New monument would lift up county

Dear editor,

One of the biggest boons to our business in years has been the Monumental Loop, miles and miles of road and trail in the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National monument you can ride your bike through in solitude. With more and more development every day, the United States is not growing new wild places to enjoy, so this amazing resource depends on the care and investment that come with a national monument designation.

Now that cooler weather is on the way, we’re gearing up for another season of visitors who come from around the country to experience this incredible opportunity. As I think about what it will take to meet the demand that comes with Monumental Loop cyclists, it’s hard not to imagine what a national monument could bring to other parts of southern New Mexico.

Right now, people in Deming are organizing a campaign to create a monument to protect Mimbres Peaks, an area that has just as much potential for world class bikepacking as the Organ Mountains. Luna County has one of the highest poverty rates in New Mexico. This area needs an injection of new economic activity and that’s exactly what a monument can provide.

Our experience with the monument has proved that the outdoor economy can move communities forward, but it depends on all of us working together to find solutions. Nowhere is that more needed than in Luna County.

Let’s make it reality by bringing a national monument to Mimbres Peaks.

Pablo Lopez, Manager

Outdoor Adventures