Deep in the South-East corner of New
Mexico on the backside of the Guadalupe Mountains in the Lincoln National
Forest, there lies what once was a refreshing hidden oasis in the desert,
somewhere to spend on a weekend getaway, Sitting Bull Falls. In order to get to
the Falls, one would have to drive at least 35 miles off of any main roads. Nearby
the Falls, a once densely populated rock climbing attraction, Last Chance
Canyon, is now desolate and abandoned. A wildfire (ironically started by a rock
climbing outdoorsman) caused thousands of acres of fire damage to both Sitting
Bull Falls and Last Chance Canyon. Residents of the surrounding community, mostly
including rock climbers, are banding together in an attempt to clean up the
area to prove to the public that all rock climbers aren't careless when it
comes to the outdoors and wildfires; they would merely like to preserve the rock
climbing areas for years to come.
The Falls teemed with springs,
grottos and rich vegetation and were packed with trails for adventure-craving
hikers to seek all along the rolling hills and mountains. Families would go on
day-trips to the Falls and set up their picnic lunches on the furnished cabana
structures. Students would go on weekend jaunts to the Falls to wade around in
the cool pools filled with water by way of waterfall. Portrait photographers and
their subjects would visit to take senior pictures with interesting backgrounds.
Nature photographers took trips to spice their portfolios up with photographs of
the surplus wildlife that survives there. Up the canyon from Sitting Bull Falls
attracted people from all over the state and beyond. This place is Last Chance Canyon,
what was once a popular place for rock climbers due to the slews of various
difficulty-rated rock climbing routes.
In April of 2011, one individual, a
man from Texas, disregarded the fire regulations and started a campfire where
he was overnight camping. (Texas man) The man’s regulated fire quickly
got out of control, he left the scene and the blazing fire that was produced,
called the Last Chance Fire, blazed through the mountains causing austere destruction
to what was once a lavish retreat. (Sitting Bull Falls Picnic) The intense fire burned
over 53,000 acres, demolished a few cabanas, burned a utility pole, damaged the
sprinkler system and charred rocks. (“Fire fell falls”) The cabanas, utility
poles and the sprinkler system have been and will be an impossible task (at
least for now) to substitute due to the surrounding unstable land. (“Sitting Bull Falls”) Many rock climbers and members of
the surrounding community have unified to make a volunteer team. The volunteers
have been making trips on weekends to clean up the devastating remains and
ruins and help the Lincoln National Forest hopefully sustain life once again.
The rock climbers don’t just want to volunteer and clean up the forest; they
want to prove to the public that most rock climbers love the land of New Mexico
and would to just about anything to protect it.
The park, including all of the activities it once hosted,
will be closed indefinitely due to the unsteady nearby hillsides and
mountainsides. (“Sitting Bull Falls remains”)
Many rock climbers are upset about the fire because Last Chance Canyon was one
of the best outdoor sport climbing spots in New Mexico and the best outdoor
sport climbing spot in South-Eastern New Mexico; they now have to travel much
longer distances to fulfill their rock climbing desires. The Last Chance Fire
was caused by one man’s careless mistake and now everyone who once enjoyed the
hidden refuge is forced to suffer the consequences. As for now, the Falls
cannot be used for anything due to the unstableness. However, in my honest
opinion, I think it could benefit both the grounds and the Eddy County, New
Mexico Detention Center if the inmates of the Center, along with the people who
are already volunteering, were to help clean up the surrounding area of the
Falls. In the meantime, some more rock climbing areas around the area have
slowly started to open, so rock climbers haven’t lost everything.
Works Cited
1. KRQE News, Weather. Two Wildfires Continue To Burn. http://www.krqe.com
2. Green, Tyler. "Fire fells falls." Artesia
Daily Press. Artesia Daily Press, 1 June 2011. Print.
3. Sitting Bull Falls Picnic Area & Associated
Trails: Temporarily Closed. Alerts and
Notices. Web. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. http://www.fs.usda.gov
4. KOB News, Articles. Texas man charged with
setting Eddy County fire. http://www.kob.com
5. Green, Tyler. “Sitting Bull
Falls remains unstable due to Last Chance Fire effects.” Artesia Daily
Press. Artesia Daily Press, 5 October 2011. Print.
No comments:
Post a Comment