NEWS RELEASE
USDA Forest Service
Lincoln National Forest 1101 New York Avenue Alamogordo, NM 88310
Contact: Joe Garcia (505) 434-7200 GROUP RECEIVES DONATION DOLLARS TOWARDS TRESTLE RESTORATION Alamogordo, NM (November 19, 2007) – A check in the amount of $1,000 was handed over recently from the Tzec Maun Foundation at a Mexican Canyon Trestle restoration meeting held in Cloudcroft, New Mexico. The Mexican Canyon Trestle, an icon of the Sacramento Mountains community, built in 1900 and maintained for use through 1947, is a restoration project on the Lincoln National Forest. The Tzec Maun Foundation has established an observatory in Cloudcroft, under Special Use Permit through the Lincoln National Forest. The foundations goals are to provide education opportunities to students around the world that are interested in astronomy and otherwise may not have access to the proper astronomical instruments. The Foundation provides remote-controlled telescopic equipment that is accessible through the Foundation's web site to qualified institutions and individuals. Access is free and via the Internet. Most amateur astronomers use their instruments by putting them in a private observatory but many do not have access and must “set up” there telescopes on a regular basis, which entails moving the telescope out of doors, mounting the instrument and other equipment to take images. This endeavor can be very challenging to a student. With the observatory in Cloudcroft, now a high school student in Alamogordo can access a telescope, point at an object and take an exposure. This can be done from a personal computer located at their school, home, or library – all done by accessing the Internet. Tzec Maun is also committed to supporting key local projects. According to Ron Wodaski, “Having recently completed the restoration of the Air Force Observatory in Cloudcroft, we view the
restoration of the Mexican Canyon Trestle as an even more critical part of what makes Cloudcroft such a unique part of New Mexico history." Plans are under way to replace rotting timbers in the 100-year old structure. The El Paso Ridgewalkers, Boy Scout Troop 147, Alamogordo Civil Air Patrol, Holloman Air Force Sergeant’s Association, and many individuals have volunteered their time with the many tasks associated with this restoration effort. The volunteers have been removing brush and created a 50 foot wide clearance on either side of the Trestle. Progress on the project continues to move forward. Partial funding has been procured from State and Federal grants through the Village of Cloudcroft, New Mexico Rails-to-Trails Association, and the U.S. Forest Service. The Tzec Maun Foundation recently joined this group by making a donation to the project. Congressman Steve Pearce, New Mexico Rails-to-Trails Association, the Village of Cloudcroft, New Mexico State University Engineering Department, Mescalero Forest Products, Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway, the Cloudcroft Chamber of Commerce and the Forest Service have come together to reconstruct the Trestle, so that it will continue to stand for many more years. For more information on the Mexican Canyon Trestle restoration project and the Lincoln National Forest, please review our website at: www.fs.fed.us/r3/lincoln, to learn more about your local forest. ####