New Mexico 2022

 

We flew into El Paso, arriving at sunset. The airport faces the Franklin mountains.

We drove around Lincoln National Forest. Lots of fall colors. Mostly yellow, although we found some reds and oranges at Sunspot Solar Observatory.

White Sands National Park, from Cathey Canyon.

We hiked to Bridal Veil Falls. Also hiked to Salado Canyon nearby. Then visited Old Apple Barn where they had hot air balloon models.

Drove to Ruidoso and walked on the trail outside the Inn of the Mountain Gods. The trail goes along Mescalero Lake with views of the Sierra Blanca Peak. 

Visited Pistachio Land which has the world's largest pistachio. Great place to take photos. We did a wine sampling, which included a pistachio based wine. Then took a tour of the vineyards where pistachio trees grow.

Visited White Sands National Park. We hiked a few trails into the sand dunes. Then did a ranger led hike just before sunset.

Summary of the ranger's presentation about the development of white sands:

70 million years ago, tectonic plates shifted a layer of gypsum rock below the surface up. The gypsum rock was flat and stationary, however, on both sides of that, two mountain ranges were also forced up. Then 30 million years ago, the gypsum was covered by a lake of water, back then called Lake Otero. Eventually the lake evaporated, and the water transformed the gypsum rock to a kind of crystalized layer. Then came the winds, which broke the crystal into smaller pieces, and then soon the winds started knocking those smaller pieces around and turned them into sand. Beneath the sand is layers of clay and water.

We had dinner at Rebecca's Restaurant, inside The Lodge at Cloudcroft. The restaurant is upscale with great food.