The Wilderness Society (WS) is meeting in Albuquerque this week. It is something of a big deal to have a top-tier national group as our guests. Not only will they have considerable economic impact in a short time, the presence of the Wilderness Society is another indicator of New Mexico’s importance to national issues. Further, it may be a step towards the WS establishing a New Mexico office, which it does not have currently — more economic impact and national importance for NM. The local press may overlook this.

New Mexico is one of the biggest states for the “extractive industries” (think root canal without medication or stitches). And here at the End Times (for oil), the junkies are ready to knock each other’s filling out for another hit. Having trashed New Mexico in the northwest and southeast, the profiteers thirst for more and will seek out any parcel, including your backyard or grave.

An yet, yin to all that yang, we are the birthplace of designated Wilderness, in the Gila (in 1964; that same year, Pecos, San Pedro Parks, Wheeler Peak, White Mountain Wildernesses were also designated — together, a bit more than 50% of the state’s designated Wilderness acres, but the giant Gila is itself over 1/3rd of our Wilderness). We are a people who love the land as is, who feel ourselves to be connected to this place. We are home to vast areas not yet destroyed nor fully protected but on someone’s short list. At the moment, we’re holding the line on Otero and Via Vidal.

You might anticipate that there is a personal side to this story. I’m not a member of the Wilderness Society (or, possibly, any group that tracks membership). I am a lover of wild things. One of those, mi esposa, Merri, connects me to the WS. The President of the Wilderness Society is Bill Meadows. Merri has know Bill and his wife Sally for more than 30 years — he was her first boss and gave her a membership in the Sierra Club. Their roots are strong and deep.

So, we joined a group of at least 30 people for a wonderful dinner last night. Staff and board members are from around the country; many have never been to New Mexico before; most won’t be here more than a few days.

Several people asked me what I do. I’m sure they were puzzled by the long pause and hesitant response. What do I do? I read the paper and blog for a few hours (that response came later from the wit of the staircase).

I spoke at length with one hard-working staffer. She will spend 47 hours in New Mexico and not get beyond Old Town or the airport. I exhorted her to walk down the block to Tingley Beach and the Bio Park. No time this time. I mean no harsh criticism of her, but that’s sad/crazy. No matter how hard-working one is, there has to be a half hour slack/stretch. At the least, find a high point and turn 360 degrees to see the grand bowl we live in everyday.

Still, this is a short working trip for a hard-working group that will meet from 7am to 5pm Thursday, then on to a social event at the National Hispanic Cultural Center, which for any such group is also work for the cause, from 6pm to 10pm. Then back up before dawn for more meetings.

Most of the group has more time and so they can actually enjoy the fruit of their labors, from the premier urban wilderness of the Sandias (1978) to New Mexico’s newest wilderness, Ojito (in 2005 — the first in NM since Cebolla and West Malpais in 1987). We all know that it doesn’t even take days to fall in love with New Mexico — one long vista, one moment of light & shadow is all it takes. If the damn wind doesn’t spoil everything. mjh

You may already be familiar with my wilderness blog: Ah, Wilderness!. I also have Travels with Mark & Merri, plus photos in many places, including Slideshows (see The Wilderness of My Soul).