An Inspired Cook

Ghost Ranch is one of the most beautiful places on earth in my opinion. New Mexicans call this Georgia O’keeffe county as she painted so many landscapes in and around Ghost Ranch. She first arrived in Taos, NM in 1929 where she first heard of Ghost Ranch. It took her a few years to make it back where she stayed at a dude ranch on Ghost Ranch property. She loved it so much that she came back and stayed as a guest of the owner Arthur Pack who owned and operated the ranch. In 1940 she bought the house in which she stayed. It was called Rancho de los Burros and she acquired it along with 7 acres of surrounding land. She eventually made her home in New Mexico permanent, and purchased another home/studio in Abiquiu which is just a few miles from Ghost Ranch. The land she loved is reflected in many of her paintings. I have always loved her work and am so lucky to wander some of paths she took so many years before and witness the beauty she captured in her paintings. These days you can visit Ghost Ranch by purchasing a day pass or book a stay including lodging or camping with an RV or tent. You can participate in art workshops or book a walking tour or go horseback riding. There is a museum on site as well. This is our first hike inside Ghost Ranch which has many trails to choose from. Since we are getting older we decided to do the hardest trail first because you never know when you might not be able to do it again. The Kitchen Mesa trail is the most difficult and longest hike on the map yet it is described as the most beautiful hike. I have to admit it wasn’t an easy trail with some narrow cracks to climb and steep slippery sandy areas on the edge of a cliff. But we took our time and managed to make it to the top. By the time we got up there I was losing steam and had to have a granola bar with some sugar to get my energy back but it was so worth it. Once we got to the top we had another 1 plus miles to look out over the landscape with the vivid colors of the terrain and sky. On this day there wasn’t a cloud in the sky and 65 degrees for a high. It was magical and Joe and I teased each other that I got to hike Kitchen Mesa before I turned 60 (just barely) and he turned it back on me to say he could still hike it at 60 (just barely). I guess that tells you how old we are but we are loving every minute discovering so many beautiful places in New Mexico that you can only witness from hiking there. I hope you enjoy the beauty of Ghost Ranch and especially Kitchen Mesa Trail.

The entrance to Ghost Ranch!

As your driving toward the Visitors center you will pass a log cabin and stables that may look familiar. The movie “City Slickers” was filmed here including the cabin and surrounding area.

Ghost Ranch Visitor Center, lodge, kitchen hall, museum and other outbuildings in the distance.

This area is just a few steps from where the Coelophysis Quarry is located. The Coelophysis dinosaur bones were excavated in the 1940’s. It’s also designated a National Landmark by the National Parks Service.

Kitchen Mesa . . . that’s where we’re headed, to the top!

As we circle around Kitchen Mesa here are some of the sights we witnessed on our way to the top.

Of course I had to take photos of my favorite tree scapes!

We are about half way to the top of the mesa but as we take a breather and turn around, this is what’s behind us! Isn’t it gorgeous!!

This is a panoramic with Kitchen Mesa on the left. We are almost to the top and we will travel the length of the mesa to get to those beautiful views from atop.

As we ascend the last few feet to the top, I saw sandstone that has eroded with layers upon layers peeling away. This shot is from the top and side view. It’s probably just me but I find things like this fascinating.

As I mentioned earlier we have about a mile (give or take) on top to explore. More tree scapes and they are magnificent with the views behind them.

This is one of my favorite photos . . . from up on top of Kitchen Mesa you can see the colors of the landscape and all it’s glory! Joe already promised me that we would make this photo into a canvas and he would frame it for me! Can’t think of anything more beautiful.

It’s hard to put into words the feeling you get when you look out across this vast landscape.

Views of Chimney Rock which we plan to hike to in the future. Chimney Rock is one of Ghost Ranch’s most popular trails and I imagine there are a lot more folks hiking on it than on Kitchen Mesa. We only passed 7 people total in the 5.1 miles we walked.

There are patches of white that look like snow on top. It’s actually rock.

The whole top layer is white rock just like this.

We have finally reached the end of the trail. Looking around the landscape you can see the Ghost Ranch outbuildings below.

Looking out across to Pedernal Mesa just beyond Abiquiu Lake. There’s still some snow on the mountains to the east. Pedernal Mesa was one of Georgia O’keeffe’s favorite subjects to paint.

I leave you with a panoramic view of Ghost Ranch below with Pedernal Mesa and Abiquiu Lake in the distance. Even if this is my one and only chance to see this view, at least I have photos and the best memories Joe and I shared on top of Kitchen Mesa!