Anyone who has read some of the story of his life knows that Lew Wallace, the Territorial Governor of New Mexico at that time, had intended to pardon him or at least give him amnesty for testifying about the Lincoln County Wars. However, events intervened and Henry Antrim, known as The Kid because of his age and small stature, didn’t receive the pardon or amnesty.

Over the years, Billy, with his aliases of William H. Bonney, William Henry McCarty, and later someone who claimed to be him, Brushy Bill Roberts, has been a focal point of much of New Mexico’s tourism. Old Lincoln Days in August with the outdoor pageant “Last Escape of Billy the Kid” is the oldest running folk festival in the United States, according to some. The Court House from which he escaped looks much the same as it did then because it has been well preserved. To visit Lincoln is to step back in time.

The question now seems to be whether Governor Bill Richardson will actually pardon him after all these years. Garrett’s descendents are objecting as they feel it is a reflection on their ancestor, Pat Garrett, who is credited with having killed Billy.

Controversy and mystery are two attention-getters, no matter how recent or how long ago. So, another chapter in the saga of Billy the Kid is unraveling in our time as, no doubt, another one will in generations to come. The legend lives on.

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Home grown entertainment was about all there was.  Radio was in its infancy and it was many years before the advent of television and computers.  Leonard learned to play the mandolin and sing.  Neighbors would be invited for square dances and soon he became expert at calling them.

He also learned to yodel by playing over and over the recording of a Swiss yodeler.  His mother also yodeled and the story goes that they used it as a way of communicating on the farm.  One kind of yodel was to let him know it was lunch time; another kind to warn of a change in weather and yet another at the end of the day.

He dropped out of high school and worked in a factory but those kinds of jobs were difficult.  He moved to California with his parents and siblings, where he worked at all and any kind of job he could find, all the while singing and playing his guitar whenever he had free time.

His sister Mary convinced him to try out for a radio program featuring amateur talent. He did, singing, yodeling, and playing the guitar.  It was his entry into the world of public entertainment as he was asked to join a country music group called the Rocky Mountaineers.  In 1933 he joined a group called the O-Bar-O Cowboys and they toured Arizona and New Mexico and the Southwest.  As it was depression years they barely made enough for gas for the trip.

While in Roswell they were given air time to announce their appearance in town.  In addition to their singing and guitar playing they talked about being homesick and especially about their favorite foods. Leonard’s favorite was his mother’s lemon pie. 

A call came into the studio that if he would sing “The Swiss Yodel” the caller would bake him a lemon pie.

That evening someone knocked on their traveler’s cabin door and there was a young girl and her mother with two lemon pies. Her name was Arline Wilkins.  After he returned to California they corresponded and in 1936 they were married.  They had a daughter, a son and one adopted daughter.  Arlene died in 1945 from complications after the birth of their son.

Leonard starred in many movies with his horse, Trigger. “Tumbling Tumbleweeds” was the first.  He become part of a group known as The Sons of the Pioneers. In 1937 Republic Pictures changed his name.

Have you guessed who Leonard Slye was?  Does “Happy Trails” give you a clue?  Yes, all of the above is about Roy Rogers, King of the Cowboys., who died July 6, 1998.

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We visited in May, when the desert was truly alive, especially once we turned into the park gates just off Highway 285 north of town. After driving through stark scrub desert to the north, we were greeted on the park road by tall, snaking ocotillo with fiery red tips and prickly pear cacti covered with large yellow blossoms and furled pink buds. Perhaps because of an unusually rainy spring, the blossoms were budding not only on the edges of the spiked pads but even in the centers of the  pads.

The road wound up to a low building on a ridge overlooking the Pecos River valley and town of Carlsbad. We would soon learn we were at 3,200 feet, atop the Ocotillo Hills, named for the bright cactus that had greeted us. Around the large parking lot were large soaptree yucca, also covered in enormous, spiky white blooms, and many species of agave, or century plant. These giants grow close to the ground, storing energy for about twenty years before sending up a single blossoming stalk to reproduce, after which the plants die. Those twenty years must have seemed like a century to whoever gave the agave their common name.

The staff were friendly and helpful, and the exhibits inside the building were well-designed and interesting, covering the geology, flora, fauna, and human cultures of the region. We especially enjoyed the long table with animal horns, antlers, fossils, rocks, and other items to touch and feel. We also learned that the Ocotillo Hills, like the Guadalupe Mountains to the west, were once limestone reefs in the Permian Basin, the ancient sea whose millions of tiny creatures were transformed into the deposits of oil and gas that have enriched West Texans.

The 1.3-mile paved trail winds through the various ecosystems of the Chihuahuan Desert. This desert stretches from southeast Arizona across southern New Mexico into Texas and far south into Mexico. The largest desert in North America, it covers 200,000 square miles.

The trail winds first through the Sand Dunes habitat, with sagebrush, prickly pear, mimosa, and mesquite. Next is the Riparian habitat, an area where a spring or other water makes it possible for trees to grow. (Riparian comes from the Latin ripa, “river bank.”) The trees here include pines,  junipers, oaks, and maples. The Riparian habitat, naturally, features  the bird aviary with owls, hawks, eagles, and turkeys. Like the other animal displays in the park, the aviary features natural habitat but allows you to get quite close to the birds. I never tire of seeing these magnificent creatures, such as the bald eagle, up close.

Next is the Gypsum Hills habitat–full of “gypsophiles,” or plants that love gypsum. The Desert Arroyo habitat features apache plume, desert willow, and mesquite. It also has an arroyo, or dry streambed, which is home to the zoo’s javelina, or collared peccaries. Wild cousins of the pig but native to the Americas, javelina have sharp tusks and feast on agave and prickly pear. They live in packs, and family members nestle together in cool, shaded mud during the heat of the day.

The Piñon-Juniper-Oak habitat is home to the bear and wolf exhibits and the nocturnal creatures exhibit (salamander, bats, ringtail cats, and kangaroo rats). The bear exhibit was under construction, so we did not get to see Maggie Oso, a black bear famous for her paintings. A volunteer inside described how they place the paints out in shallow containers, and she goes back and forth to different colors, then walks on the paper or swipes it. Apparently, they thought it would be therapeutic for the young bear, who lost her mother and sister.

All the animals at the zoo are native to the area and were orphaned or injured by traps, cars, or bullets. When possible, rehabilitated animals are returned to the wild. The Mexican gray wolves at Living Desert are part of an international effort to revive the endangered species in the Southwest.

Past the bear and wolf areas, a side trail leads downhill and out onto a ridge. My partner refused to enter the Reptile House, which features snakes, lizards, and a Gila monster. On the slopes below the trail we had a good view of the “hoofstock”—the bison, pronghorn, mule deer, and elk. This trail also leads to the waterfowl pond and prairie dog exhibit (fun to watch, especially for kids) as well as spectacular vistas of the Pecos River Valley.

Back up on the main trail is my personal favorite, the mountain lion and bobcat exhibit. The enclosures were small but well designed, so we were only a few feet from the big cats, yet they seemed less stressed than at many zoos. The mountain lion rolled lazily onto his (or her?) back, ignoring me and my camera.

After passing the mescal pit (see article on the annual Mescal Roast), the path leads up to a large greenhouse with Succulents of the World. This exhibit displays hundreds of succulents, many of which would not survive in the Chihuahuan desert environment. I learned that all cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti. Succulents include all plants that store water in their leaves, stems, or roots. The display included some of Arizona’s giant saguaros. The final exhibit is a lovely pond, complete with blooming water lilies, surrounded by native plants.

I highly recommend the Living Desert for all ages. It was considerably more interesting than we expected. Early morning and evening are good times for viewing the animals (and less hot for humans), and the park is open until 8 in the summer, so you can go there after the caverns close.

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“The Mescal Roast is truly a special event,” said Ken Britt, Park Superintendent. “The sharing by the Mescalero Apache people is a genuine gift that brings all participants closer together as well as closer to our natural surroundings.”

The Mescal Roast provides a better understanding of the Mescalero Apache people and the importance of protecting the Chihuahuan Desert ecosystem upon which the Apache once totally depended.

The mescal plant, also known as agave, was a staple for the Apache who once populated the Pecos River Valley and Guadalupe Mountains of Southeastern New Mexico. Nearly all parts of the mescal plant could be utilized including the leaves, flower stalks, blossoms and seeds. The leaves and stalks were traditionally roasted in large cooking pits and eaten or pounded into cakes and dried in the sun for later consumption. Agave fibers were used to make bowstrings, brushes, sandals and rope.

The Mescalero Apache were eventually forced to relocate following the arrival of U.S. military expeditions and “Buffalo Soldiers” in the 1800’s.

The event commences on Thursday as spiritual leaders bless the roasting pit in which the mescal is placed to prepare for tasting the following Sunday. The ceremony is not a reenactment but an actual ritual observance.

Visitors will be treated to a feast dinner on Friday and Saturday, followed by an interpretive lecture and performance of traditional Apache War/Mountain Spirit dances both nights. The dinner is modeled after traditional feasts served during coming-of-age ceremonies for young women on the reservation. The Mescal Roast draws an average of 2,500 visitors annually.

A schedule of events is as follows:

Thursday, May 10

10:00 a.m. – Prayer ceremony and Mescal pit blessing

Friday, May 11 & Saturday, May 12

All Day – Sales of native American crafts
2:00 p.m. – Mescal Roast and interpretive presentation
6:00 p.m. – Feast dinner
7:00 p.m. – Apache War dance
8:30 p.m. – Mountain Spirit dance

Sunday, May 13

11:00 a.m. – Mescal Pit reopening, Mescal tasting, Closing ceremony and giveaway

Admittance to special daytime activities during the Mescal Roast, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., is free of charge with the park’s normal day-use/admission fee of $5 for adults, $3 for children between 7 and 12 years and free to children under 6 years.

Tickets for Mescal feast dinner on either Friday or Saturday are $15 each, and include all evening activities from 6:00 p.m. until closing. Advanced ticket purchase is recommended, as tickets are limited. Tickets are on sale at the park, by phone or mail.

Living Desert Zoo and Gardens (LDZG) recently received accreditation from the association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)’s independent Accreditation Commission. LDZG is dedicated to the conservation of the plants and animals of Chihuahuan Desert ecosystem. The park conducts extensive public education programs and actively participates in species conservation efforts.

For more information on LDZG or to purchase tickets to the Mescal Roast, contact the park at (505) 887-5516. Visit State Parks website at www.nmparks.com.

Technorati Tags: activity,attraction,feature,outdoor,southeast,spring

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The Cultural Arts Series at Clovis Community College in Clovis, New Mexico begins its sixth year of “Bringing the World to You.” This year’s theme, “Connections” focuses on our desire to connect audiences with the arts through world class performances and important educational outreach

Sophie Milman
Saturday, September 30
The Lyceum Theatre, 8 pm
General Admission $20, Senior/Military/Student $15

Named the Canadian Breakthrough Jazz Artist of the Year, Sophie Milman is on her way to becoming an international Jazz sensation. Her self-titled debut album was nominated for a Juno Award (Canadian Grammy) for Best Jazz Vocal Album. This concert is held in partnership with Clovis Mainstreet. Their Annual Wine and Cheese Gala precedes the concert and is a favorite of residents of the region. Guests will enjoy a sampling New Mexico wines, hor d’ouerves, and the ever popular chocolate fountain. Tickets for the Gala are $25 and may be purchased from any Clovis MainStreet Board Member, at the Clovis MainStreet Office at 215 N. Main, the Chamber of Commerce at 105 E. Grand or at the CCC Cashier’s windows. sophiemilman.com

The Lovell Sisters
Saturday, October 14
Marshall Auditorium, 7 pm
General Admission $15, Senior/Military/Student $10

The Lovell Sisters feature tight vocal harmonies with an innovative fusion of folk, country and contemporary acoustic music. Most often compared to Alison Krauss, Nickel Creek and The Dixie Chicks, the sisters won the 2005 NPR National Talent Competition. www.myspace.com/thelovellsisters

Davide Cabassi
Thursday, October 19
Marshall Auditorium, 7 pm
General Admission $15, Senior/Military/Student $10

As a top prizewinner of the Twelfth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, this charismatic Italian wins the hearts of audiences of all ages. He made his debut at the age of 13 and has since toured with orchestras throughout the world. davidecabassi.com

Dervish
Thursday, November 16, 7 pm
Lyceum Theatre
General Admission $15, Senior/Military/Student $10

One of the world’s top Irish bands, Dervish is well known for its strong vocals and soaring, plunging instrumentals. Front woman Karan Casey was dubbed by the Wall Street Journal as “one of the true glories of Irish music.” dervish.ie/

Pueblo Christmas with Robert Mirabal
Sunday, November 26, 4 pm
Town Hall
General Admission $20, Senior/Military/Student $15

A 2006 Grammy award winner, Robert Mirabal fuses a spectacular fantasia of traditional Southwestern Native American tribal music and modern beats to bring to life his magical vision of hope, strength and transcendence in this special holiday performance. mirabal.com

Christmas from Dublin
Wednesday, December 6
Marshall Auditorium, 7 pm
General Admission $20, Senior/Military/Student $15

Celebrate the holidays in true Irish style in a special holiday performance featuring The Three Irish Tenors, Irish Divas and an eight-piece orchestra. Direct from the Emerald Isle, this performance is captivating and has charmed audiences around the world.

George Winston
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Marshall Auditorium, 7 pm
General Admission $15, Senior/Military/Student $10

Grammy winner George Winston, best known for his seasonally themed recordings including DECEMBER, AUTUMN, WINTER INTO SPRING and SUMMER, plays a variety of styles, including melodic folk, New Orleans R&B and stride piano. Winston has seven gold, platinum and multi-platinum records. Please join us in support of our local food bank by bringing a donation of canned food to the concert. georgewinston.com

Viver Brasil Dance Company
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Marshall Auditorium, 4 pm
General Admission $15, Senior/Military/Student $10

This multi-award-wining dance company creates riveting and passionate Brazilian dance that explores ancient and contemporary art forms and the spiritual strength of Brazilian culture. The performance fuses passionate Afro-Brazilian dance, stunning costumes, and exuberant live percussion and vocals. viverbrasil.com

Glenn Miller Orchestra
Saturday, March 10, 2007
TBA, 7 pm
General Admission $25, Senior/Military/Student $20

Displaying the authentic Miller sound coupled with superb musicianship and great showmanship, these musicians deliver a fast-paced evening of jazz, swing, timeless classics and traditional big band numbers. Enjoy hor ‘doeurves and dancing during this special evening of musical entertainment. glennmillerorchestra.com

The Spencers – Theatre of Illusion
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Marshall Auditorium, 7 pm
General Admission $15, Senior/Military/Student $10

Get ready for an unforgettable and powerful theatrical experience! The Spencers combine original theatrical elements with cutting-edge illusions, audience interaction, dramatic lighting, special effects, music, movement and amazing stage magic! http://www.SpencersMagic.com

Santa Fe Opera Performers
Friday, April 20
Town Hall, 7 pm
Free Admission

Back by popular demand, the Santa Fe Opera Performers present joyous music, heart wrenching melodies and show stopping arias during their spring tour throughout New Mexico. santafeopera.org

Cinco de Mayo
Saturday, May 5
American Legion Post 26, 6 pm
General Admission/Senior/Military/Student $10

Enjoy dinner, music, dancing, pi?atas for the children, fabulous prizes and a few surprises!

For more information, contact…

Stephanie Spencer
Director of Resource Development
stephanie.spencer@clovis.edu
505.769.4956

Christy Mendoza
Cultural Arts Director
christy.mendoza@clovis.edu
505.769.4950

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You say you’re bored, the kids are restless, nothing to do! Well, how about spending a day discovering some of New Mexico’s great history? This scenic drive will take you to three ancient Indian pueblos and the ruins of three awe-inspiring Spanish mission churches that are some of the most beautiful to be found anywhere in the United States. Along this route you can also hike and play in the Cibola National Forest, bike, camp or fish among the pine, aspen, and maple forests of the Manzano Mountains at Manzano Mountains State Park.

The Salt Missions Trail Scenic Byway is one of 24 state designated Scenic and Historic Byways and six of these are National Scenic Byways. The Salt Missions Trail is approximately 140 miles long and roughly follows NM 333, NM 41, US 60, NM 513, NM 55, NM 337 and NM 131. A good map can be found online at http://www.heartnm.com/english/trip4_saltmission_lgmap.html.

Start the tour by visiting the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument Visitors Center at the headquarters in Mountainair. This is located one block west of the U.S. 60 and N M. 55 junction. The Visitors Center is open 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM daily. Phone: 505- 847-2585. Once you are finished at the Visitors Center and have armed yourself with maps and information, head nine miles west of Mountainair on US 60 and one-half mile north on N.M. 513 to Abo.

Abó

The late afternoon sun illuminates the ruins of Mission San Gregorio de Abó. Photo by Jim Hunter.

The unexcavated pueblo ruins at Abo date back to the 1300s though there is evidence that Mogollon pit house builders had occupied the area beginning around 1150 AD. Located in a pass that opens to the Rio Grande Valley, this was a major trading center for the area.

Fray Francisco Fonte built a small church at Abo beginning in about 1622. Then in 1629, Francisco de Acevedo, who was assigned to the Salinas district by officials in Santa Fe, enlarged the Mission of San Gregorio de Abo to reflect its importance as the headquarters church of the Salinas district.

This church, which was completed in 1659, employs buttresses on the 40-foot high walls. It is one of the few remaining examples of medieval architecture in the United States.

At Abó and at Quarai, kivas or underground ceremonial chambers were built in the patios of the conventos. The presence of both Christian and Pueblo sacred buildings and symbols indicates that both belief systems were being maintained at these sites.

Quari

Sitting in a grassy meadow in the shadow of 10,000-foot high Manzano Peak are the ruins of the Mission La Purísima Concepción de Cuarac (Quari).
Photo by Jim Hunter.

Quari is located eight miles north of Mountainair near the village of Punta de Aqua on N.M. 55.

Sitting in a grassy meadow in the shadow of 10,000-foot high Manzano Peak are the ruins of the Mission La Purísima Concepción de Cuarac (Quari). The magnificent red sandstone ruins of the mission at Quari have walls five feet thick and 40 feet high. Quari is smallest of the three ruins but the church here is the most complete.

In 1630, Fray Estevan de Perea who was one of the most influential figures in the colonial New Mexican church directed the construction of the mission. The cruciform church was 50 by 104 feet. The adjoining convent and pueblo enclosed three plazas and a number of kivas or underground ceremonial rooms used by the Indians of the pueblo.

Gran Quivera

Ruins at Gran Quivera — Matates and manos were used to grind corn and other grains. Photo by Jim Hunter

Gran Quivera lies 25 miles south of Mountainair on N.M. 55.

At Gran Quivera, two missions were constructed high on a barren, wind-swept hill along side the Pueblo de las Humanas. The first church was called San Isidro and was built in 1629 by Fray Juan Letrado and thirty years later a much larger and more imposing mission was built by Fray Diego de Santander. This church, which was called San Buenaventura, was never finished.

Unlike the missions at Abo and Quari that were constructed of red sandstone, the pueblo and missions at Gran Quivera were built using thousands of pieces of carefully fitted limestone bound together with adobe mortar.

Prior to the coming of the Spaniards the Pueblo de las Humanas was an important trade center and the largest of the Salinas Pueblos and the only one that has been excavated.

All three units of the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument are open daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. There are no entrance fees. Picnic facilities are available but there is no camping within any of the units. More information about the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument can be found on their home page at http://www.heartnm.com/english/trip4_saltmission_lgmap.html.

Manzano Mountains State Park and the Cibola National Forest

Located just south of the town of Manzano and approximately 13 miles northwest of Mountainair, Manzano Mountains State Park and Manzano Lake is a beautiful place to enjoy a picnic or go hiking, bird watching, fishing or enjoy a week-end camping trip. The park is open from April to October and has 45 developed campsites, eight of which have electricity. There is also an RV dump station as well as restrooms.

The Manzano Mountains also serve as an important flyway for migrating raptors. Each year from August 15 through November 5, Hawkwatch International sets up a monitoring site and banding operation at Capilla Peak. To reach this site, go north on NM 55 to the town of Manzano. Turn east on the dirt road directly across from the church. Follow the signs to Capilla Peak Campground where the road will end just below a Fire Tower. Park off the road and follow the unmarked forest trail west approximately ¾ of a mile to the site. Visitors are always welcome at the site and here the ecology and conservation needs of raptors can be learned from full-time volunteer educators. For more information about Hawkwatch International you can visit their web site at http://www.hawkwatch.org/.

Much of the Manzano Mountains are within the boundaries of the Mountainair Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest which has six developed campgrounds and 100 miles of hiking and horseback trails, it also includes the Manzano Mountain Wilderness Area.

In the fall, a beautiful loop drive can be made through Cañon deTorreon and Cañon deTajique. Take NM 55 north to the town of Torreon then turn west on to Forest Road 55. This road makes a loop and you will come out at the town of Tajique just north of Torreon. Here you will find bright yellow aspens and stunning Rocky Mountain and Big-tooth Maples. At the upper end of Cañon de Tajique is the Fourth of July Campground. The campground has 25 camping sites, 4 picnicking sites with tables and grills. There is also drinking water available as well as vault toilets. There is also a four-mile long loop trail here where you can take a beautiful hike through the Cibola National Forest.

The Salt Missions Trail is a wonderful way to spend a day discovering some of New Mexico’s incredible history as well as some of the most beautiful scenery in the Southwest. So take a day, or maybe two, and discover some of the many gifts that New Mexico has to offer. Enjoy!

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Little red schoolhouse.  Photo by Jim Reed.

At first I imagined a small tree growing in a planter in the corner of the old red schoolhouse when Kevin told me there was a tree inside.

"Why is that unusual?" I asked. "Lots of people put trees inside homes.

"No," responded Kevin, "It’s a big tree. They put a big tree inside the schoolhouse."

Sitting at a picnic table behind The Trading Post at Three Rivers, I had already spent the better part of the day mystyfied by more than 21,000 Indian carvings at the Three Rivers Petroglyph Site, 23 miles north of Tularosa.

Fortunately, Kevin’s trading post customer flow was slow enough to afford me the opportunity to pick his brain about local lore. I turned my sight toward the old red schoolhouse, looking for a glass section in the roof which would denote an atrium that would allow light to aid in an interior tree’s growth. Finding none, and remembering that I had already taken pictures of the other side of the building, I gawked at Kevin, the puzzlement in my eyes pleading for an explanation.Kevin smiled and responded, "I’ll show you. When you are done with your lunch, come get me." Fifteen minutes later, while relating the tale of the tree inside, Kevin unlocked the door to the former Three Rivers School. Sure enough, in the middle of the large main room, there stands a tree. A large dead tree, at least four feet at the base, sawn flat and placed upon the 115 year old hardwood floor, two thick branches reaching upward and six branches meeting the ceiling’s cross beams where sheetrock had previously been installed. I had to see it to believe it.

I took pictures.

Lots of pictures – with added flash to compensate for the absence of light as I shook my head in amazement , wondering what motive would spur someone to place a huge dead tree inside this charming historic building. Kevin, having researched the oddity, provided an explanation.

Tree inside the little red schoolhouse.  Photo by Jim Reed.

From 1941 to 1965, Thomas Fortune Ryan was the owner of the 60,000 acre Three Rivers Ranch and the almost populationless village of Three Rivers. The landmark adobe building at the crossroads of Highway 54 and the small road to Three Rivers Petroglyphs Site served as a combination gas station, post office, curio stop and, for those with a desire to wash down the trail dust, a saloon. Fifty yards to the rear of the pit stop, the circa 1883 red schoolhouse stood idle, having been closed in 1945 when the community started bussing children to schools in Tularosa.

Ryan, it is alleged, violated the first rule of bar ownership and the bartender profession by being "his own best customer." During one of his "escapades", Ryan turned to a friend and declared, "You know what that old schoolhouse needs? A tree inside!" And so it came to be, Rancher Ryan, one the wealthiest members of Lincoln County, got what he wanted – a tree inside the schoolhouse.

A dead tree was found, cut roughly to size and brought to the site. From the rear of the schoolhouse were three large windows facing west. One of the windows and some masonry were removed, and the huge tree was pushed inside, uprighted, trimmed, and installed in the center, its massive branches reaching upward and fastened to the ceiling. And so it stands today, numerous owners later, the dead tree propped solidly in the center of the aged hardwood floor of the one room schoolhouse.

Casey Schell and Kevin Brown, present owners of the red schoolhouse, say they plan to totally renovate the little red schoolhouse in a few years and create a retirement home for Casey’s parents. The fate of the tree, at this time, remains unannounced. My initial surprise at seeing what I thought to be a senseless act of ruination, has softened somewhat between the time of discovery and the time of writing. Designing a home around a tree has been done before, but I’m not sure it’s ever been done in this manner. Would you object to having a tree in your living room, bedroom, kitchen and bath – the tree in all areas being one and the same? Hindsight being 20/20, and with honesty, I’m no longer certain that I would. Being close to nature has been a life-long passion of mine. And also, as you know, one can never have enough places to hang things or branch out when the need arises.

On your way to Three Rivers Petroglyphs, Carrizozo, Tularosa, the Valley of Fires or any of the area’s numerous natural attractions, stop for a short visit with Casey and Kevin at the Three Rivers Trading Post. They have accumulated a wealth of knowledge about the area which they willingly share with visitors. Perhaps, if they are not too busy when you arrive, one of them will show you the unique tree in the charming old red schoolhouse.

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Authenticity plays a key role in the judging

Put on your cowboy hat and working pair of boots to celebrate the Old West’s restaurant on the range — the chuckwagon. Betcha there will be no microwave ovens in the infield of the Ruidoso Downs Race Track on New Mexico Highway 70 where 40 cowboy cookin’ teams will compete over open fires for a large purse for their beef, beans, potatoes, biscuit and dessert creations. Judges points are swayed by authenticity. This competition is the hottest in the West.

While others are held in convention centers and parking lots, this Chuckwagon Cookoff is located outdoors in a natural high desert racetrack infield. It’s part of the Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium, held the second weekend in October.

Conditions are rugged — no electricity, no running water, no amenities, period. Overhead there is plenty of clear blue sky, the sun beats down all day, and the stars and moon create another one of New Mexico’s enchanted evening.

Slow food may be a recent trend in cuisine — but it has been around for a long time. Exemplified by turn-of-the century methods, using cast iron implements over wood fires and coals, chuckwagon cuisine is one of today’s most difficult methods. This is more than the thrill of the grill.

This is not an upscale foodie event with exotic, trendy ingredients, long descriptive names, and high points for plate appeal. This is real stuff, where the integrity and honesty of the old west is preserved, revered and celebrated. You get smoke in your eyes, sit under the beating sun, and listen to cowboys reciting poetry and singing with their guitars.

There is no mystery in the food basket supplied to each team. It is good old dried pinto beans, a sack of potatoes, and 20 pounds of beef. The supplies should feed forty.

The judging is based on the authenticity of the wagon and culinary equipment as well as the food quality. Every piece of equipment must have been available before this century began, but reproductions are permitted. The Lodge brand of Dutch ovens and skillets are the Mercedes of this competition. These are the 12", 14" and 16" ovens that guarantee a good upper body workout to lift the lid. Well-seasoned black ones are the best – the ones that are never washed, just wiped out with a paper towel.

You should not care if the beef is tough and the biscuits are burned, but usually it is not. Any smart cook knows how to cut the burn off a biscuit and promote blackened beef. Out on the trail you ate what was served and loved it. Many of these crafty old cooks convinced the hands that if the biscuits had a bit of black on them, that was the way it was supposed to be and that they could eat them or go hungry.

Any questions?

The Hubbard Museum of the American West
P.O. Box 40
Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico 88346
(505) 378-4142
Fax (505) 378-4166
www.hubbardmuseum.org
info@hubbardmuseum.org

The Food Network also has some great coverage of this event.  For more information on viewing times, visit their web site: http://www.foodnetwork.com.

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National Solar Vacuum Tower. Photo by Jim Reed.

If you really wanted a close-up look at the sun, you could fill up your gas tank and head sunward. Traveling eight hours each day at sixty miles per hour you’d cover the roughly 93 million miles from the earth to the sun in about 189,583 or so days (519.4 years) and arrive just before Thanksgiving in the year 2,517.

Faster and far more realistic would be a visit to Sunspot, located fifteen forested miles south of Cloudcroft, New Mexico, nestled between lovely tall pines and perched at the edge of Sacramento Peak . Here the Observatory’s numerous telescopes bring the sun’s activity to the human eye for study and observation.

Sunspot combines information, scenery and serenity in one small area. Stop at the Sunspot Astronomy and Visitors Center for an educational display of sun and star related exhibits along with photos of the area’s history. Pick up the brochure to learn about the first telescope built in Sunspot, the Grain Bin Dome, a telescope mounted inside a Sears and Roebuck mail order grain bin in 1950. The brochure will also act as a tour guide for your walk around the small area encompassing the Vacuum Tower, Evans Solar Facility, Hilltop Dome and Scenic View platform. On Saturdays from May to October, you can take the informative guided tour at 2 p.m.

The Scenic View platform is one of the area’s best features. When its not raining or overcast, as it was on the Saturday I visited, you can see for many miles up and down the Tularosa Basin, from the glow of White Sands to the northeast and beyond to a broad expanse of the deserts, mountains and mesas to the south. The combination of the 9,200 foot elevation and almost waterless and pollutant free air aids in the telecope’s obtaining sharper and clearer pictures. Scenery is a pleasant byproduct of Sacramento Peak; you can actually look down upon cloud formations from above. If you see storm cells to the north or overhead, heed the posted warning to stay off the platform as the entire area is understandably a magnet for lightening.

Just a mile down the road from The National Solar Observatory is Apache Point Observatory , where you are invited to the Astrophysical Research Consortium, of which New Mexico State University is a member, to stroll the grounds during daylight hours. Like Sunspot, the Apache Point Observatory also offers stunning views from the platform of the 2.5 meter telescope.

The trip to Sunspot contained a note of dismay; some of the area’s tall pine trees have been destroyed by pine beetle infestations and are being removed. The beetles seem to attack trees in clusters and then move on, says Mary McGraw who lives in Sunspot and works at the Visitors Center.

Even on a rainy day, a trip to Sunspot is worthwhile. You’ll get to meet helpful people like Mary McGraw, see educational displays on the sun and other stars, gaze in awe at the sun from enormous telescopes, and enjoy unmatched mountain scenes and views. And, it’s much easier than a 519.4 year trip in your car.

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Oliver Lee Memorial
State Park.
Photo by Joel Bickings.

At first site, Oliver Lee Memorial State Park in southern New Mexico might seem merely a quiet, off-the-beaten-path, sun-backed stretch of the Chihuahuan Desert. The stillness of the landscape, the massive towering cliffs that form a Hollywood-like set backdrop to the Park, even the occasional, swirling dust clouds that meander through the mesquite and yucca desert might give one the impression of quiet permanence. However, a closer look reveals much more.

Located thirteen miles south of Alamogordo off highway 54 at the entrance of Dog Canyon, the Park is a repository of some of the most dramatic history in New Mexico–land disputes and murders, Apaches on the warpath and U.S. Cavalry, wagon trains and pioneer ranchers. The Park is named after Oliver Lee, a one-time Dog Canyon rancher, one-time politician, and, some even say, one-time murderer and land-grabber, who rose to become one of the most influential men in the wild west history of New Mexico.

Although Park life now is rather less dramatic than in the bigger-than-life Lee’s day, one can still come and hear the famous stories of Lee and tour his restored ranch house on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Here one can also visit the ruins of "Frenchy’s" (Francois-Jean Rochas) cabin, where this original Dog Canyon pioneer was found dead with a bullet in his chest around Christmas in 1894, a year after Lee arrived at the Canyon. Most historians believe Frenchy met his end in a dispute over land or water rights. Sometime later, Lee was implicated in a case involving the disappearance of a prominent lawyer, Albert Fountain, and his eight-year old son, Henry, neither of whose bodies were ever found. Lee later became a primary investor in ranch holdings that covered over one million acres, stretching nearly to the Arizona border.

Today, Dog Canyon is a somewhat safer place, unless you happen to wander the 5.5 mile hiking trail from the Park office up to Joplin Ridge (a climb of over 4000 feet) in summer without sufficient water. The towering cliffs that flank this Canyon are some of the most spectacular in the Southwest. It was here in the 1880s that soldiers of the Ninth U.S. Cavalry exchanged lead with Apache warriors across the exposed landscape as they chased the Indians up the ravine. Hike into the Canyon and you will find some high desert benches thick with grasses and tree-size choya reminiscent of the old New Mexico before the coming of the ranchers and their cattle.

Chihuahuan Desert Plants. Photo by Joel Bickings.

Flora in the Park is unique to the Chihuahuan Desert and includes towering Tory Yuccas along with the slighter, more sleek Soaptree. Cactus abound everywhere in the coarse, rocky soil, so watch your step. Jackrabbits and cottontails scurry across the roads and pathways, and dozens of bird species pass through the Park in late summer on their way south. The riparian habitat around the spring that issues out of Dog Canyon is home to many kinds of birds and animals, as well.

Perhaps the most interesting element of Oliver Lee Memorial State Park today is the Desert Garden, painstakingly created by the Otero County Native Plant Society. For those desert rats who can’t get enough of the Chihuahuan ecology and want some hands-on learning, this garden is the spot. With many kinds of Chihuahuan succulents, shrubs, and wildflowers, this garden is truly a unique experience. Come in mid-to-late summer and see an astonishing number of butterflies among the many splashes of color.

With 44 campsites (18 with electricity and water; some handicapped-accessible, as well), the Park is a good base for exploring the surrounding desert, White Sands National Monument, and the Sacramento Mountains. One word of caution: this part of New Mexico can be very hot and dehydrating in the summer, and, in the spring, the strong, ever-present winds can make sleeping out under the stars a memorable experience, to say the least.

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