Friends of the Bosque To Celebrate Fundraising Victory With
Chupadera Peak Purchase Party, Dec. 1
<center><img src=http://sonewmex.com/images/SUMMITWeb.jpg border=1 align=center><br><font size=2 face="Arial Narrow" color=black>Volunteer fundraising team member John Morrison stands at the top of Chupadera Peak.</font></center>
<table align=right cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><caption align=bottom><font size=2 face="Arial Narrow" color=black>View from the top of Chupadera Peak</font></caption><tr><td><img src=http://sonewmex.com/images/ChupSummitWeb.jpg border=1 hspace=5 alt="View from the top of Chupadera Peak"></td></tr></table>Friends of the Bosque del Apache invites the public to join in celebrating its successful campaign to purchase Chupadera Peak for the refuge with a “Victory Party” Sat., Dec. 1. The campaign has exceeded its goal of $63,000…the purchase price of the peak with 140 acres of land…and the purchase was finalized in late September, according to Friends president Jon Morrison.
The victory celebration will commence at 9 a.m. at the trailhead of the Chupadera Wilderness Trail, with dignitaries unveiling a bronze plaque, on which are engraved the names of 85 donors of one or more acres, and a moving tribute to all 267 who contributed toward purchase of the peak. Because of limited parking space at the trailhead, all guests will be shuttled there in refuge vans from parking at the visitor center.
<table align=left cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><caption align=bottom><font size=2 face="Arial Narrow" color=black>Socorro artist Sharon Fullingim takes a rest at Chupadera Peak.</font></caption><tr><td><img src=http://sonewmex.com/images/chupsharonWeb.jpg border=1 hspace=5 alt="Socorro artist Sharon Fullingim takes a rest at Chupadera Peak."></td></tr></table>Following the formal dedication at the trailhead, Dave Love and Richard Chamberlain, geologists with the State Bureau of Geology at NM Tech, and Katy Devine, one of the principal fundraisers, will lead hardier celebrants on a 9-1/2 mile round trip excursion to the 6,272- foot Chupadera summit. Other less energetic guests will adjourn to the Lannan Educational Annex at the visitor center for refreshments and a virtual hike to the peak.
Once the refuge has accepted the land, Refuge Manager Tom Melanson will file to add the donated property to its Chupadera Wilderness under Section 6 of the Wilderness Act. The wilderness designation then can become final if no objections are raised in the U. S. Senate or House of Representatives within sixty days. When completed, this will be the first time ever that a gift or bequest of land lying outside a refuge boundary has been added to a National Wildlife Refuge and awarded “wilderness” status.
For more photos and information about the highly-successful Chupadera Peak Fundraising Project, please visit the friends of the Bosque NWR site: here (http://www.friendsofthebosque.org/chupadera/index.html) and here (http://www.friendsofthebosque.org/chupadera/chupadera2.html).
[Credit where credit is due: The photos displayed on this page were drawn from the Friends of the Bosque NWR web site. We appreciate their permission use their images. Special thanks to John Morrison who worked his heart out on this project and kept Steppin' Out informed about the project's progress all the way to the top of the mountain. Thanks, John, for all you do! Steppin' Out sends its hearty congratulations to every member of the fundraising team!!]
Chupadera Peak Purchase Party, Dec. 1
<center><img src=http://sonewmex.com/images/SUMMITWeb.jpg border=1 align=center><br><font size=2 face="Arial Narrow" color=black>Volunteer fundraising team member John Morrison stands at the top of Chupadera Peak.</font></center>
<table align=right cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><caption align=bottom><font size=2 face="Arial Narrow" color=black>View from the top of Chupadera Peak</font></caption><tr><td><img src=http://sonewmex.com/images/ChupSummitWeb.jpg border=1 hspace=5 alt="View from the top of Chupadera Peak"></td></tr></table>Friends of the Bosque del Apache invites the public to join in celebrating its successful campaign to purchase Chupadera Peak for the refuge with a “Victory Party” Sat., Dec. 1. The campaign has exceeded its goal of $63,000…the purchase price of the peak with 140 acres of land…and the purchase was finalized in late September, according to Friends president Jon Morrison.
The victory celebration will commence at 9 a.m. at the trailhead of the Chupadera Wilderness Trail, with dignitaries unveiling a bronze plaque, on which are engraved the names of 85 donors of one or more acres, and a moving tribute to all 267 who contributed toward purchase of the peak. Because of limited parking space at the trailhead, all guests will be shuttled there in refuge vans from parking at the visitor center.
<table align=left cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><caption align=bottom><font size=2 face="Arial Narrow" color=black>Socorro artist Sharon Fullingim takes a rest at Chupadera Peak.</font></caption><tr><td><img src=http://sonewmex.com/images/chupsharonWeb.jpg border=1 hspace=5 alt="Socorro artist Sharon Fullingim takes a rest at Chupadera Peak."></td></tr></table>Following the formal dedication at the trailhead, Dave Love and Richard Chamberlain, geologists with the State Bureau of Geology at NM Tech, and Katy Devine, one of the principal fundraisers, will lead hardier celebrants on a 9-1/2 mile round trip excursion to the 6,272- foot Chupadera summit. Other less energetic guests will adjourn to the Lannan Educational Annex at the visitor center for refreshments and a virtual hike to the peak.
Once the refuge has accepted the land, Refuge Manager Tom Melanson will file to add the donated property to its Chupadera Wilderness under Section 6 of the Wilderness Act. The wilderness designation then can become final if no objections are raised in the U. S. Senate or House of Representatives within sixty days. When completed, this will be the first time ever that a gift or bequest of land lying outside a refuge boundary has been added to a National Wildlife Refuge and awarded “wilderness” status.
For more photos and information about the highly-successful Chupadera Peak Fundraising Project, please visit the friends of the Bosque NWR site: here (http://www.friendsofthebosque.org/chupadera/index.html) and here (http://www.friendsofthebosque.org/chupadera/chupadera2.html).
[Credit where credit is due: The photos displayed on this page were drawn from the Friends of the Bosque NWR web site. We appreciate their permission use their images. Special thanks to John Morrison who worked his heart out on this project and kept Steppin' Out informed about the project's progress all the way to the top of the mountain. Thanks, John, for all you do! Steppin' Out sends its hearty congratulations to every member of the fundraising team!!]