Estevan Roybal is a WWII veteran who fought in Italy, Africa and Austria from 1941-1945.

In 1947, after his stint in the army, he began to work for Arnold Friedman and Roger Friedman where he remained

until about 1997.

My father and brother on the Friedman ranch.

Hunting was a huge part of his life, earlier for sustenance, later for

recreation

Mule deer taken in the Pecos Wilderness

My father is the oldest of 10 siblings

My father and his siblings helped earn money for the family by herding flocks of sheep from an early age.

Sheep herder on Bordo Lajado 1902

Grazing of goats and sheep in the Pecos high country was common into the 1950’s. As of June 17, 1996, the US Forest Service no

longer allows possession or transport of domestic goats or sheep within the Pecos Wilderness.

Wool played a big part in the local economy until the 1950 ’s when

polyester was created.

Most families raised goats for sustenance, for sale and also to sell milk and cheese, much to miners.

Many families supplemented their income by selling firewood.

The Terrero Mine was the biggest economic

boon the Pecos canyon has ever seen.

Another view of Terrero Mine

“Evangeline”

• Was first worked in 1882 by Pecos River Mining Co.

• Sold to American Metals in 1925.

• Over a 13 year period, $37 million worth of ore was extracted.

• For 12 of those years, it was New Mexico’s leading producer of lead, gold and silver.

• Employed 600 workers.

• Longest aerial tramway in North America.

And even a golf course!

From about age 10, my father helped his father cut railroad ties and mine

props for the Tererro mine.

Terrero mine consumed 6 million board feet of timber for shoring per year.

Lapp dairy, later owned by Happy and Delfina Ley provided milk to the mine.

Cattle were raised for food and for sale, the mine was a major buyer.

Local cattle were driven to Rowe or Lamy, then shipped by rail to Kansas or California.

Free permits were issued to locals to graze a team of horses and a milk cow.

Dude Ranches played a major role in the local economy, especially from the 1930’s through the

1950’s.

The Valley Ranch had rodeos on Sunday afternoon to entertain the guests, local cowboys got the

chance to “show their stuff” and in exchange they sometimes received tips from spectators.

Valley Ranch 1942

Mountain View Ranch 1930’s

Los Pinos Guest Ranch is the only guest ranch in the canyon still in operation.

Tres Lagunas Guest Ranch

Anyone recognize this building?

Brush Ranch About 1930

The Pecos canyon has long been known as an outdoorsman’s paradise.

Doug O’Bannon, former owner of Mountain View on pack trip in Pecos Wilderness

Elk were extirpated from the Pecos Wilderness about 1888, reintroduced in

1915, first hunted in 1933.

Pecos Elk Hunter, 1950

Fishing the Pecos River, 1950

Wilderness lakes being restocked by hauling fry in metal cans on pack horses.

The Forest Service issued special use permits to people who wanted to build cabins, the earliest

recorded was in 1905.

Estevan Roybal and Marie Vigil Roybal.