photograph the wolves or disclose their location. It was awesome to observe them, though from some distance, trot around their enclosure.

Laura and I had seen wolves in the wild in Yellowstone on two different trips, and it was a treat to know that through the efforts of WildEarth Guardians and the contibutions of its members, these wolves would also one day run free.

To learn more about this important organization, visit http://wildearthguardians.org/ !

(For more pictures and stories visit our pages at http://traveljournals.net/rmalone )

Guarding the Wild Earth: Valles Caldera National Preserve

Laura was a history teacher, and she can quote you chapter and verse on how the mainly European immigrants to the United States of America have cut down, destroyed, murdered and eaten a huge percentage of the native fauna and flora .

There are those who would save the last, almost wild places, restore them to wilderness, save the few animals and plants in a habitat almost free from humans so that they can survive for us to enjoy.

One such organization is WildEarth Guardians . We discovered them here in New Mexico when we moved to Santa Fe and were looking for volunteer opportunities. We were already members and contributors to National Resources Defense Council and the Sierra Club among others, because of our extreme love for wildlife.

However, WildEarth Guardians was more regional, and offered volunteer opportunities that got us out in nature with hands on projects.

This weekend, we attended their Gala and learned of their 20 year history and accomplishments, as well as a future vision and challenges. We closed the party down and danced late, as usual.

Saturday morning we traveled up into the Jemez Mountains to Valles Caldera National Preserve, one of the newest and most challenged. At a purchase price of $200 million dollars, you know this is a special place.

We had driven past this over the years in both summer and winter, when it was still a 94,000 or so acre private ranch. Earlier, it had been a Spanish Land Grant. Even earlier, native Americans were the only humans there, and they still hold the area as sacred ground, though they get permits to take Golden Eagles for ceremonies to this day!

Over the years, whenever we stopped for a quick photo of the "private land." We were always awed by the magic of the huge strange grass valley amongst the high ponderosa pine forests of mountainous northern New Mexico.

Little did we know that it was part of a huge, ancient, volcanic caldera. We were sooooo elated to find that it had been bought and was now a National Preserve.

All is not well in paradise, however. Even with the huge amount of public funds expended, $200 million, many compromises were made. Hunting is still allowed, cattle grazing for almost no cost is still allowed, and worst of all, it is almost not possible for the public owners, we taxpayers, to explore the area unguided unless you are a paid hunter or cattle grazer or on a guided van tour!


A couple of weeks ago we had attended a presentation on Valles Caldera National Preserve sponsored by the Audobon Society in Santa Fe, and learned of the rare flora and fauna in this island in the sky amidst the desert terrain of New Mexico.

Currently the Preserve is managed by a board of directors who have worked to come up with a use plan that would employ Americans and others in the area and expand access. However, the board is rotated out very often, and has accomplish little other than a visitor center, roads, elk hunt, and guided van tours. We signed a petition to change the current management from political appointees to the National Park Service.

This weekend, WildEarth Guardians afforded a rare volunteer opportunity to remove cattle fences that elk had been being caught and injured by. We were also able to experience one of the world's most special places. Here in this ancient caldera, which has swallowed volcanoes and is now habitat for elk, bear, wild turkey, and more, still, cattle, not to mention many rare plants and surprising birds and other animals not usually found at this altitude, in this island in the sky.

We have added more pictures and information about our experience Valles Caldera National Preserve in New Mexico in our pages at http://www.traveljournals.net/stories/30506.html . Give us a couple of days.....


By the way, we have now had over one million, three hundred fifty thousand hits on that site! Thank you, all our friends, family, and Google visitors!

New Mexico Hiking Adventure

New Mexico describes itself as the Land Of Enchantment, and recently we once again learned why.

Wanting to explore more of New Mexico and meet new people, we chose one of the hikes on the calendar of the Northern New Mexico Sierra Club.



As it turns out, this hike was a couple of days after Laura's birthday. She decided she wanted to have dinner in Taos, so we fired up teh Global Warmer II and headed north from Santa Fe to Taos.

We love to hang out in the historic Taos Old Town area! We always have a great time dancing at the Alley Cantina and riding our bikes.


The hike was so amazing, down 1000 feet into the canyon of the Rio Grande River. Boy, were we sore the next day.

For more about our hike to the United States Bureau of Land Management's Wild Rivers outside Taos,

visit our pages here:

http://www.traveljournals.net/travelers/rmalone/journals/3615/

Destination: Santa Fe, NM and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains

Hello from Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, which is celebrating its 400th year as a capital in the United States.

Confused, did not think the US was that old as a country? Well you are right! Santa Fe claims to be the first North American capital for Spain. This history is viewed somewhat differently from the perspective of the pueblo native americans, some continuously inhabited for hundreds of years.

(BTW, it is our understanding that these people have never been placed on reservations, and still have some political autonomy from the USA!)

So, we are back home in the US, resting, regrouping, riding and kayaking.

We are also doing some volunteerservice work for environmental/wildlife causes and political activism in the area of healthcare reform and ending occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Sorry for being gone from this blog for so long.

For the time being, we are reverting back to traveljournals.net because it is so much simpler to use.

Love to hear from you !

Click here http://www.traveljournals.net/travelers/rmalone/journals/3615/

to view Recent posts, which include:

Frankie Flats, Biking and Bike Repairs in Santa Fe

2009-08-26


32

Lions right outside the gate! More Skukuza Camp game drive pics


skukuza


2009-08-01


19

A Magic Last Leopard, After Being Surrounded by Elephants!


Kruger


2009-07-31


65

Bushlife Xperiences Owners Know how to have fun in Africa!


Skukuza


2009-07-30


15

Game Drives from Lower Sabie


Lower Sabie


2009-07-29


118

Beautiful Lower Sabie Camp, now with Internet by Afriweb


Lower Sabie


2009-07-28


14

Vicious Lovers: Lions at Dusk, Mating, Then Stalking Off For Their Nightly Hunt / Pretoriuskop Camp


Lower Sabie


2009-07-27


74

Internet in Kruger Park, with Hyenas, Bats and much more: Skukuza Rest Camp


Skukuza


2009-07-26


14

Africa Mystique: Skull and Bones Hanging From a Tree


Satara Rest Camp


2009-07-25


36

Death of a Chameleon


Satara Rest Camp


2009-07-24


7

Unbelieveable, we see another leopard in a tree, this one MUCH closer!!


Satara Rest Camp


2009-07-23


39

Tiny Scops Owl and Honeybadger in Daylight, and other Satara Camp area wildlife


Satara Rest Camp


2009-07-22


74

Part II of a View to A Kill: Male Lion Attacks Young Males, Rips Face Off Prey


Satara Rest Camp


2009-07-21


94

A View to A Kill: Lion cubs, and other tales of Kruger primitive road, Satara 100


Satara Rest Camp


2009-07-20


36

Whte Rhinoceros grazing, come up close to us AND Lions try to attack Buffalo in early morning


Satara Rest Camp


2009-07-19


46

The Magic of Africa, Seeing our First Leopard in a Tree is Like A Dream Come True


Letaba Rest Camp


2009-07-18


77

Shingwedzi from Letaba game drives


Letaba Rest Camp


2009-07-17


61

Fast Internet in Africa: Outside Phalaborwa Gate


Phalaborwa


2009-07-16


6

Kangaroo in Africa? First out of the gate at 6am, last in at 5:30, and times in between


Kruger National Park


2009-07-15


46

Oliphants Camp : Gorgeous views of Kruger:


Kruger National Park


2009-07-14


41

Baby elephant falls, helped up, runs like crazy !