New Mexico | An Inspired Cook

Tag: New Mexico
- The Organ Mountains
  
  Posted at 8:39 am by NativeNM, on May 17, 2024
  Part 2 of our long weekend to southern NM; Joe and I took a day to hike a couple of trails around the Organ Mountains just east of Las Cruces. It was a beautiful day at the Organ Mountains with trails giving you a closer view of the rugged landscape with yuccas and cacti scattered throughout. We started off with blue skies and a light breeze, but as the day wore on, the wind started gusting with clouds swirling all around us. When we finished our last trail, we took some amazing pictures off a road parallel to the mountains. The Organ Mountains have been on my bucket list for the longest time. They remind me of The Grand Tetons, only smaller in stature. However, they do exude prominence with their jagged peaks. There is an urban legend that a painting of the Organ Mountains is the backdrop of the witches castle in “The Wizard of Oz”. In one scene, the wicked witch proclaims that the City of Oz is just over those mountains as she sends her flying monkeys out to do her bidding. If you Google it online and line up the pictures of the mountains with the backdrop of the witches castle, it looks quite plausible. Don’t take it from me, check it out for yourself!
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  Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments | Tagged Bar Canyon Trail, Crawford Trail, Fillmore Trail, hiking, La Cueva Loop, Las Cruces, New Mexico, The Organ Mountains
- White Sands National Park
  
  Posted at 9:38 am by NativeNM, on May 3, 2024
  It’s that time of year when Joe and I come out of hibernation to spend our free days finding new adventures in New Mexico. We decided to travel down south with our first stop being White Sands National Park. Our day at White Sands was one of the most memorable days ever. Located in the Tularosa Basin lies the world’s largest gypsum dunes. Over millions of years wind and water have eroded the gypsum into fine grains of sand. You will find soft pillowy sand dunes as well as hard packed areas. There are sculptures formed around hearty vegetation that grows here. What I especially loved was the swirly patterns in the sand created by the wind. The path is marked by footprints and markers along the way to keep you on trail. When you arrive at one marker you will see another marker in the distance so you know which direction to follow. Walking through soft sand is not easy. Always take enough water as there are no water stations to refill except at the visitor center which is several miles away. Wear light colored clothing and use sunscreen as the temperature can feel much warmer than the actual temperature. Make sure you are prepared to walk in sand, it is a slow trek and difficult to climb the numerous dunes with one step forward while sliding a half step back. But hiking down hills are so much fun, Joe and I held hands and ran down the dunes like little kids. Every step down would sink up to our knees filling our shoes with sand, but it was a small price to pay. I wish everyone could experience White Sands at least once, the stark beauty will take your breath away. I know that Joe and I are already planning our next trip to White Sands where you can’t feel anything other than awe and wonder!
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  Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments | Tagged #WhiteSandsNationalPark, @WhiteSandsNationalPark, Alamogordo New Mexico, national-parks, New Mexico, Sand Dunes, White Gypsum Sand, White Sand Dunes, White Sands National Monument, White Sands National Park, White Sands New Mexico, White Sands NP
- Ghost Ranch Chimney Rock Trail
  
  Posted at 1:25 pm by NativeNM, on April 19, 2024
  It was just a year ago, almost to the day that we visited Ghost Ranch and hiked up to the top of Kitchen Mesa Trail. There are many trails to hike in and around Ghost Ranch, a place that Joe and I love so much. We plan to come back and explore more hiking trails any chance we get. This time we chose one of the more popular trails, Chimney Rock Trail which is about 3 miles out and back. It’s an uphill hike which can be a challenge but take your time, gather your breath, take lots of pictures, always bring an energy bar and enjoy the view. We had perfect hiking weather with full sunshine, a slight breeze with the temperature just about 60 degrees. There were many other hikers of all ages enjoying the day as well. It’s always a sign of Spring when you see so many people enjoying a hiking trail with their family this time of year. No matter your age, try to get outdoors and enjoy nature around you. It fills your soul and will inspire you to explore more places that make you happy.
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  Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments | Tagged Chimney Rock Trail, Chimney Rock Trail Ghost Ranch, Georgia O'Keeffe, Ghost Ranch, Ghost Ranch New Mexico, hiking, nature, New Mexico, Travel
- The Land of Enchantment in October
  
  Posted at 4:04 pm by NativeNM, on October 21, 2023
  October is one of the best month’s to visit New Mexico. This year was particularly special with the Solar Eclipse crossing over parts of New Mexico with 100% viewing. Our son Josh who has a degree in Physics and Astronomy traveled to Albuquerque to see the event. We were concerned about the weather; the day started out with a few clouds but as they began to dissipate we had an unobstructed view of the sun and watched the Annular Solar Eclipse from start to finish lasting around 3 hours. Josh brought telescopes and solar eclipse glasses for us to wear. And Joe taped up our camera lens with an eclipse lens to take pictures. However, all the best photos were taken by Josh who knew how to take a photo through the telescope lens resulting in some amazing shots. Our sister in law Melody also spent time with us in October, however she had to fly home before the solar eclipse took place. But she enjoyed her first Balloon Fiesta, the Jemez Mountains, Valle Caldera and the Aspens in Santa Fe. For 2 weeks in October we enjoyed many adventures such as hiking our favorite places, eating the most amazing New Mexican food, watching hot air balloons fly every morning, experiencing the solar eclipse, plus a roadrunner and a coyote. It’s a magical time to be in New Mexico in October, I guess that’s why we are The Land of Enchantment!
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  Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments | Tagged #casadebenavidez, #hot tamales, #wyomingstargazing, 2023 Annular Solar Eclipse, 2023 International Balloon Fiesta, @casa de benavidez, @casadebenavidez, @wyomingstargazing, Albuquerque Balloon Field, Albuquerque NM, Aspen Vista Trail, Fall in New Mexico, Green Chile, New Mexico, October in New Mexico, Red Chile, Santa Fe NM
- Ghost Ranch Kitchen Mesa Trail
  
  Posted at 3:15 pm by NativeNM, on April 21, 2023
  Ghost Ranch is one of the most beautiful places on earth in my opinion. New Mexicans call this Georgia O’Keeffe country 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.
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  Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments | Tagged Abibuiu, Abiquiu Lake, Georgia O'Keeffe, Ghost Ranch, Google Pixel 7Pro, Kitchen Mesa Trail, New Mexico, Pedernal Mesa, Pedernal Mountain
- Jemez National Recreation Area
  
  Posted at 10:50 am by NativeNM, on August 10, 2021
  The Jemez National Recreation Area is located within the Jemez Mountains which is approximately 50 miles north and west of Albuquerque. Jemez is an easy 1 hour drive for Joe and I. We’ve explored many cultural landmarks as well as gorgeous landscapes that includes geological formations of granite and red rock as well as volcanic rock. The mountains are full of peaks and valleys, mesas of every color and box canyons to explore. Over the last couple of years we have taken many day trips to Jemez. Every path leads to something different such as old railroad tunnels, water falls, hot springs, a soda dam, historical ruins and a goblin colony. These are just a few of the many sights to see in Jemez. The mountainous areas are gorgeous with Cottonwood trees along the rivers and streams that attracts fly fishermen and Aspen trees in the higher elevation areas. The people who live within the Jemez Pueblo maintain many of the customs and traditions of their ancestors. It’s easy to see why the people of the Jemez Pueblo would make this area their home. In the summer Joe and I love to escape to Jemez where the mountainous areas are a good 10 to 15 degrees cooler than in the city. The Jemez area includes little side roads, many of them dirt roads, that will lead you down a path of awe and bewilderment. It’s hard to capture the beauty of this enchanted area but I hope you can imagine it and maybe one day have a chance to experience it in person.
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  Posted in Recipes | 4 Comments | Tagged Gilman Tunnels, Goblin Colony, Jemez, Jemez Falls, Jemez Historic Site, Jemez National Recreational Area, Jemez Soda Dam, McCauley Hot Springs, New Mexico, Paliza Canyon, Road to Jemez, Village of Jemez
- El Malpais National Monument
  
  Posted at 12:15 pm by NativeNM, on July 13, 2021
  El Malpais National Monument is located approximately 80 miles west of Albuquerque off of Interstate 40. There are two exits off of I-40 that will take you to different sights and things to do along those roads. For the El Malpais Overlook and La Ventana Arch, take exit 89 South onto Hwy 117 for approximately 15 miles. The overlook point stretches for miles and miles across a landscape that is covered in old lava flows and sandstone bluffs. The view is amazing, showcasing a valley of lava fields with colorful Mesa’s surrounding the area. We hiked from the top down to the area below for a little over 2 miles. It was a beautiful walk that we enjoyed immensely. A few miles further south on Hwy 117 is the La Ventana Arch. La Ventana is one of the largest arches in New Mexico and is very easy to get to with a short half mile hike. It’s a stunning sight from afar but as you get closer you will be in awe of the enormous beauty of this arch. Across El Malpais on the west side you can take exit 81 off of I- 40 and travel south along Hwy 53 from Grants, NM where you can hike trails through lava tubes and old lava flows. There is a “Big Tubes” area in which you will need to stop by the El Malpais Visitor Center to obtain a wild cave permit in order to explore the caves. Currently all the caves are closed due to covid until further notice with the exception of the privately owned the Bandera Ice Cave and Crater. There is a small Trading Post on site where you can get tickets. A couple of years ago we took Cameron (our youngest son) to see the Ice Caves and Bandera Crater which is located along the continental divide. It’s known as the land of “fire and ice” with the Bandera Crater and Ice Cave where the cave temperature never rises above 31 degrees. It seems the more we explore New Mexico the more there is to discover.
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  Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments | Tagged El Malpais National Monument, Grants New Mexico, La Ventana Arch, La Ventana Natural Arch, New Mexico
- Bisti De Na Zin Wilderness
  
  Posted at 10:19 am by NativeNM, on May 5, 2021
  The Bisti Badlands are located in the four corners area of New Mexico south of Farmington off of Hwy 371. The Bisti’s have been #1 on my bucket list for many years, but for different reasons we haven’t been able to go until now. You can look at photos and watch YouTube videos but there is nothing like seeing this landscape in person that makes you feel transported into another place and time. Much of the landscape appears black and white or sepia tone. It’s dry and desolate and the heat becomes a factor much of the afternoon so hiking in this area is best in the mornings. We carried several bottles of water with us knowing that there were no water stations to refill our bottles. The area is 45,000 acres and 60 square miles so unless you have an idea where to go, you could wander for hours. We did our research and decided we needed a GPS to coordinate areas and also keep track of our path because there are no trails and many of the footprints are blown away with the wind. We parked at the south parking lot and entered our coordinates into our GPS with 3 areas that we wanted to see; the Wings, Cracked Eggs and the Petrified Logs. We made it to those areas but we were also lured into other areas that we wanted to explore. There’s just so much to see, much more than we could even imagine in the few hours we were there. I hope you can imagine being transported to this enchanted land that was shaped by time and mother nature!
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  Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments | Tagged Bisti Badlands, Bisti/De Na Zin Wilderness, De Na Zin, Four Corners New Mexcio, New Mexico, Northwest New Mexico
- Ojito Wilderness Hoodoo Trail
  
  Posted at 12:53 pm by NativeNM, on March 12, 2021
  Spring fever is starting to creep into my senses. Spring is my favorite season especially when the colors start to paint the landscape with green leaves and the blooming of wild flowers. It’s pure serenity when you feel the warm air and sunshine upon your face as well as the accomplishment you feel after a long hike. We are lucky to have such a vast enchanted landscape with remote places to get away and explore. Josh gave us a book entitled “60 Hikes within 60 Miles” Albuquerque edition. We have enjoyed it so much and it includes many unknown places that we had no idea existed. Recently we made a beautiful trip to the Ojito Wilderness on the Hoodoo trail. It’s roughly 35 miles north and west of Albuquerque with the last 15 miles being a washboard dirt road. Once you get there you will find an easy 4 mile trail with a beautiful landscape and a few areas dotted with hoodoos varying in size and shape. These hoodoos are mostly sandstone with swirls of layers and color. While not as large or perfectly cone shaped like “Tent Rocks” they are each unique in their formations. There was wind along the trail with trees that look as if they had twisted over the years leaving behind some artistic bark and limbs. I’ve always been fascinated by these twisted art sculptures formed by nature. Here’s a few of our favorite views from the Hoodoo Trail in the Ojito Wilderness!
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  Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments | Tagged Hoodoos, New Mexico, New Mexico Hoodoos, New Mexico Landscape, Ojito Wilderness, Ojito Wilderness Hoodoo Trail
- Staying Home in the Land of Enchantment
  
  Posted at 2:33 pm by NativeNM, on April 27, 2020
  Who could have predicted that our world would change as we know it in only a matter of weeks. Do you ever wonder if the world will ever be the same again? Over the past few weeks I take little for granted and am grateful for the little things that keep me grounded and help me forget all the madness. While Joe and I are doing well, we recognize that so many families are sacrificing in ways I can’t even imagine. When our governor announced a “stay at home” order, everything got real for me. I have to admit I was nervous for days worrying about things I couldn’t control. Once the shock wore off I picked myself up and decided to find something productive to do. I got back to blogging but also started taking a diary of photos each day of our favorite meals and some views we spotted from our own backyard. With Spring’s arrival not only have the birds arrived but also other dessert wildlife making tracks through our yard. From sunrise to sunset I find beauty in things I took for granted only a few weeks ago. Life continues on as things look normal outside even though the world around us is not. May you all find something each day to give you peace and positive thoughts in the days ahead. We are all in this together! March 26, 2020, I woke up early to one of the darkest and richest sunrises I have ever witnessed. The sky was completely covered in clouds of dark blue. It was simply an amazing sight!
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  Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments | Tagged Cheli Cat, Land of Enchantment, Magic, New Mexico, Z The Wonder Kitty
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