Fantastic fall in New Mexico, the cool air flows in under the fading heat of summer. Where better to be alive than right here with all the great possibilities of life in the flyover state of New Mexico!
We notice more and more people visiting New Mexico just to take in the skies and the natural beauty. We don’t have much water and no ocean but we have incredible skies. Now with trees changing and the chamisa brush turning yellow in the valleys, especially along the roadsides, it is easy to understand why this visual sensation is bringing people interested in more subtle and lasting experiences.
While people are crowding trails and roads in Colorado to see the trees change, only one place in New Mexico tends to be crowded this time of year when the aspens put on their golden show. The Aspen Vista trail on the Santa Fe National Forest has become a sort of cliché among tourists and locals for good reason . The trail offers spectacular views of the huge aspen grove that spans the side of the mountain below Ski Santa Fe. With a two track road to walk on (no vehicle traffic) people can walk in groups or side by side and the trail goes beyond the aspens and into the high country with views clear to Colorado.
Just up the road Ski Santa Fe is offering fall chairlift rides to get people up in the cool air who prefer not to walk or who want to ride up with the kids. Chairlifts are fun and if you don’t ski, this is your chance to ride one and see the colors. Ski Santa Fe offers daily chairlift rides from October 5 through October 13 from eleven in the morning until three in the afternoon. Disc golf, beer, music, lots of open space and trails.
Ski Santa Fe also has live music this month with Pigment opening their music schedule. This is a fun band inspired by the String Cheese Incident and other jam bands from the Colorado scene. They play from 11 to 3 October 5 at La Casa Lodge at the ski area. The next day the Bus Tapes plays in the same place at the same times, then on October 12 Freddie Schwartz and the Kitty Jo Creek Band on October 13. What could be better than live music and beer at 10,000 feet?
Over on the Los Alamos side of the Valley at Pajarito Mountain Ski Area, there are a couple of things going on. October 5, the ski area is sponsoring National Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day at the ski slopes between 9 and 5pm. Then you can do some drinking and yoga at Pajarito on October 19 when you can enjoy mimosas (sparkling wine with orange juice) and yoga out on the deck. I think that drinking champagne and doing yoga at 9000 feet would be extra fun. When you get limbered up you could take a hike afterwards up to the rim of the Valles Caldera National Preserve.
Blow your mind with a trip through the aspens on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad running between Chama, NM and Antonito, Co. If you haven’t done this trip, don’t miss it this fall. With the trees all full of summer rain, they should be spectacular and the train ride is really fun, especially if you come with people you really enjoy. If you ride from the Antonito end you wind up into a beautiful gorge. From the Chama side the train runs up through forests and grassy valleys. Incredible. They will feed you if you like. Get all the details by clicking here.
Generally life is really great in New Mexico as the green chile is being roasted by the roadside all over and the cool air makes hiking and biking more attractive. Eat green chile at Rancho de Chimayo, get a new mountain bike at REI, ride the bosque on your bike in Albuquerque, hike in the Pecos Wilderness area from the Iron Gate Campground. Listen to music and eat more green chile. Take kids outdoors and be kind to animals and people. Ahhh New Mexico! Drink beer in the woods.
