Where we are going

What NMCRAG would like to do in the future is continue our work maintaining New Mexico's existing crags, further develop our close relationships with land-managing agencies, and prepare for the challenges to come as our state becomes a more popular destination for bouldering and overall visitation increases. Another important near-term goal is working with ranchers in Catron County to identify an alternative for getting to the Enchanted Tower. NMCRAG is attempting to obtain a right-of-way to cross a narrow strip of private land off US Highway 60 and create a shorter, easy way to hike in legally to the Tower. We don't have all the answers though, and want to hear from you about what we should be doing so please take our brief survey and help us understand how we can be better stewards.

Dealing with popularity

With the publication of the New Mexico Bouldering guidebook, our state is gaining recognition for its world class bouldering in Roy and the incredible quartzite of the Ortegas. NM CRAG is in the process of informing recreation specialists at the Kiowa National Grasslands and Carson National Forest about the coming changes that could occur as more people visit Roy and the Ortegas. In particular, NM CRAG is identifying the roads used for access so that our use is reflected in how these roads are managed. We look forward solving problems before they happen by working with these agencies to ensure that resource impacts would be minimized.

Looking BEYOND the Status Quo

In 2016, the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance helped New Mexicans gain access to the Sabinoso Wilderness near Las Vegas by purchasing an adjacent ranch. This large area of public land previously had no legal access, being entirely surrounded by private property. Individuals from NM CRAG volunteered to help the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance as they organized a field trip to prepare the ranch to be transferred to the Bureau of Land Management. In the future, NM CRAG would like to facilitate similar projects to open more areas on the Kiowa National Grasslands that right now are effectively land-locked and inaccessible to the public. We want to demonstrate that climbers and ranchers can be partners and benefit everyone.