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CDT southern terminus celebration
11/11/09
The Continental Divide Trail Alliance will host a ribbon cutting and celebration for the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail near Hachita, New Mexico. This celebration is to commemorate the 31st anniversary of the Trail’s designation by Congress and to display the southern terminus monument which will then be installed at the U.S.-Mexico border in the coming weeks.
What: Southern terminus ribbon cutting celebration
When: Saturday, November 14th, 2009 at 12pm
Where: Hachita, New Mexico
Directions: The event will take place eight miles west of Hachita where the CDT crosses NM Highway 9. From Interstate 10, take exit 49 and travel south on NM Highway 146 for about 19 miles to the town of Hachita. Turn right on NM Highway 9 and travel west for about eight miles to the CDT.
(There are no services in Hachita so make sure you have plenty of gas.)
In the event of bad weather, the celebration will be held in the Hachita Community Center located on NM Highway 9 just east of the intersection with NM Highway 146.
More information: The event will begin at noon on Saturday, November 14th with a ribbon cutting ceremony and will be followed by a chuck wagon Bar-be-que. This event also celebrates the 10th anniversary of the inclusion of Bureau of Land Management’s CDT segments in the National Landscape Conservation System. The event is funded through grants from New Mexico State Parks and from the Bureau of Land Management.
The southern terminus monument was designed through a public process during which citizens of New Mexico, Trail users, CDTA members and other supporters provided comments. The final design reflects the national scope of this project and will become an iconic symbol for the Trail.
Southern terminus travel: Traveling to the Southernmost Trailhead itself requires high-clearance 4×4 and takes two hours one- way once you leave the paved roads. Those wising to take their personal vehicles to the border will have plenty of time to make the four hour round-trip drive following the celebration, road conditions permitting. Maps and directions to the Trailhead will be provided. Recent rains may make the roads impassable.