Angel Fire, New Mexico

This yearling bear was hunting food last week and found some bird food on our deck.  No more feeding the birds!

Music From Angel Fire

Music from Angel Fire celebrates 28 years of bringing the splendor and beauty of chamber music masterpieces to the magnificent mountains of Northern New Mexico. Passionate performances by world renowned artists will captivate and inspire audiences of all ages.

The 2011 Season – Bach, Beethoven and Beyond – will open with the complete Beethoven Piano Trio Cycle. Beethoven worshiped Bach, and this Season we honor these two masters by bringing you many of their celebrated works.

The Festival is delighted to welcome two new ensembles this Season: the Grammy nominated Imani winds and the cross-genre string trio Time for Three. And, of course, any of your favorite Festival artists will be joining us again in a Season of great music and fun-filled special events. Once again brilliant Young Artists from the Curtis Institute of Music will travel throughout Northern New Mexico engaging thousands of local students in classroom settings.

For Details on Season Festivities please visit www.musicfromangelfire.org.

Signs of Spring

Spring in the mountains is often filled with popcorn snow showers and blustery winds.  Garden and plant lovers know there will be a required wait to see the light green new growth of the Aspens and never to put in new flowers and veggies until late May.   So we wait. . . .  Plants eventually break their way through the ground to face the sunshine one day and receive a heavy wet blanket of snow the next.    While we have experienced some strong winds this year there have also been some beautiful, sunny, calm days.    I saw a Robin adding to its nest this week, humming birds in search for a feeder,  low growing yellow wilflowers, daffodils and tulips in bloom.  Spring has arrived!

The snow on the mountain is the best! Powder, groomed, glades – Angel Fire Ski Area has it all! We had a house-full of company this weekend and everyone loved it.

Angel Fire Mountain views are always breath-taking. On a clear day they appear vague and distant. Rainy days the peaks appear above the clouds…they seem to move closer. When snow covers the mountains and the sun shines brightly they seem close enough to touch. I often stand and gaze at the mountains in awe…it refreshes my soul. Hope that you come out to visit our high mountain country soon.

The Forest
The Carson National Forest is one of five National Forests in New Mexico. The National Forests are America’s Great outdoors, here to serve the American people at work and play!

Some of the finest mountain scenery in the Southwest is found in the 1.5 million acres covered by the Carson National Forest. Elevations rise from 6,000 feet to 13,161 feet at Wheeler Peak, the highest in New Mexico. Our objective is to maintain that natural beauty.

Recreation Opportunities
The Carson National Forest offers unlimited recreational opportunities in any season. The magnificent mountain scenery and cool summer temperatures lure vacationers to enjoy the peace and quiet, for fishing, hunting, camping, and hiking. Winter activities include skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling.

Some recreation areas have undergone new and exciting renovations to make the National Forest lands accessible to all. Plans are being implemented to make additional recreation areas accessible. For the most current information on these and other areas, please check with your local Forest Service office.

Wilderness
There are 86,193 acres of wilderness in the Carson. Wilderness is land set aside as part of wild America, where man can be a visitor. The natural environment has not been disturbed. Travel is restricted to foot or horseback. No mechanized equipment is allowed. Wilderness areas include:

• Wheeler Peak
• Latir Peak
• Pecos
• Cruces Basin
• Columbine-Hondo (proposed wilderness area)

Camping
There are many established campgrounds available; with drinking water, toilets and without drinking water.

For those who want to get away, the Carson provides opportunities for back-country car and backpack camping. With few exceptions, visitors can roam the woods at will, wrapped in a cloak of peace and quiet. For more information, ask for a camping guide to the Carson.

Fish and Wildlife
Big game animals roam the Carson. They include mule deer, elk, antelope, black bear, mountain lion, and bighorn sheep. There are also many species of smaller animals and songbirds. Forest personnel work closely with the State Game and Fish Department to provide the best wildlife habitat possible.

The Carson has 400 miles of sparkling clean mountain streams and numerous lakes. Many are stocked with native trout by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.

Trails

There are 330 miles of trails, some maintained by volunteer groups. Opportunities abound for hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, and 4-wheel drive exploring.

Many summer hiking trails and forest roads become cross-country ski and snowmobile trails in winter. Trail guides are available at any Carson office.

Winter Recreation
Some of the finest alpine downhill skiing in the US is found at Taos Ski Valley, Red River and Sipapu Ski Areas. All are located within the forest. In addition, Angel Fire, Rio Costilla Ski Areas and Enchanted Forest-Cross Country Ski Area are located on nearby private lands.

The following message has been forwarded from Mr. Lujan’s office.
ROAD CLOSURE on NM 58 from mile marker 6.9 to 7.6 Ponil Creek. This is a bridge replacement project and road closure is scheduled for December 6th, 2010 through Spring of 2011. Traffic will be detoured at the junction of NM 58 and US 64 in Cimarron, and at I-25 interchanges 412, 415 and 419 in the Springer Vicinity. NM 58 will be open to local traffic but will be impassable at Mile Post 7 which is at the Ponil Creek crossing 7 miles east of Cimarron. Suggested alternate routes for light traffic is NM 21 between Cimarron and Springer and the suggested route for heavy truck traffic is US 64 between Raton and Cimarron. The NMDOT and Northern Mountain Construction are putting forth their best efforts to ensure a safe passage through the detour areas and appreciate your patience while this project is under construction.