The daffodil blooms are about to burst. The crocus are showing off. The soil is slowly warming up here in Taos and we're excited that Spring has really arrived.
It's kind of wonderful since we're planning our Summer Chef's Garden already. We're trying to hold back since we know that being at 7000 feet means that Spring may be more of a concept right now than a fact.
Believe it not Spring in Taos is a Rocky Mountain Spring. Meaning that at any time a little storm could come flying overhead and dump several inches -- or a foot -- of snow here in town.
Two years ago Michael and I drove to a little town outside San Antonio, Texas to visit my extended family for Easter. It was such a beautiful trip. Leaving Taos the giant herds of elk had already migrated down into the Moreno Valley east of Taos. Geese and ducks could be seen flying their "vees" north. We saw Bald Eagles and giant flocks of Sand Hill Cranes along the way. Down in Texas the trees were green and the bluebonnets were peaking.
On our way back to New Mexico, we camped overnight in Garner State Park in our tent and sleeping bags. It was warm! Foxes were chasing rabbits through our campsite and we were glad to have some ice-cold drinks for dinner.
Not being in a hurry, we visited our dear friends, Shaan and Collen at Casa Cuma B&B in Santa Fe for a night and took care of some B&B business before heading home early the next morning. It was a little cool that morning in Santa Fe, but nothing signaled what we were about to encounter.
When we're on our way home after a long trip, we always take the so-called Low Road to Taos. This means taking State Highway 68 from Espanola north and east through the beginnings of the Rio Grande Gorge. About 10 miles north of Espanola you start following a carefully engineered road that hugs the twisty Rio Grande river channel. About 10 more miles along the river, steep cliff faces begin to rise along the road. Finally, as you prepare to come up into the San Luis Valley, home of Taos, you make one final climb up and out into a breathtaking view of the giant crack in the Earth that is the Rio Grande Gorge.
On this day in the 3rd week of April, 2009 we drove north knowing that home and our own warm bed would be awaiting us after two weeks away. As the road began shadowing the Rio Grande we noticed something odd for late April: southbound cars were covered with snow. In fact, the farther north we drove, the more snow there seemed to be on passing cars. By the time we started up the last hill out of the gorge, some cars had as much as a foot of snow on them.
We looked at each other. We looked at the cars. We looked back at each other and both of us busted out laughing. The tent and sleeping bags we had just used two nights before in the Texas Hill Country obviously were immediately going into storage.
Climbing up and out into the valley with Taos off in the distance, we were awestruck. The whole San Luis Valley was covered with the pristine white of freshly fallen snow. The steep walls of the Rio Grande Gorge held ledges of snow accentuating its depth and majesty.
This year hasn't brought the heavy spring snows yet. We're kind of melancholy about it. Historically, the Southern Rockies receive the majority of their snowfall and almost all of their snow-sourced moisture in March and April. It hasn't happened yet and long-term forecasts are for that trend to continue into the summer.
Not to worry, experts say that the snow-pack as of early March was just below average. The rivers will run and the adventure sports will continue. Plus -- and here's the big one for our guests -- the weather is absolutely spectacular. I mean day after day after day of cool, crisp mornings followed by 60 degree afternoons. It's really special.
We'll be taking our first white water trips in a few weeks. Why don't you come join us? La Posada de Taos awaits. . .
It's kind of wonderful since we're planning our Summer Chef's Garden already. We're trying to hold back since we know that being at 7000 feet means that Spring may be more of a concept right now than a fact.
Believe it not Spring in Taos is a Rocky Mountain Spring. Meaning that at any time a little storm could come flying overhead and dump several inches -- or a foot -- of snow here in town.
Two years ago Michael and I drove to a little town outside San Antonio, Texas to visit my extended family for Easter. It was such a beautiful trip. Leaving Taos the giant herds of elk had already migrated down into the Moreno Valley east of Taos. Geese and ducks could be seen flying their "vees" north. We saw Bald Eagles and giant flocks of Sand Hill Cranes along the way. Down in Texas the trees were green and the bluebonnets were peaking.
On our way back to New Mexico, we camped overnight in Garner State Park in our tent and sleeping bags. It was warm! Foxes were chasing rabbits through our campsite and we were glad to have some ice-cold drinks for dinner.
Not being in a hurry, we visited our dear friends, Shaan and Collen at Casa Cuma B&B in Santa Fe for a night and took care of some B&B business before heading home early the next morning. It was a little cool that morning in Santa Fe, but nothing signaled what we were about to encounter.
When we're on our way home after a long trip, we always take the so-called Low Road to Taos. This means taking State Highway 68 from Espanola north and east through the beginnings of the Rio Grande Gorge. About 10 miles north of Espanola you start following a carefully engineered road that hugs the twisty Rio Grande river channel. About 10 more miles along the river, steep cliff faces begin to rise along the road. Finally, as you prepare to come up into the San Luis Valley, home of Taos, you make one final climb up and out into a breathtaking view of the giant crack in the Earth that is the Rio Grande Gorge.
On this day in the 3rd week of April, 2009 we drove north knowing that home and our own warm bed would be awaiting us after two weeks away. As the road began shadowing the Rio Grande we noticed something odd for late April: southbound cars were covered with snow. In fact, the farther north we drove, the more snow there seemed to be on passing cars. By the time we started up the last hill out of the gorge, some cars had as much as a foot of snow on them.
We looked at each other. We looked at the cars. We looked back at each other and both of us busted out laughing. The tent and sleeping bags we had just used two nights before in the Texas Hill Country obviously were immediately going into storage.
Climbing up and out into the valley with Taos off in the distance, we were awestruck. The whole San Luis Valley was covered with the pristine white of freshly fallen snow. The steep walls of the Rio Grande Gorge held ledges of snow accentuating its depth and majesty.
This year hasn't brought the heavy spring snows yet. We're kind of melancholy about it. Historically, the Southern Rockies receive the majority of their snowfall and almost all of their snow-sourced moisture in March and April. It hasn't happened yet and long-term forecasts are for that trend to continue into the summer.
Not to worry, experts say that the snow-pack as of early March was just below average. The rivers will run and the adventure sports will continue. Plus -- and here's the big one for our guests -- the weather is absolutely spectacular. I mean day after day after day of cool, crisp mornings followed by 60 degree afternoons. It's really special.
We'll be taking our first white water trips in a few weeks. Why don't you come join us? La Posada de Taos awaits. . .
