Colin Fletcher, author and backpacker extraordinaire dies at 85.
Thanks for sharing the dream Colin.
Read More.

This weekend is the Great American Backyard Camp out an effort on behalf of the National wildlife Federation and Partner retailers and vendors to get kids back outdoors. I highly encourage any and all to get involved, go online and visit The Great American Backyard Camp out. If you are reading my blog then you are interested in the outdoors. Share your knowledge and your time and help get kids in the outdoors. I believe this is a path to the preservation of our youth and the appreciation necessary to protect our precious resources which are so grossly underfunded and continue to face economic depletion as less people get out. I guess the alternative is virtual camping or something like these virtual world games which are sucking kids indoors and into a dangerous world of virtual reality.
I packed up the car and hit the rod for Fathers Day this weekend for three days of fairly quiet camping on the Holy Ghost Creek in Pecos. The Area was full but it did not feel too crowded. The campsites in the Holy Ghost Canyon offer picnic tables, fire rings and all of them have shade. In taking the family away for three days in the woods, the reality of the great outdoors found my kids totally entertained for 10 hours a day. Some of the experiences they had in real life just can't be duplicated like the three Mule Deer Doe's that wandered into our camp to graze for fifteen minutes or so, my son was highly disappointed when they did not return the next evening. Campfires, Guitars, Friends, Trout streams and watching your kids tear it up in the largest playground in New Mexico , The Pecos Wilderness. I had the best Fathers day of my life, the kids, well they will not forget and they are already asking when we are going camping again. Car camping is a great way to introduce your kids to the great outdoors. Pick a spot that is close to home so if you have to bail you will be close to home. Happy Camping , take your family outdoors today.

I came across this most progressive legislation. As a product of a great deal of outdoor and experiential education, I commend the state and the legislators for making this a priority. The key to self awareness, self esteem, environmental understanding does not come from Game Boy, X BOX, Play station or the internet. Kids need to be exposed to the wonderful power of the outdoors. It is alot more fun to ride a Mountain Bike than to play a virtual driving game. Sangre de Cristo Mountain Works commends this legislation. In an article by Michael Casaus in the Albuquerque Journal it is stated.............

"The Sierra Club is thrilled to announce the passage of the New Mexico Outdoor Classroom Initiative-Educación al Aire Libre during the 2007 legislative session. We congratulate the New Mexico state Legislature, especially Sen. Cynthia Nava, D-Las Cruces, and Rep. Jimmie Hall, R-Albuquerque, for championing outdoor education for our state's youth....................."

By Michael Casaus
Sierra Club


Read More in the Albuquerque Journal or visit the Sierra Club

Dale Ball

This morning I tossed my bike in the truck and within 7 minutes from my front door I was climbing beautiful single track on the Dale Ball Central off of Cerro Gordo. Gradually climbing in the cool morning air, my heart rate quickly jumped overriding the morning’s high-test caffeination. As I climbed I was amazed at the early wild flower bloom with paintbrush and other specimens popping up all along the trail. After passing an interesting automotive relic in the canyon, I climbed for about thirty minutes winding through the most eastern section of the trail. I stopped occasionally to admire the view of the Rio Grande Valley and Jemez Mountain to the east. Soon after passing an interesting shrine to a long lost pet pal, I reached the turn around. The descent on the east section of trail dropping to Cerro Gordo Rd is a controlled Nantucket sleigh ride. This section is a roller coaster of sorts if you are riding a fully suspended donkey. A quick descent back to the car left all participants involved adrenally satisfied for the day. Not bad entertainment and fitness before 9:30am. If you are planning on Mountain biking in Santa Fe, this is a must do adventure.

Imagine hopping on your bike before work or at lunch and riding or hiking some of the best single track in New Mexico, it is in our back yard and if you are sitting over a smothered Burrito right now, perhaps you should consider this a great option (Burp).
The Dale Ball Trail system is one of Santa Fe’s most accessible high quality hiking and biking trail systems occupying the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains elevation 7000 ft. The Dale Ball system is made up of three interconnecting trail systems. The Dale Ball North and Central can be accessed from the Dale Ball Parking Lot at Cerro’s Colorado’s off of Hyde Park Rd (About 3 miles from the plaza). The Central and the South Dale Ball trails can be accessed from the Parking lot at the intersection of Upper Cerro Gordo and Upper Canyon Rd. Do not leave valuables in our car as all parking lots have experienced theft. For a large urban area, The Dale Ball Trail System is second to none in terms of user accessibility and high quality trails.

Check out the Dale Ball Trails whether you bike or hike, I think you will find them to be a real hidden gem. Keep your eyes out for a variety of blooming wild flowers and keep your eyes on the trail. Due to the multi use nature of the trail system, Mountain Bikers should yield to Hikers and stay in control. Share the trails; they are for everyone’s enjoyment.If you are hiking or Biking with a four legged critter, they are supposed to be on leash. For more information and Dale Ball Trail Maps, Stop by Sangre de Cristo Mountain Works Santa Fe’s premier outdoor store at 328 South Guadalupe St or on the web at sdcmountainworks.com. Peace!

For Information on cycling Santa Fe check out Santa Fe Mountain Sports or New Mexico Bike and Sport. If you are looking for a guided adventure check out Santa Fe Mountain Adventures.

I recieved this in an email forward spread it around be safe......

> FRANK ORTIZ DOG PARK ALERT
>
> There has been a white pick-up with tinted windows parked early in
> the mornings at the dog park. Evidently the driver does not get out
> and has no dog. The driver of this pick-up may have been involved in
> harassing women joggers. The police have been notified.
>
> Dog walkers and joggers, Be aware, Take care of our park And each
> other!!!

Sangre de Cristo Mountain Works carries whistles and Pepper spray.

Sangre de Cristo Mountain Works is your Fathers Day connecetion with all the best gifts and gadgets for your outdoor daddy. Check out a wide selection of gift ideas in this years Sangre de Cristo Mountain Works Fathers Day Gift Guide.

JETBOIL STOVE

Jetboil PCS – the original Jetboil – has sparked a revolution in outdoor cooking. Boiling two cups in two minutes at 75-80% efficiency, the PCS is twice as fast and uses half as much fuel as conventional stoves. The PCS boils up to 50 cups (12 Liters) of water from only one Jetpower isobutane/propane micro-canister. Such outstanding performance results from the patent-pending FluxRing™ heat exchanger, which captures and focuses the burner’s heat.



Topo Ranch Activewear


We make our t-shirts from wringer-washed super fine cotton jersey -- some of the softest cotton you’ll find. The Topo tee features a one-color screen print of The Ranch’s most popular inhabitant and the reason for which it was named. Topo is a Spanish slang word for gopher... we gave him wings to signify the rebirth of The Ranch right here in Southern California, circa 2004. Check out a great selection of totally cool menws wear from an inspired and fun apparrel brand. This is one of the coolest new companies we are representing at Sangre de Cristo Mountain Works. If cool is a factor check out Topo Ranch.

Patagonia Footwear
Patagonia has always been synonomous with quality outdoor apparel and equipment coupled with probably the most visionary commitment to the environment in our corporate world, Patagonia has launched a revolution in eco-footwear design.Sangre de Cristo Mountain Works is your Patagonia Footwear connection. If you are looking for the coolest footwear in the west with a huge bent towards sustainability this is one shoe for you.

Performance Footwear

Performance boots and shoes have enough beef to serve well on long hikes, climbing approaches or fly-fishing in streams and oceans. Some of the features you'll find:

Vibram® outsoles made from Ecostep™ compound, with high resistance and traction in multiple terrains and up to 30% recycled rubber

Footbeds made from POLI-CORK™ that contains 70% recycled Poliyou® foam and active carbon with natural microbial qualities

Midsoles made from 15% recycled EVA content.
Available at Sangre de Cristo Mountain Works

Headlamps are great at this summers Barbecue!

Every who loves to spend time with a cold one in hand mastering grill creations knows how important a good grill light is to the succulent success of your grill creations. Check out the Black Diamond Ion Headlamp for the perfect lightweight grill light that will have you at the top of your grilling game. The Ion headlamp makes a great gift for dad to throw in his pack, glove box or grill kit. The two LED mini light is the perfect need to have one gadget for Fathers Day this year. Stop by Sangre de Cristo Mountain Works for a full selection of portable lighting from Black Diamond, Petzl and Princeton Tec. The flashlight is obsolete in the face of these wonderful mini lights.

Well, I have been away for a while as you can see from the posting status, not a very committed blogger but definitely working on it. I spent the Memorial Day back in the Midwest where Memorial day is still one of the most important holidays celebrated in the heartland. I grew up in the Midwest and I go back every Memorial Day to help my Ma' open her lake house up for the summer. The house is about two hours north of Green Bay, yes it is in the heart of packer country and if you are not wearing a cheese head, well you better be riding a harley davidson flying Old glory at the tail of your bike.
Returning to the heartland of America reminded me of many simple pleasures from my childhood. My love and passion for the outdoors was born in the North woods in a Winslow Homer kind of way. I grew up spending summers at a place with no t.v. and the endless expanse of the Nicolet National Forest in my backyard. as a boy this would be the staging ground for many one day adventures in the woods exploring, and looking for a place to build our next hideout. As I visited these deep deciduous hardwood forests and waded in the tanic tea brown water of the thunder river, I was reminded of the wonderfully simple existence one can have convening with mother nature.
I spent the weekend doing the same chores our family has ritualistically conducted for generation in getting the old lake house open and debugged for summer. Here I seek solace, retreat and that incredible kinship I feel to the land. Like a Salmon returning home season after season, I stop and reflect how wonderful to have sense of place in an escape that provides incredible tranquillity in a mad and chaotic world.
If you have not gone out into the woods and just stopped and set on a rock to listen, a great world of peace abounds. Stop what you are doing and go outside.