#294: Northern NM

Some of my favorite scenery, plus a special guest

I love the Rio Grande Gorge, which cuts a huge gash through the Taos Plateau in northern New Mexico. The Red River cuts its own, much smaller, canyon as it rushes down to meet it.

The Red River, just above its junction with the Rio Grande

I never get tired of the various landscapes on the Taos Plateau, especially if clouds are involved. The view below is typical, with sage covering the mesa. You can kinda sorta see the Gorge — it’s that thin line that starts near the lower left and cuts across the entire image, first dark, then lighter.

Taos Plateau mesa

I finally got to see a bighorn sheep up there a few weeks ago. I kept my distance of course, partly because it’s a good policy in general but also because he seemed really mangy. However, I watched him for a while and ultimately realized he was apparently 100% healthy despite his looks. He seemed very sweet as well. I later learned that bighorn sheep shed their winter coats right around now.

Bighorn sheep on the Taos Plateau

Another of my favorite areas is the Jemez. I especially love the East Fork of the Jemez River, which is my all-time favorite body of water.¹

The East Fork as it departs Valle Grande in Valles Caldera

The section of the East Fork shown above is in Valles Caldera, much of which is wide open. While that makes it a scary place to be during a thunderstorm, it’s also often drop-dead gorgeous.

Incoming storm at Valles Caldera

1. Yeah, I know; it’s an extremely modest body of water. But I love it.