Elephant Butte by Kayak

The skies were clear for paddling and star gazing

Adventure

Fort Stanton Live

These are photos from Fort Stanton Live! An annual event held at historic Ft. Stanton, near Ruidoso NM. The fort was used to protect the area from the Apache threat, and later for a variety of other purposes, including a tuberculosis sanctuary and an internment camp for German nationals during WWII. The historical presentations and reenactments were very cool. 

An actor dressed as a Cavalry Soldier

 The artillery presentations were my favorite. The shock wave from the canon would hit before the sound did, then you were washed by the smoke, which smelled strongly of gunpowder, and then the crew reloaded and fired again. It was fantastic.

 It's hard to imagine what a real artillery battle would have been like, with dozens of these going off together.

 The Apache soldiers on their way to the "battle" with the soldiers. The Apaches won.

Historical chapel at Ft. Stanton. 

Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park

Winter weather

The school I worked at took a field trip to Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park. It was the first real cold day of the the fall. The wind was cold and sharp, I watched it push clouds over the Organs most of the morning. I forget how gorgeous southern New Mexico is sometimes. 

Picacho peak from a river levee 

Cottonwood sapling and clouds spilling over the Organ Mountains. (B&W HDR)