49ers Painting the M - October 24, 2004

49ers -- Painting the M -- October 24, 2004
story and pictures by Susan Delap

An impressive group of students and staff showed up in the EMRTC parking lot on Sunday morning at 9am for the rare opportunity of gaining access to the top of Socorro Peak, locally known as M Mountain.

Access to the mountain, which resides entirely on the New Mexico Tech campus, is restricted by EMRTC and other entities who test bombs and perform other risky or top-secret activities. The only times the public can access the mountain are during 49ers for painting the M and in June for the Elfego Baca Golf Shoot where people tee off from the top of the mountain.

About a dozen people from the EES Department--faculty, staff, students, and alumni--showed up to either hike or ride to the top of M Mountain--some carrying bags of "lime."

People congregating in the EMRTC parking lot prior to painting the M

Closeup of the M on M Mountain. Photo copyright Susan Delap

Twenty lucky people, two from EES, volunteered for the privilege of carrying a 50-pound-sack of marble quartz (the current substitute for lime) on their backs to be dumped on rocks in an outline of an M--what is loosely called "painting" the M. You can see this effect in the picture to the left, which I took around 1992 from a few miles away through an 8-inch-diameter Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope.

The first five people to get a bag of "lime" to the M this year won $50, but teams were allowed this year, making the competition less rigorous--a disappointment for some of the participants.

In the past, EES has placed well in this event. Pat Mills recalls EES alumnus Vladimir Ispolatov (PhD Geochemistry Dec 2001) placing 1st in this event a few years ago, literally running all the way up the mountain. The spotters at the top of the mountain were just settling down to their morning coffee, thinking they still had a half hour before they had to get up and start looking for people, when Vladimir poked his head over the crest, ready to dump his load of lime. Apparently, geology students in Russia are pointed to a topographic feature way off in the distance and are told to find their way on foot. It must have been a rare treat for Vladimir to start his journey already at the foot of a mountain instead of many miles away.

This year was no exception to strong showings by members of the EES Department. Todd White, geophysics grad student, nimbly scrambled up the mountain, placing 2nd with a time of 1hr 7min. Remke van Dam, hydrology post doc, placed 3rd with a time of 1hr 9min--a little slower than his time last year of 1hr 6min. One year older, 3 minutes slower...we should all be so lucky to age this well. He did beat his 6th place ranking from last year.

Todd White before and after his hike up M Mountain

Above Left: Todd before the race with his 50# of marble quartz smooshed into his backpack. Above Middle: Afer his arduous hike, Todd is congratulated by Pat Mills. Above Right: Todd inhaling a burger.


Above left are EES faculty Glenn Spinelli and Sue Bilek exuberantly suiting up for their first hike up to the M (sans lime). On the right they are relaxing at the BBQ on top of the M.	Remke looks pensive while waiting in the parking lot before the climb.

Above Left: Remke is struggling up the last part of the gruelling scree slope to the M. Above Right: Remke is standing above the M with empty bag on the tee-spot for the Elfego Baca Golf Shoot. (Photos submitted by Remke van Dam.)


Hydrology grad student Weon Shik Han and his wife are eagerly anticipating their hike (also sans lime) to the top.	EES staffers Pat Mills and Susan Delap are marveling that we are up this early for a Sunday.

Click on the pictures below for larger images.

Two buses took people to the staging area to pick up their packs of lime. Pat and I along with alumna Abigail Dean rode up in this 4x4 Suburban Passing through security

On the way to the staging area A closeup of the hump in front of the M A side view of the hump

Pat at the staging area--where the race begins and lime is handed out I don't know who these guys are, but they looked sharp in their kilts. The race begins

On the way up in the Suburban View of the Magdalenas More Magdalenas

The Bear Mountains way in the distance At the top of Socorro Peak on the southern section where the larger cluster of towers are--looking north toward Albuquerque The peak with the M on it is just beyond this antenna. You can only reach the M by foot...or maybe by helicopter.

Looking east from the southern towers on the top of Socorro Peak

Looking north from the southern towers on Socorro Peak toward Strawberry Peak (center background). Polvadera Mountain, with Ladrone Peak behind it, is in the background to the right of the bush.

Hikers walking from the M to the area southwest of the southern towers -- where the barbecue is taking place!

Pat enjoying the view from the flat area south of the peak EES alumna Abigail Dean takes advantage of the cellular reception and calls her mom. A closeup of the perlite mine

Looking out over Socorro. The blue triangle in the foreground is the reservoir, and the red tiled roofs to the left are on the NMT campus. Abigail's still talking to her mom...Hey! I can see my house! (See yellow arrow.) Pat is sitting carefully amongst all those prickly pears...

Some of the interesting red rocks on the top of Socorro Peak are left of Pat. Susan on top of Socorro Peak with Socorro in the background.
Picture by Pat Mills. Sue and Glenn on right after their climb to the top. Weon Shik Han and wife are sitting in center background. Picture by Pat Mills.

Last Updated: November 11, 2004 by Webmaster


Two buses took people to the staging area to pick up their packs of lime.	Pat and I along with alumna Abigail Dean rode up in this 4x4 Suburban	Passing through security

On the way to the staging area	A closeup of the hump in front of the M	A side view of the hump

Pat at the staging area--where the race begins and lime is handed out	I don't know who these guys are, but they looked sharp in their kilts.	The race begins

On the way up in the Suburban	View of the Magdalenas	More Magdalenas

The Bear Mountains way in the distance	At the top of Socorro Peak on the southern section where the larger cluster of towers are--looking north toward Albuquerque	The peak with the M on it is just beyond this antenna. You can only reach the M by foot...or maybe by helicopter.

Looking east from the southern towers on the top of Socorro Peak

Looking north from the southern towers on Socorro Peak toward Strawberry Peak (center background). Polvadera Mountain, with Ladrone Peak behind it, is in the background to the right of the bush.

Hikers walking from the M to the area southwest of the southern towers -- where the barbecue is taking place!

Pat enjoying the view from the flat area south of the peak	EES alumna Abigail Dean takes advantage of the cellular reception and calls her mom.	A closeup of the perlite mine

Looking out over Socorro. The blue triangle in the foreground is the reservoir, and the red tiled roofs to the left are on the NMT campus.	Abigail's still talking to her mom...Hey! I can see my house! (See yellow arrow.)	Pat is sitting carefully amongst all those prickly pears...

Some of the interesting red rocks on the top of Socorro Peak are left of Pat.	Susan on top of Socorro Peak with Socorro in the background. Picture by Pat Mills.	Sue and Glenn on right after their climb to the top. Weon Shik Han and wife are sitting in center background. Picture by Pat Mills.