The arrogant Sons Of Benedicts that run the BLM office in Las Cruces have been closing off roads in southern New Mexico for the past several years. A lot of the roads being closed have been in use since before I started four wheeling in 1959. The local 4WD club tried to bring suit to force them to re-open the roads in the Robledo mountains but lost the case.
We haven't been able to do anything about it legally, but the signs seem to get run over pretty often or, quite often, the sign disappears, leaving only the metal t-post standing there by its lonesome. In some cases they have closed roads by putting boulders in places where it ins difficult or impossible to get around them.
I've heard rumors that the signs are useful for patching holes in various things. I've also heard they make neat trophies for den walls.
In some parts of the desert the signs do not actually say that the area is closed, but rather that the area is a "Wilderness Study Area" and "certain activities may be restricted". A lot of people, apparently don't read the signs very carefully, assume the area is closed and stay out.
It looks to me as if the BLM here lacks sufficient personnel to
enforce most of the closures anyhow.
Mel
