[Nmcaver] nmcaver Digest, Vol 21, Issue 9

[Mike_Bilbo at nm.blm.gov]

It was in the late 80s and pretty near the bottom of that face, Capitan or
El Capitan.  The trail was headed north and I decided to go look at an
interesting looking area to the east.  A uniformed, I guess backcountry
ranger, had watched me leave the trail and caught up with me for the
discussion.  I was pretty hot at the situation but went along with it and
just went back down to the truck.  And then went to check the condition of
the 1855 Jose Pelancio gravesite and found it had been dug up and his bones
scattered all over the place.  That was not a good day.  (Pelancio was Lt.
James Longstreet's guide, 8th Infantry out of Fort Davis - the Apaches got
him near that spot).


                                                                           
             Carol Belski                                                  
             <belskic at valornet                                             
             .com>                                                      To 
                                       Mike_Bilbo at nm.blm.gov               
             06/28/2006 09:52                                           cc 
             AM                        Stephen Fleming                     
                                       <swcaver at warpdriveonline.com>,      
                                       nmcaver at caver.net                   
                                                                   Subject 
                                       Re: [Nmcaver] nmcaver Digest, Vol   
                                       21, Issue 9                         
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           


On Wednesday, June 28, 2006, at 08:17  AM, Mike_Bilbo at nm.blm.gov wrote:
> On NPS-managed land, is that land technically public, given NPS
protection
> mandate (as opposed to multiple use)?  Years ago I got into trouble by
> leaving a trail and traveling cross country in the back country of
> Guadalupe Mountains NP.  I maintained it was public land and that I could
> do that as I wanted to visit an area other than where the trails led.  I
> was informed to go back to the trail and stay on the trail, end of
discussion.

> Mike  -- unless you were in the lower part of McKittrick Canyon, the
> part of the trail from the McKittrick VC to Pratt Lodge (special
> management due to "delicate" area), OR in the area beyond Hunter Cabin
> (research only for what reason I know not!), you actually are allowed
> to go off trail.  Most of the Park is Wilderness.  Of course, it's
> best not to cut switchbacks since that increases erosion (and the
> trail is easier anyway).  Where were you when you "got into trouble" ?

Carol