Alamogordo and surrounding sites

There is actually a lot to see within a 45 minutes radius of Alamogordo NM and in the winter there is snow in the local mountains too. Since it is June and the hottest time of the year here, we enjoyed going up to the pine forests to cool off. Cloudcroft is a mountain town and sits at nearly 9,000 foot elevation. Best thing about Cloudcroft is the accessibility from Alamogordo around 20 minutes away.
   Ruidoso is twice as far but still an easy drive. There is a lot more to do in Ruidoso than in Cloudcroft and a lot more places to dine and shop as well. While we were walking at Grindstone lake, we saw a long list of rules on their information billboard. The rules were punctuated by, 6 park rangers with binoculars scouring the lakeside for wrongdoers. One of the more silly rules, on their forbidden list, was that all swimmers, 12 and under, must wear a life jacket at all times while swimming or wading along the shoreline. Zoe was so bummed, she wanted to swim but would not do so if she had to wear the life vest. Zoe loudly exclaimed, "The rules in America are ruining my childhood!" Since we already miss Nicaragua and our old way of life anyways, this punctuated a new, more structured, reality for us. Odd times like this, staring at a billboard, can stir up emotions for us even to this day. Tears welled up in our eyes as we remembered earlier times in Nicaragua. Time and distance will eventually ease our sadness but that may still take a while.
    The Museum of Space History is on the outskirts of town and has a good collection of military and space rockets. There is also an IMAX theater here with cool movies to watch. We watched a movie on black holes and me being a middle aged dad slept through a good portion of it. Apparently, it was an awesome movie because my my wife and kids loved it.

Vendors in Ruidoso selling cute knickknacks.

This snake skin is a reminder that we are in nature's backyard. 

Ruidoso was a larger town than we expected.

The girls loved the carvings and statues.

Sitting on the rocks of Grindstone lake.

Lunchtime

Inn of the Mountain Gods resort and casino has a nice lake where locals can fish.

Zoe hangin' out with a realistically looking sheriff.

Outside the air and space museum.

Mangled rocket debris, the aftermath of orbital re-entry.

The fact that military tech and space tech go hand-in-hand does not go unnoticed here.

Under a full moon glow in White Sands N.M.

What can I say, visiting White Sands National Monument during a full moon rocks. My whole family, and maybe even our dog, loved strolling barefoot on the powder white sand under the glow of a full moon. My kids were especially moved by the serenity, colors, and contrast of the park as day turned into night. Sierra and Zoe skipped in the sand and threw pinches of sand in the air shouting, "Look, pixie dust!" We truly never wanted to leave the dunes, and that is saying a lot. We fell in love with the moment and never wanted it to end. It wasn't just the moonlight dancing in the dunes. It wasn't just the soft powdery white sand. It wasn't just the perfect temperature and gently blowing breezes. It was all of that and more. It was the mysteriousness of the sand dunes conspiring with the elements, in an ever shifting mosaic. Footsteps in the sands are as temporal as life itself. With sand there is always a fresh start, a clean slate, the winds make sure of that, and we loved it!
   If you ever have a chance to visit White Sands National Monument, we hope it's during a full moon.
       

All of us were hiking barefoot to that perfect sand dune, in the distance, that caught our attention.

Too cool not to share.

Another one bites the dust.

We chose the biggest sand dune we could find.

At home in the bright lights of the dunes

Dramatic backdrop.

The cuteness of a girl and her dog.

Sunset over the white sands. 

Having fun as the full moon rises.

Front row seating for the girls as the moon ascends in the horizon.

The moon light and the residual sunlight cast a heavenly glow over the valley of white sands.

Breathtakingly beautiful flowers blooming in the park. 

One of my favorite images.

Gila Hot Springs for the afternoon

Our family loves natural hot springs. In fact, we've always loved them and make an effort to visit natural hot springs whenever we can. For us, we enjoyed the hot waters after our hike to the Gila Cliff Dwellings. Zoe and Sierra found time to collect (and release) minnows and tadpoles between hot baths. This also helped them maintain good body temperatures so that they would not overheat. These hot springs are a privately owned, mom and pop operation, and pretty laid back if I do say so  myself. There are 3 hot baths here, each set at a different temperature, there is also a picnic area, and a slow moving, meandering river.
   As we later found out, people with RVs and travel trailers can bring them down to the Gila Cliff Dwelling area, making their trek all the more enjoyable. There may be seasonal constraints, however, so check into this first, before committing your RVs to these tight roads. Once at the bottom, there is a general store with good WIFI, other essentials including ice cream! The hot springs and scenic green valley were great to experience and at $5 per person it was affordable too.     

Ahhh the look of satisfaction. 

Quiet, untamed wilderness at your backdoor.

Whimsical art at the springs.

No photoshopping here, just pure beauty.

Sierra dropping pebbles into the water.

My point of view of the valley walls, feet at all

Zoe caught a lunker of a tadpole.

The slow moving river was perfect for the kids to play in.

Searching for minnows and tadpoles was a full time job.

The girls found better fishing grounds just up the river.

Gila Cliff Dwellings, touching the past

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument is at the end of a remote road, protected by high mountains and isolated from any large city influences. The drive from Silver city to the cliff dwellings took 2 hours to cover a mere 45 miles. The curves and bends along the mountain road showcased the rugged terrain in ways speeding down a modern highway couldn't. Because we were driving so slow we were able to see wild turkey and deer, among other animals in the forest. Additionally, changes in elevation played games with our ears as we meandered by one beautiful vista after another. Elise commented how the mountain ranges, reddish rocks, and forest reminded her of Purmamarca, Argentina and also some of the remote parts around Chachapoyas, in Peru. I thought it was amazing how her memory connected these areas so precisely while cruising down a road, in New Mexico. Goes to show you, once you've seen something, you cannot unsee it.
   From an outdoor enthusiast's perspective it doesn't get any better than Gila National Forest. There are hundreds of well marked campsites throughout this region providing campers ample opportunity to enjoy the forest and streams. Animals ranging from bears to squirrels are abundant, so coming close to nature is a reality here. 
   This is an area where history, nature, and wide open spaces mingle in the most beautiful ways. This is probably why my wife compared this spot to those picturesque places in South America. As for the cliff dwellings, experiencing them is like walking back time, in somebody else's moccasins. Seeing the kitchen with smoke soot still on the ceiling, pantries with remnant food, and cozy sleeping areas, added to the realness of a way of life, long since forgotten. History is more fun when you can touch it and experience it from another perspective. Places like this make learning about our past fun. Places like this make experiencing the outdoors fun. Places like this are best protected for all to enjoy.           

These Native American cliff dwellings are believed to be about 800 years old.

The girls gazing into the horizon from high atop their cliff dwelling perch.

Zoe climbing the tallest ladder to the dwellings.

This place felt special from the moment we entered the valley.

Intact ruins, including wood beams, were impressive to see.

A community lived here but park officials aren't sure for how long.

The organic design of the dwelling made it architecturally pleasing.

Without much of the effects of weathering, these ruins remain surprisingly well preserved.

The cave ceiling was more than 20 feet in some spots.

Seeing a communal structure such as this, brings Native American history to life.

An ancient food pantry from a bygone era.

800 year old corn cobs gave the ruins a more human feel and also demonstrated the shift from a more hunter gatherer society to a more agricultural society.

 

The cliff dwelling contained many buildings and could have accommodated many people during it's zenith. 

The views were stunning from the cliff hideout and one could see how this place could be easily defended in times of war.  

My daughter, Sierra, is now starting to take photographs with my cell phone. Here, she was inspired when she looked up and saw how light, shadows, openness, and nature came together for a perfect shot.   

Fire is not the end but the beginning of a new cycle in the forest.

Some of the rarest trout in North America, the Gila trout.

Other side of that rock face are the cliff dwellings.

The scenery of the area and the tranquility make this valley a backpacker's delight.