Nuevo México Day Explorations

A horse, a sketchy white van and a dog. That's all you need to traverse the great state of New Mexico. Which really is great after a few monsoons uncover a earth full of life and color. There's grass, there's flowers, there's mosquitos. How perfect this place would be if these sinister flies weren't skillfully stalking my every move. It doesn't matter the time of day; if I collect the hen's eggs before the sunrise, walk five full steps to get to the van or just go to let the dogs in the house... it's a race against the clock.

Luckily, the deeper into the desert I went the buzz of flies died down and was replaced with the comforting sound of rattles. At least snakes don't have it out for people, sure they'll kill if need be, but they are far less irritating than packs of mosquitoes attacking my calves and neck.

With these slight annoyances noted, New Mexico is easily enjoyed from all walks.

From what I've noticed, horses rule the state. Domestic and wild, they are plentiful and welcomed everywhere. I borrowed a few and trotted down some trails, through neighborhoods, over bridges, alongside the Rio Grande, all over Albuquerque. People of all ages and backgrounds were seen walking and talking with them. I quickly found out my horse whispering skills were subpar, but I still managed to get the horse to comply (half the time).

For an unconditioned rider, once a week is plenty for my thighs, bum and core to hate me. For those seeking a little more comfort, there is a much easier and stylish way to get around. 

Thousands of great possibilities one can do with a sketchy white van. I headed Southwest for two hours and arrived at the El Malpais (meaning 'bad country') National Monument. Huge red cliffs lined the way to the park which opened up to fields of black lava rocks.  The horizon was dotted with hills that according to my brochure turned out to be a handful of volcanoes. So naturally we hiked to the top of the tallest one. Elevation reached over 8,000 ft, but the hike itself only took twenty minutes (my lanky strides could have made it in ten, but being polite I waited for the stragglers). 

Then we ascended into an ice cave that was booming with greens, blues, yellows and oranges. From the ice to the moss growing on the red stained walls, the cave was a spectrum of colors. This cave came equipped with stairs, but further into El Malpais are deep bat caves where training and tools are required to explore. But to keep the trek simple and safe, we opted for the hiking trails that weave in and out of the park. We strolled along the continental divide and found areas of land that disappear into sinks. So, you know, watch out. 

One hour north of Albuquerque took me to Tent Rocks National Monument. This was the most interesting site I went to, and strangely enough my non-Native American mom grew up on the Indian reservation land (pueblo) right next to it. To prepare for this trek a friend told me to "bring a gun- it is the wild wild west out there." To which I became frantic because I don't own a gun nor would I enjoy carrying one. Apparently the Rattlesnakes are always around, whether you see them or not. This friend said she could hear them everywhere, and for protection to have a lead bullet ready. I found a walking stick. Luckily, not a single rattle was heard or seen, and the stick was useful in variety of ways- including the handful of compliments that I received on my stick's behalf. 

The last thing I borrowed was a friend's dog, Pony Boy. He and I jumped into the sketchy white van and drove up to the Santa Fe ski basin. Trails are abundant but we were told to head for Lake Nambe, a four mile uphill battle (cue Miley). I never really considered the altitude at which we were climbing, but scaling a mountain above 11,000 ft makes you slow down. After a few hours of climbing over rocks and playing in streams, Pony Boy and I made our decent. The hardest part of the hike being the swarms of flies at every turn. Huge flies. Flies that you can't shoe away. So finally resorting to wearing a jacket for fear of becoming embedded with these little monsters, we made a run for it. 

July made for the perfect weather to explore New Mexico. Even when it was in the 90s, and closer to the sun, there was always a refreshing breeze or cold cave to counteract. The rain brought vegetation everywhere, unfortunately that was followed by the hatching of flies, still the scenery was beautiful from every direction we drove/rode/hiked in.  Go to New Mexico in the summer (and again for fall events), but make sure to have bug spray and a walking stick at hand... pistols are optional?