Fire Reported Near Jamestown

Yesterday afternoon, we had a fire "scare" (well, not exactly a scare, but something to be concerned about) in the Cibola National Forest that surrounds our Whispering Cedars subdivision in Jamestown, New Mexico.

It was a lightning-generated fire that was located to the southeast of the community. Upon hearing the news, I went outside but saw no smoke. 

Apparently, the fire has been extinguished as no further reports have been made.  Thanks to the McKinley County Fire Rescue and the U.S. Forest Service for the timely response.

First Smokey Bear Poster On August 9, 1944

Above, the first Smokey Bear poster.

This is a "little" before my time, but it was on August 9, 1944 the first Smokey Bear poster appeared.

According to RV Travel:

On this day in history: 1944 – The United States Forest Service and the Wartime Advertising Council release posters featuring Smokey Bear for the first time.

Campground Bans Tents After A Bear's Visit

Above, a mother bear and her cub in Yellowstone National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As far as I know, my campsites never received a visit by a bear while I was camping in a tent or in an RV. 

I have camped in bear country a few times. One can tell by the signs and having a bear-proof food storage locker at the campsite. 

Above, the bear-proof food storage locker at my campsite in Lassen Volcanic National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

However, recently some kids sleeping in a tent in a Colorado campground received a midnight visit by a black bear. Nobody was hurt and the kids took the incident in stride.  

RV Travel posted an article on the incident.

They begin it with:

When a black bear poked its nose—and claws—into a tent where two kids were sleeping at Difficult Campground near Aspen, Colorado, the U.S. Forest Service decided that “difficult” was a little too “on the nose.” The result: an emergency ban on tents and other soft-sided shelters at the site, effective immediately.

To read more, go here. 

Six Mile Canyon Reopened Today

Above, the first campsite after entering Six Mile Canyon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Now that Cibola National Forest/Six Mile Canyon is open again, I decided to take a Jeep drive into the canyon. This was the first time I've taken the Jeep into the canyon this year.

There were several vehicles in the canyon, including my next door neighbor's, and the canyon looked nice and green from the monsoon rains we've been getting.

I drove to the windmill and water tanks before turning around. It looked like the clouds were building up. Maybe we'll get some rain this evening or tonight.

Naturally, I took a few pictures during the drive. 

Gov. Lujan Grisham Demands Feds Pay For Wildfires

This is interesting.

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has demanded that the federal government pay for the wildfire damages. Because they caused it.

From The Western Journal:

Ronald Reagan, one of America’s greatest presidents, once made a statement that acknowledged an unfortunate truism: “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the Government, and I’m here to help.”

The residents of New Mexico can relate. When the Biden administration took what should have been beneficial action, they unleashed an unprecedented disaster.

It appears the largest wildfire in New Mexico history was caused by the federal U.S. Forest Service. In response, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has demanded the federal government pay for 100 percent of the recovery costs.

As reported by the Las Cruces Sun News, the U.S. Forest Service started fires in what were supposed to be two separate controlled burn locations, Calf’s Canyon and Hermit’s Peak. They lost control over the burns, and the fires joined together, forming a “megafire.”

However, in the Biden administration, nothing gets executed properly. Biden can’t even get through a speech without committing embarrassing errors.

This'll be interesting to watch and to see how much clout, if any, the governor has with Joe Biden.

Break out the popcorn, folks!

To read more, go here.

Forest Service Closing Campgrounds Despite Soaring Demand

Above, a campsite in the Cibola National Forest of New Mexico. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The national forests belong to the American people. But by the way the U.S. Forest Service is running them, you'd think the otherwise were true.

More people are going out camping in RVs and tents, but the Forest Service is causing more campground crowding by closing more campgrounds.

RV Travel reported:

What is the U.S. Forest Service doing to meet the increasing demand for more camping opportunities?

Your tax dollars (not) at work? I doubt there’s a better example of bureaucratic disconnect than the tone-deaf U.S. Forest Service’s cutting the number of campgrounds while demand soars. It’s contributing to “campground crowding” on a national scale, perpetrated by folks who, ostensibly, work for us.

To read more, go here.

5 Tips For Your RV Trip

Above, The Beast at Gallo Campground of Chaco Culture National Historical Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The "go-to" website to make reservations for campsites at campgrounds under the wing of the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and other government parks is RECREATION.gov. I last used it for my recent stay at Chaco Canyon in New Mexico.

They have posted five useful tips for your next RV trip.

They begin with:

Do you love exploring with all the comforts of home while being able to manage travel with flexibility and convenience? Then now's the perfect time for an RV trip with Recreation.gov!

Whether you own a rig or rent one, we've pulled together a few of our favorite tips to help you plan a trip. Planning travel in advance, making reservations, and being prepared with proper safety and health gear for your upcoming trips is more important than ever. So, take a look at our tips and reserve one of thousands of RV campsites with Recreation.gov!

Know before you go by checking the status of the location you plan to visit for conditions that may impact your visit like fire restrictions, smoke from wildfires or weather.

To see that the five tips are, go here. 

Six Mile Canyon Cattle

Above, cattle grazing along Six Mile Canyon Road. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday, I took a little drive in Six Mile Canyon, which is part of the Cibola National Forest in New Mexico. It is behind and up against our community of Jamestown.

The forest is haven for a herd of cattle. The Forest Service allows a local Navajo cattle rancher to have his cattle graze in the forest lands. This is good for keeping foliage under control for fire prevention. I came upon the cattle grazing along Six Mile Canyon Road and decided to pull over and sit outside of the Jeep and watch them.

Naturally, I took some pictures.

Why The Durango Train Isn't Going To Silverton

Above, a winter view of Silverton, Colorado. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last week, Mitch Geriminsky and I were going to take a vacation camping trip to southwest Colorado. The vacation would have included a ride on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.

Unfortunately, a week before the trip was to begin, Mitch came down sick with, what the doctors initially thought, was COVID-19. So we cancelled the trip.

Later, it turned out after more tests, that his illness was caused by bacteria in his face mask(s) that gave him Legionnaires' Disease. He is nearly over this illness.

At the time of the cancellation of our trip, a representative for the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad said they expect to begin selling tickets for train trips to Silverton in mid-August. At present, the train only goes part way to Cascade Canyon. This is a nice trip, but the complete ride to Silverton is even better. So far, no announcements have been made. I decided to do some checking.

I had thought that the rides to Silverton were stopped due to the coronavirus, but my perusal of news articles present a different picture.

The Durango Herald posted this article on July 14:

The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad’s plea to a federal judge for permission to resume a fire mitigation project along its tracks, as well as a separate project to repair a damaged bridge, was denied Tuesday. 

In recent weeks, the U.S. Forest Service has ordered the D&SNG to stop two projects along its tracks. 

On May 27, the Forest Service sent the railroad a cease-and-desist order after concerns were raised the D&SNG was removing and selling mass amounts of trees along its right of way to reduce fire risk. 

Then, on July 2, the Forest Service told the D&SNG to stop emergency repairs at the Elk Creek Bridge, which was recently damaged by debris during a washout, effectively cutting off any potential trips to Silverton. 

The D&SNG on Friday asked the federal court judge who is overseeing the lawsuit in which the Forest Service is suing the railroad for millions of dollars for the 416 Fire to override the agency’s stop orders. 

The Forest Service, according to court filings, said the D&SNG is allowed to work within its right of way, but may have to secure a permit for projects that are outside the scope of routine operations and maintenance. 

A spokesman for the Forest Service referred all questions to the U.S. Department of Justice. Jeffery Dorschner, spokesman for the department, said in an email, the “U.S. attorney is pleased with the court’s decision,” but declined to comment further. 

On Tuesday, Judge Robert E. Blackburn denied the D&SNG’s request, saying the issues raised over the railroad’s stopped projects are unrelated to the 416 Fire lawsuit.

Above, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in the 1980s. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The repairs to the washed-out section of track would take up to four months to complete, according to the article. At present, the repair project is still stopped. Nobody knows when the bridge repairs will be allowed to start again. In the meantime, the businesses in Silverton who rely on tourist dollars from train passengers suffer.

It is alleged in the 416 Fire lawsuit that sparks from a coal-fired locomotive started the fire in 2018.

We will likely reschedule our vacation shortly.

To read more, go here.

Trump Signs Great American Outdoors Act

Above, Upper Yosemite Falls. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

President Trump signed into law the Great American Outdoors Act which will begin to address the backlog of maintenance and other project in our national parks that have languished for years.

From The White House:

From the beginning of this Administration, President Trump has prioritized conservation and stewardship of our public lands and national parks. Today, President Trump signed into law the Great American Outdoors Act. This historic legislation, along with the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act—which President Trump signed into law in March 2019—will benefit current and future generations of Americans. 

Each year, millions of people from all over the world visit and enjoy our national parks. Yet today, more than 5,500 miles of paved roads, 17,000 miles of trails, and 24,000 buildings in our national parks are in need of maintenance improvements. 

Fulfilling President Trump’s promise to restore, conserve, and protect America’s lands, the Great American Outdoors Act provides the necessary funds, dedicating up to $1.9 billion per year for five years to fund deferred maintenance projects identified by the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Bureau of Indian Education. These infrastructure updates will preserve our most important national treasures and give more American families opportunities to explore the great outdoors.

To read more, go here. 

Cattle In Six Mile Canyon

Above, the first group of cattle heading to the water trough at the windmill. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For the first time in about a month and a half, I took a deep drive into Six Mile Canyon of the Cibola National Forest.

Since the Jeep has been running fine during that time, I figured it was about time to drive further into the canyon.

While in the canyon, I saw a group of cattle walking alongside the road. As I approached they picked up the pace and walked away from the road and then towards the water troughs at the windmill. The group consisted of female cows and calves. 

The U.S. Forest Service allows a local rancher (Navajo, I believe) graze his cattle on national forest land. That's one way for the grasses in the national forest to be cut for fire prevention.

I drove further into Six Mile Canyon and saw another group of cattle. I went to the grassy valley that is about the midpoint of the canyon and turned around.

As I was heading back, the cattle we a little ahead and were crossing the road. Again, they consisted of cows and their calves.

The canyon was nice and green from the recent monsoon rains.

Some photos:

Above, the first group of cattle after leaving the side of the road. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, cattle making their way to the water trough at the windmill. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the second group of cattle. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the second group crossing the road. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

New Fire Restrictions For New Mexico National Forests

Above, the "no campfires" notice at the entrance to Six Mile Canyon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As I have mentioned previously, it is hot and dry in the northwest section of New Mexico.

The Department of Agriculture, which oversees the U.S. Forest Service, has issued new fire restrictions for New Mexico national forests, including Cibola National Forest.

The Albuquerque Journal reported:

Stay-at-home orders have been in place since mid-March. 

New Mexico is home to world-class trails and hiking areas. 

As the weather is getting warmer and the eventual easing of said stay-at-home orders, the United States Department of Agriculture announced new fire restrictions last week for Carson, Cibola and Santa Fe National Forests last week. 

The move is to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfire based on current and forecasted conditions, including very low fuel moisture levels and severe fire weather conditions. 

According to a release, the restrictions will also help protect the health and safety of firefighters and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The restrictions will be implemented forest-wide on the Carson and Santa Fe National Forests and on the Mount Taylor, Magdalena, Mountainair and Sandia Ranger Districts of the Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands.

I go off-roading in my Jeep in the Six Mile Canyon area of the Cibola National Forest, which is in the Mount Taylor ranger district. The forest abuts our community of Jamestown, New Mexico.

To read more, go here.

Six Mile Canyon Road and Mesa Ridge Ranch

Above, the Jeep at the washed-out section of road. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This afternoon was spent doing some maintenance on the GOCO Beast Barn and The Beast. I hadn't fired up the generator since I was in California in December, so it was a bit overdue. So I started it up and ran it while shoveling some of the gravel at the big door.

Above, the washed-out area of Six Mile Canyon Road. The turn to Cibola National
 Forest is where the signs are at the top of the hill. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After I was done, I did some Jeep driving in the community and took some jaunts on Six Mile Canyon Road and into Mesa Ridge Ranch. Yesterday was too cold out to do anything. Right now, it is a nice 55° outside.

Above, the "culprit  culvert" under Interstate 40. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Six Mile Canyon/Cibola National Forest will be open to vehicles after March 31, but I wanted to see if Six Mile Canyon Road is still washed out at the big culvert under Interstate 40.

Above, the windshield view of the washed-out area. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

So I drove there and, sure enough, it was still washed out, but it was not as deep as a layer of mud flowed in. The washed-out area looks now to be about six inches deep. The mud that partially filled it looks as if nobody attempted any recent crossings. It was all smooth. I wasn't going to "blaze any trails" through it. The locals say that this happens here every year. If the mud hardens in the coming weeks, it should be passable.

Above, the Jeep on Six Mile Canyon Road. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I hope the Forest Service arranges for repairs to the road so people can have access to the national forest.

Above, on Maverick Road in Mesa Ridge Ranch. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I then turned around and headed back and over to Mesa Ridge Ranch. Nothing was going on there, including any construction.

According to the National Weather Service, it should get to around 55° tomorrow, same as today.

Cibola National Forest/Six Mile Canyon To Be Closed Sunday

Above, Cibola National Forest/Six Mile Canyon will be closed for the winter this coming Sunday. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Unless it warms up and the ground gets drier, it appears that my days of driving and exploring Six Mile Canyon in the Jeep are over until March.

It is muddy from the recent rains and snowstorms and Six Mile Canyon Road has a spot that was a little washed out from water from an Interstate 40 culvert. Oddly, I heard that these washed out spots get "ironed out" when cattle are herded through.

Above, the Jeep in Six Mile Canyon in October. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Six Mile Canyon is in the Cibola National Forest and it is scheduled to be closed on December 15 (this coming Sunday) to all vehicles for the winter. So us OHVers will have to confine ourselves to driving on paved roads or off-road on our own properties (and, perhaps, just go to the shooting area).

It will reopen on April 1, 2020.