WILD HORSEPOWER | AERIAL RIDES | TOOLING AROUND FOR LOCAL FOODS

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HighCountry 2016

M id-May and it is snowing, again. We’ve had plenty of warm weather – ski slopes are closed, aspens are

beginning to bud at the branch tips, creeks are swollen with runoff – but winter is slow to let go. But you know it will, and you can see it on the face of Eagle Nest Lake. A week earlier, there were scouts on the shores watching the ice break up, huge slabs drifting apart, enough open water that a boat could be launched. It takes me back to a similar May morning many years ago. There’s nothing like ice-out and the first stab at trout fishing to get a house-hold up early in the morning. Guys who you have to drag out of bed to go to work are up early, puttering around in the dark, whipping up coffee, frying eggs and bacon, whistling (is that whistling I hear, wives wonder) before dawn. We haul the boat to the put-in. Good. First ones here. You can hear owls, honking geese and the screech of seagulls in the dis-tance, cutting through the crisp air. The snow has let up, leaving a lovely morning mist, a backdrop almost primal in nature. First light. Just enough to see the patches of ice around the lake as we launch and head to the Honey Hole, a famed spot near the mouth of the rock-walled canyon leading to the dam. Our old boat, a fiberglass junker with a duct-taped gas line powered by an old Evinrude outboard, moves slowly toward the gentle curve of shore where we want to fish. Three of us hunker down in the boat against the cold. One up front to watch for ice. All of us in worn-out but warm clothes: stocking caps, fingerless wool gloves, big boots – the height of fishing fashion. Stashed below the gunnels are rods and

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reels, tackle boxes, oars, a net, and old tools in case we have to coax a few more hours out of the old motor. There are days during ice-out when there’s a rag-tag flotilla heading to the Honey Hole – an odd assortment of boats from pontoons to shallow skiffs to floating tubes to canoes with shovels for paddles. But today, we are alone. As we head toward the wind-swept sandbar, we spot a huge slab of ice beached on the shore, right on top of a favorite spot. We talk about moving to another hole but then land on the idea to move the iceberg instead. Two of us stand in the bow and launch anchors at 45 degree angles onto the ice. They dig in and catch so that slowly, in reverse, we are able to drag the huge slab from its perch on the shore. It is massive so we take our time until we can get it far away from the shore, and then release it and slip back behind it to the beach. There are days when you can catch a hundred fish, days where you snip the barb off the hook so you can release back to the dark water all but your limit, days where no matter what you cast out – flies, spoons, even tackle you never use – the fish will bite. Sometimes the fish will arc out of the water and throw the hook, wiggle off by themselves, and that’s as fun as hauling them in. You can’t see them when they strike, only feel the tug of the line and then the reel sings, a song we love, that tells of the girth, power and heart of the fish. But for us, the catching is only a bonus. We are there for the brotherhood, the chatter, the banter. We have different histories, families, jobs – all behind us when we’re fishing. Now we’re a band, local headquarters for joking around, telling tall tales and big lies; cursing is encouraged, as is belly-bumping, hooting and hollering,

howling, barking, even tapping a friend’s line when he isn’t looking to make him think he’s had a hit. All a part of the angler’s unwritten code of ethics. There are the purists, fly fishermen so absorbed in their art they can drift away from the others, wade out on their own, read signs for what the fish are feeding on, never using any bait. And at the other end of the fisherman food chain are the carne-hunt-ers, there for the harvest, catch ‘em any way you can. But no matter your status, all of us are there to connect with our wilder side, tap the pirate deep inside. Our fingers have all turned red now from the cold, handling the fish, nicks and dings from hooks, gnarled from fins and scales and gills and filling the stringer which hangs over the back of the boat. And our faces are chapped red from the weather. The wind starts to whip up, a wind full of groans and moans, bringing a chop to the water. As we start to think about heading back, another boat approaches and lands near us. As we shove off from shore we notice the ice slab we’d moved is slowly drifting back toward the beach. The other boat noticed too and probably worried about getting wedged onto the shore. They also pull out. A little too late, boys, wind is up, should have been here earlier. As we head back to the launch site, the prop churning through the wind-chopped waters, we look out on the ice-riddled lake and know the waters hold many levels, many depths and many stories. And will have many more tales to share. Welcome to the southern Rockies. You’ll be coming back for years to come. — Joe Haukebo, Publisher

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Angel Fire

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Welcome

Our Towns

Historic Hotels

Wild Horsepower

Riders In The Sky

Tooling Around For Food

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25

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Alpine Lodging

Outfitters

On The Green

Time To Dine

Summer Calendar

Festival Favorites

CONTENTS

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S top me if you’ve heard this one before. A woman walks into a cantina. Time passes, but not in the usual way (there is nothing usual about “time” in this setting… cue: Twilight Zone

music). Three salted Margaritas and one plate of nachos later, the woman emerges from the cantina. She ambles down the sunbaked lane, matching her pace to the local rumor – tomorrow never comes – and allows her vision to languorously wander from cloud-bearded blue sky to green-fringed mountains to the grinning fossil of a street musi-cian, strumming the chords to The Beatles’ “Blackbird” while a tow-headed boy of six or seven plinks change into the musician’s straw hat doubling as a cash register. The woman smiles. She is happy to be outside of time, grateful for salted rims and skies that forget to shave. She feels, and here this might be the altitude going to her head, that she is the character in a story that’s been told before, always with cosmetic variations – sometimes the woman is a man, sometimes the plate of nachos is a green chile cheeseburger, sometimes the musician is playing Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” – but the story’s central theme never changes: the journey within. Everyone travels differently inside them-selves, there is no GPS or standardized checklist for that. Northern New Mexico and the southern Rockies provide the necessary and enriching elements, the timelessness, in making the journey possible. The places you discover inside yourself are between you and your personal story (Twilight Zone music optional).

High desert symmetry meets fringe eclecticism in the town of Taos. Home to the misfit architectural marvels known as Earthships, the world-famous prehistoric rift known as the Gorge (threaded by the Rio Grande River, a summer hotspot for white water rafting), an art scene that continues to reinvent itself, and the historically significant Taos Pueblo, Taos remains a nexus that wears its soul on its frayed sleeve. Two summer events that reflect the Native and Hispanic complexion of the area: Taos Pueblo Pow

Wow (July 8-10), and Fiestas de Taos (July 22-24). The cen-terpiece of the Year of The Taos Visionaries, a year-long com-munity arts event, is the “Mabel Dodge Luhan and Compa-ny: American Moderns and the West” exhibition, opening at the Harwood Museum of Art on May 22. Widely recognized

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SAN FRANCISCO de ASIS CHURCH – GERAINT SMITH PHOTO

TAOS MOUNTAIN AND TEEPEES – GERAINT SMITH PHOTO

10 HighCountry 2016

as an influential figure in 20th-century arts and culture, Luhan brought modernism to northern New Mexico and paved the way for dozens of creators – including Geor-gia O’Keeffe, Ansel Adams and Martha Graham – who, together, gave Taos its international reputation as an arts hub. Over 180 exhibitions and events happening throughout the Taos area honor other visionaries – from Padre Martinez and D.H. Lawrence to Millicent Rogers and Agnes Martin to Dennis Hopper and Michael Reynolds – who have made Taos what it is today. Many have trans-formed the art, architecture, literature, and musical landscape not only of Taos, but of America. Taos Ski Valley, while globally renowned for its ski runs, doubles as a high-altitude playground in the summer season, when disc golf, mountain biking, horseback riding, hiking, and hot air bal-looning can be enjoyed. You need not be a redeemed outlaw or near-death return-tripper to cry out – I

have seen the light – when it comes to Angel Fire. The celestial sunsets, for which the resort community is named, serves up illumination on a daily basis. The famed Angel Fire Bike Park provides over sixty miles of invigorating trails for gearheads, while Zipline Adventure Tours features six ziplines, spanning anywhere from 120 to 1,600 feet, where cruisers can enjoy an elevated view of the Moreno Val-ley below. New this summer in Angel Fire: Free music with vendors, Fridays at Frontier Plaza, June 24-Sept. 2 and Farmers’ And Art Market Sundays (10 am-3 pm). On the more artfully nuanced side of the spectrum, the Music from Angel Fire series, beginning August 19, presents fourteen world-class chamber music concerts. Approximately fifteen minutes from Angel Fire is Eagle Nest Lake, a recre-ational joy for the reel-and-rod crowd. The lake is well-stocked with Rainbow Trout, kokanee salmon, perch and pike. Red River’s “golden age” as a mining

RED RIVER – TODD MICHAEL PHOTO

ANGEL FIRE RESORT PHOTO

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town morphed into silver spurs and my brim-is-bigger-than-yours Stet-sons. Known as both “little Texas” and “Main Street in the Mountains,” Red River specializes in quaint with a country-southwestern panache. Popular summer events include: Rivers & Brews Music Festival (June 11), Buckaroo Ball (August 5), and Hot Chili Days, Cool Mountains Nights (August 17-20). If ghostly lore floats your boat, then drop in at the historic St. James Hotel in Cimarron. With some of its outlaw “interior decora-tors” leaving bullet holes in the wall as a stylistic statement, the rough-and-tumble past of the St. James Hotel is a sneak peek into the psyche of the Wild West. Numerous ghosts are said to call the St. James home. Check out Philmont Scout Ranch, largest private backpacking facility in the world.

Conjuring the cinematic notions of twirly-moustached villains, track-tied damsels in distress, or daring robberies perpetrated by masked outlaws, Chama’s Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad honors America’s classic love affair with the locomotive. Train travel is one way to take in the visceral summer landscape of northern New Mexico and the southern Rockies, and two special excursions that are offered: The Geology Train (June 19), in which ancient geological formations are explored during pit-stops, and the Botany Train (August 21), where plants, flowers and the local eco-system are the trip’s focal points.

Durango (“Water Town”) was named after the Animas River, the city’s flow-steady source of beauty and recreation. Fly-fishing, kay-aking, canoeing, and white-water rafting are summer-friendly options on the Animas, while outdoor enthusiasts can also take in Durango from different altitudes and angles (rock-climbing, mountain biking, horseback riding, hiking, ziplining). Two notable summer events: True West Rodeo (every Wednesday, June 1-July 20) and Music in the Mountains (July 10-July 31).

The gateway to the San Juan Mountains, Rio Grande County, which includes South Fork, Monte Vista, and Del Norte, serves up the organic, hormone-free vistas and splendors of the San Luis Valley. South Fork, the starting point for the Silver Thread National Scenic Byway, is rich in outdoor recreational opportunities. Monte Vista is home to the Monte Vista Wildlife National Refuge, 15,000 acres of artificially created wetlands which provides a haven for a diversity of birds, including Mallards, pintail, teal, Canadian geese, American avocets, killdeer, white-faced ibis, egrets, and herons. And the agricul-tural town of Del Norte offers prime terrain for cross-country biking, with three coast-to-coast bicycle races – The Race Across America, The Tour Divide Race and The Great Divide Race – passing through during the summer.

Writer and playwright John Biscello lives and works in Taos. His books, Raking The Dust, Freeze Tag and Broken Land: A Brooklyn Tale, are available through Amazon.com.

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HISTORIC HOTELS

Hotel La Fonda de TaosThe oldest hotel in Taos is new again. In the heart of the historic district on Taos Plaza, La Fonda offers 21st Century amenities while preserving its rich Southwestern roots and ambience. Home to Noula’s Starbucks Coffee Shop and D.H. Lawrence’s “Forbidden Art Collection.” Nineteen rooms, 5 suites, and our Plaza Penthouse. Friendly, personal service. Walking distance to galleries, museums, shopping, entertainment, fine dining.108 SOUTH PLAZA, TAOS, NM

WWW.LAFONDATAOS.COM 800.833.2211 505.758.2211

The Historic Taos InnExperience Southwestern charm and history at The Historic

Taos Inn in the heart of Taos, New Mexico. Acclaimed by National Geographic Traveler as “One of America’s Great

Inns,” and listed on the National and NM Registers of Historic Places. 44 rooms and suites, most with Pueblo-style

fireplaces. Award-winning Doc Martin’s Restaurant and The Adobe Bar on premises. Happy hour 4-6 Monday-Friday;

free live music nightly. 125 PASEO DEL PUEBLO NORTE, TAOS, NM

TAOSINN.COM 575.758.2233

CAROL MORGAN-EAGLE PHOTO

St. James HotelWhere western history – and the paranormal – come alive. The historic St. James Hotel, built in 1872, has hosted a smorgasbord of famous out-laws and Wild West legends including Clay Allison, William F. Cody and Wyatt Earp. Today, it continues its tradition with fine dining and comfortable rooms and a restored western restaurant and bar. Ghosts, each with their own obsessions and rituals, are said to still haunt the place.

617 SOUTH COLLISON, CIMARRON, NEW MEXICO, 87714WWW.EXSTJAMES.COM 888.376.2664 575.376.2664

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Sept 8 -10, 2016KIT CARSON PARK, TAOS, NM

BRUCE ROBISON & KELLY WILLIS • WALT WILKINS • TROUT FISHING IN AMERICA • JAY BOY ADAMS • DALE WATSON • TEJAS

BROTHERS • TERRI HENDRIX & LLOYD MAINES • SHAKE RUSSELL • MICHAEL HEARNE & SXSW • WARREN HOOD •

hONEeyhoUSe • SUSAN GIBSON • THE RIFTERS • CHRIS ARELLANO • THOM SHEPHERD & COLEY MCCABE • KELLEY MICKWEE • BILL HEARNE TRIO • BOB LIVINGSTON • JIMMY

STADLER • LARI WHITE • CHUCK CANNON • JED ZIMMERMAN• TOMMY ALVERSON • BUZZ CASON • CLAUDE BUTCH MORGAN • MALINA BROTHERS • LUKE REED • JACK TEMPCHIN • KEVIN &

DUSTIN WELCH • TOM FAULKNER • DANA LOUISE & THE GLORIOUS BIRDS • GARY NICHOLSON

BIGBARN DANCEMUSIC FESTIVAL

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14 HighCountry 2016

T hey have become symbolic extensions of the Southwestern landscape, four-legged repre-sentatives of grace, thunder,

freedom, and majesty. Horses of varying breeds have starred as romantic icons in the Wild West chapter of the American saga, and without them the fierce and indepen-dent spirit of Frontier-Tough, U.S.A, would have been an altogether different story. Yet the “Americanization” of horses is a complex tale of adoption, intrigue, and

globe-spanning roots. In traveling way back to a time before America was America, and before horses were horses, or to spin a little Mr. Ed remix: “A horse is a horse, of course, of course,” except when a horse is… a hyrocatherium. Also known as the “dawn horse,” these were the smaller, multi-toed ancestral kin of modern-day horses, the first shoot in a multi-branched lineage. Before prehistoric horses went extinct in North America approximately 20,000 years ago, many had migrated via the land-bridge that once existed (connecting Alaska to Siberia), and came to thrive and flourish in the grasslands of Central Asia. A time-com-pressed hop, skip and jump later – horses occupying both Asia and Europe – and it

was in the 1500s, with Spanish settlers and conquistadors impacting their presence in the New World, that the horse’s evolution-ary homecoming took place. Here’s what is considered the marked turning point of the Native people’s assim-ilation of “big dogs” (how Natives initially referred to the Spanish horses) into their culture: “Only in 1680, when Pueblo Indi-ans rose up and overwhelmed their Spanish overlords and drove them out of northern New Mexico for a dozen years, did Indians gain access to the Spanish herds. Once they did, horses and the horse culture expanded at a breathtaking pace… By 1700 the tribes of the Great Basin had them, and thirty years later those of the northern Rocky

Mountains. By around 1780… the spread of horse culture across the West was complete, and peoples from the Columbia River basin to the Great Plains were reshaping their lives and redreaming their futures according to its promises.” – Elliot West, The Impact of Horse Culture Horses revolutionized numerous as-pects of Native culture – hunting, trading, warfare – and while the “golden age of man-and-horse” mythically transposed into a singular entity lasted just a little over a

century, the notion remains a dust-encrust-ed valentine to the Old West.

REIN-FREE CLIMATEWild horses, couldn’t drag me awayWild, wild horses, we’ll ride them someday

– The Rolling Stones, “Wild Horses”

While the domestication of horses is achievable due to their innate wiring to accept leadership, there are the wild ones, the thunder-hearted mustangs, some of which continue to occupy stretches of New Mexico and Colorado. “Wild horses,” the commonly used term, is slightly misleading, in that mustangs derive from the domesti-

cated horses of yesteryear who escaped into the wild. Technically, they are classified as “feral horses.” (The only truly “wild horse” in the world, one which has never been domesticated, is the rare and endangered Prezewalski’s horse, native to Mongolia.) That said, the mustang is the rogue spirit of the Western landscape, the James Dean of equestrian lore. While the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burro Act of 1971, which was instituted to protect and manage “unbranded and unclaimed horses and burros on public lands in the United States” has helped in the preservation of mustangs, many continue, through ambig-uous sales, theft, or neglect, to become prey to the slaughterhouse.

Judy Barnes, photographer and mustang advocate, is the caretaker of Wild Horse Mesa, located in Southern Colorado (just outside San Luis) along the border with New Mexico. The mesa comprises 26,000 acres of private land, and is home to approx-imately 130 wild horses. After moving in with the horses ten years ago, Judy founded the non-profit Spirit Of The Wild Horse, whose mission revolves around safeguarding and awareness. “Wild horses are a large part of our history and should be protected and

preserved for futures generations to enjoy,” Judy said. “We would not be the civilization that we have become if it had not been for the horse. Horses taken from the wild have pulled wagon trains, carried the pony ex-press and were there for the military fighting for our country.” Expansion is also on the horizon, which would provide visitors with an organic glimpse into the world we share with our feral companions: “We are apply-ing for a grant to fund the campground at the Rio Grande Wild Horse Preserve. The primitive campground will be open to the public to observe the wild horses, deer, elk and birds that are part of the habitat by the river. There are around 200 Spanish horses that have lived in the Brownie Hills for gen-

erations.” Judy has been closely studying and documenting the behavior of wild horses for the past ten years, which she will eventually publish. “I have always loved wild horses,” she said. “Sitting with a band of wild horses that have the freedom to come and go as they please is inspiring and healing… They heal the mind, body and soul.” For more, visit www.spiritofthewildhorse.com Additionally, among the many roles horses have played in their relationship with humans, “healer” can be counted among them, with equine-assisted therapy (EAT) having been used to facilitate recov-ery from trauma, abuse, addiction, PTSD, and other challenges.

WILD HORSEPOWER

Continued on page 18

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MUSTANGS ON WILD HORSE MESA IN THE SAN LUIS VALLEY – GAK STONN PHOTO

16 HighCountry 2016

Summer. Just the word makes spirits soar. Later, it’s back to the daily grind, but in the meantime, I figure a change of attitude (and altitude)

might do a body good. Who knows? Fresh perspectives can change things forever. When I got the chance to take a hot air balloon ride (always on my bucket list) I jumped at the chance.

Aficionados consider the Taos venue one of a handful of the most stunning rides in the world, due to its unique configura-tion of forces. This goes back a few million years to when a nearby mountain, once higher than Everest, blew its stack and the earth split, forming the Rio Grande River gorge. It’s the second deepest rift valley on the planet. What will it be like from the air?

Oh, by the way. This is a life lesson too. In case you didn’t get the memo, con-trol is illusory. Balloons are like that, too. They are like rudderless boats, slyly riding currents of wind. But they can maneuver up and down, too, meaning that a good pilot navigates skillfully via nature’s rules.

My alarm goes off at dawn. Soon I am bouncing in Eske’s Paradise Balloons com-pany van past old adobes and alfalfa fields to the spectacular overlook at the confluence of the Rio Hondo and Rio Grande. The balloon (envelope) is rather like a large colorful party balloon, which you blow up, thankfully not with lungs but with giant fans. Hot air is added until Ken, our pilot yells, “Get in!” The four of us dive into the wicker basket and we are suddenly, weirdly transcendent. There is no one to sternly remind: “Buckle your seatbelts.”

The euphoria of levity leaves me jump-ing up and down until Ken, says drily, “It’s a good thing that trap door is holding.” The two other passengers, a ridiculously young and in love Utah couple, are here to cele-brate their recent marriage. This is amazing because en route she confessed: “I’m afraid of heights.” Fortunately, Eske has a good

safety record. And like a good marriage, there is something paradoxically ecstatic and calming about a balloon ride.

We rise, silently and surely, interrupted intermittently by a noisy blast of hot air and the nonstop click of our cameras. We are following the sinuous Rio Grande below, until, yes, we enter the canyon and descend until we smell river water. We can actually touch it with the basket. Should have worn high waters.

But from back on high, I survey my personal kingdom. There are mountain sheep – five of them clambering on red canyonwalls, and an eagle soaring for good measure.There’s my brave river, the Rio Grande, akaRio Bravo, lined in brilliant green, flowingtoward the Gulf of Mexico. My kingdomis domestic too: Below, a dented blue truckfilled with wood bumps along, aluminumroofs flash in the sun as we pass over, and two

people appear suddenly on horseback. An hour or so later, the scent of earth and sage hail imminent landing. We bump gently once, then twice, but the wicker basket flexes like pseudo shock absorbers. The high-on-love couple are all smiles and hand-holding. Do they realize we all return to terra firma sooner or later or will they recall that love transcends everything? Or at least some things. But for now, there’s champagne. It doesn’t have to be a balloon ride that turns everyday pleasures into ecstatic occasions. But it doesn’t hurt either. Golden bubbles rise in narrow crystal flutes. Or were they jelly jars? Next, I’m going to build character. Maybe the ropes course in Red River? They have three levels of courses, which enable practically anyone to do it (Wal-dorf school kids, their smallest clients, to tough ol’ Cannon Air Force Base cadets). Most are turistas. There are 25 different elements including a high beam, or a net where you can imitate Spiderman. Or

navigate a four-cornered swing. Or scream down the 400 foot zipline 60 feet off the ground as a grand finale. Evan, who is 6’4” and 210 pounds, says that at his size you go really fast and I believe him.

UNM ski team coach John Downing uses it for their training, because it’s a bonding time. They also face their fears (like the downhill racer afraid of heights!). “They love it,” he says. Go Lobos, I’ve always said. But if you’re a

simple-minded adrenaline junkie uninterested in personal development, take the Pioneer Flyer. It’s like a two-person chariot ride, which pulls you up backwards to the top of an im-pressive summit. Now take a big breath. A really big one. Then gravity sends you scream-ing back down over the fishponds to the bottom. More my speed is the slower summer chairlift ride. And on the top, you can get food and a glass of wine or just drink in the match-

RIDERS IN THE SKY

RIDING OVER THE RIO – JOE HAUKEBO PHOTO

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less views (free music on Saturdays.) Another real zinger is the awe-inspir-ing Zipline Adventure Tour at Angel Fire overlooking the Moreno Valley. These tours take two to three hours, and the ziplines vary from 120 to 1,600 feet in length interspersed with short hikes. Dreamy Cassandra, a self-confessed addict, is heading out for the third time. “One morning it was foggy,” she says, “and gorgeous. It was like soaring through the clouds. You can see the whole valley as you zip across between two peaks.” Like the ropes course, there’s training and coaching and safety gear. Everyone from corporate teams and Boy and Girl Scouts use it too. Be all that you can be, I always say. I only got childcare and good grooming badges when I was a Brownie. My own favorite ride is at Taos Ski Valley. I miss these beautiful mountains where I teach skiing all winter. In summer I take the Kachina lift that runs upward from the 10,000-foot elevation Bavarian Lodge. Then I run down in a righteous but futile attempt to burn off the calories from the weiss beer and spaetzle my friend and I always order on the Bavarian sundeck (it’s authentic – I taught skiing in Bavaria, too). We discuss – intently and deeply – how all this fun has undoubtedly made us better people. Then we swap perspectives on local legends – including the cosmically gorgeous landscape photographs Chris Dahl-Bredine takes from his ultralight aircraft to the time Bad Boy Fred famously flew his plane un-der the Rio Grande Bridge – and the noses of the FAA. “To each their own,” she says,

as we clink the heavy mugs. In Germany they say that beer enhances perspective. “Prost!” is what I say.

Michele Potter Ph.D. has lived in Taos for 19 years. In addition to writing, she reno-vates houses, teaches at UNM Taos, and is a ski instructor at Taos Ski Valley.

PIONEER FLYER – RED RIVER SKI & SUMMER AREA PHOTO

HIDDEN TREASURE AERIAL PARK – RED RIVER SKI & SUMMER AREA PHOTO

18 HighCountry 2016

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STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTHThere is no shortage of myths, superstitions, and fun obscure facts when it comes to horses. From the vaults of equestrian trivia:

• The first historically recorded horse

race—between fool’s golden boy (see:

Chasing El Dorado) Francisco Vasquez

de Coronado and one of his soldiers,

Rodrigo de Maldonado — took place

near Bernalillo, New Mexico, in 1541.

Coronado’s horse stumbled and fell,

inflicting an injury from which Coronado

never fully recovered.

• Horseshoes, long considered a sym-

bol of good luck (a “crescent moon”

in mythology) were often hung on

doorways to ward off demons and evil

spirits. The most favorable positioning

of the horseshoe is open for debate:

some believe that the open end should

face up, so one’s luck doesn’t “run out,”

others think it should face down so the

luck is spilled out onto those entering

the home.

• Chariot racing was the first Olympic

sport in 680 B.C.

• The hybrid offspring of a horse father

and donkey mother is called a “hinny.”

The hybrid offspring of a zebra and a

horse is a “zorse,” sometimes referred

to as a “golden zebra.”

• Hyrocatherium, the horse’s prehistoric

kin, were 14 inches in height, with four

toes on the front feet and three toes on

the back feet.

• When it comes to color-coded fashion

signals: a red ribbon on a horse’s tail

means the horse kicks. A white ribbon

means a horse is for sale. A pink ribbon

means that it’s a mare, and a blue or

yellow ribbon means that it’s a stallion.

A green ribbon indicates that a horse is

younger and not very experienced.

– John Biscello

MUSTANGS – Continued from page 14

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ADVENTURE KIDS LOVE parents love

FREEFREE FISHING* | FREE DISC GOLF | FREE ATV TRAILSCreate your own family adventure at Sipapu, located 20 miles southeast of Taos. Here, you’ll enjoy FREE amenities including fishing*, disc golf, ATV trails, hikes, and slopeside lodging (available nearly everyday when you purchase at least 2 consecutive nights).

SipapuNM.com | 800-587-2240 | 5224 HWY 518, VADITO, NM

FREE RIVERSIDE LODGING!

20 HighCountry 2016

T here are lots of exciting things to do on a cool summer morning in the High Country – fishing, hik-

ing, biking, horseback riding, sight-seeing – but if you’re looking for something differ-ent and wondering where all the locals have gone, check out the local Farmers Markets;

you can find a market somewhere along the Sangre de Cristo range that will delight your senses and titillate your tummy. Saturday is market day in Santa Fe, from early morning to early afternoon. Santa Fe Farmers Market is the granddaddy of the High Country markets. The largest in the state, it has been a gathering place for farm-ers from 17 northern counties since the late 1960s. With 130 vendors, the Railway Yard is a happening place to go on Saturday. All the produce is grown in northern New Mex-ico, and it’s open year-round, selling out of its new Leeds certified building in the winter months. The produce is usually picked the day before market day, and most of the product has traveled less than 60 miles to market, cutting down on gasoline and travel time for the produce. Having a market for their produce allows local farmers to stay on the land and keep on farming. It keeps the water on the land, provides wildlife refuge, and preserves the acequia systems which are so important to the culture and history of New Mexico. But it’s much more than an epicu-rean experience that awaits you. Santa Fe, Taos, Angel Fire, Eagle Nest and Red Willow Farmers Markets all have a vision for the future – the future of the land, the future of the people, and the health of the resources they depend upon. Their goal is to sustain and preserve agriculture in New Mexico, while making a living in a rural

area. New Mexicans are proud of their heritage and their traditions; growing local food is a way of showing that pride. New this year, Angel Fire will have a Farmers Market Sundays 10 am-3 pm at Frontier Plaza across from Lowe’s. Red Willow Farmers Market is located on the Veteran’s Highway, which winds from the Town of Taos to Taos Pueblo. It’s open on Wednesdays, 10-5 year-round. Growing fresh produce in their three large greenhouses operated by solar energy, the farmers use organic seed, some of which has been used by the Pueblo for a thousand years. The farm was conceived in 2010 as a model for adaptive farming in a time of climate change. They have programs for Pueblo youth, teaching sustainable farming, land and water pro-tection, healthy eating, historical agricul-ture, and renewable energy. They have fresh and frozen grass-fed beef and bison for sale as well as fresh produce, baked goods, chicos, soaps, and surprise delica-cies from the oven. A ramada and picnic tables provide a shady and cool spot to relax in the shadow of Taos Mountain. If you drive the Enchanted Circle you can catch another market in Eagle Nest on Fridays at the Golden Eagle RV Park. Located at an altitude of 8,000 feet, the market doesn’t begin until mid-June and operates through Labor Day. The tiny town of Eagle Nest is nestled in the mountains overlooking beautiful Eagle Nest Lake. Like all the High Country Farmers Mar-kets, Eagle Nest supports the local school

children. 100% of the money that a farmer pays to lease space to sell in the market goes to the local school. And on the third Friday of the month, kids can sell their

own garden produce at the market at no cost to them, allowing them to experience the full cycle of growing to marketing. All of the produce, dairy, and meats sold at the market are non-GMO, hormone free, and chemical pesticide-free. At the Taos Farmers Market on Sat-

urday, you might be treated to a selection of arias in a Flash Opera performance by the Taos Opera Institute’s students while mulling over the wisdom of eating eggplant instead of beets… or you might pause to have your palm read, hoping that your personal palm reader can help you with that weighty decision. The lady who sells alpaca yarns will let you hold a silky skein of wool from El Griego, her alpaca, who goes to the nursing home to give out kisses when he’s not busy. The produce displayed on the farmers’ tables is a treat for the eyes: bright red radishes snuggled up to elegant orange, yellow, and purple carrots, the fresh green of baby lettuce, rainbow chard, and peppers, short yellow ones, or long green and red glossies, sometimes from seed saved over the centuries to grow well in the High Desert country. Taos Market also welcomes EBT buyers. Tooling around on the roads of the southern Rockies you’ll also stumble onto roadside stands selling piñon nuts, chile ristras, local jams and honeys, wild mush-rooms, apples, peaches, all kinds of cool stuff. So you might want to bring a cooler along. It’s all about supporting sustainabili-ty and healthy lifestyle choices.

Linda Fair lives and writes in Taos.

TOOLING AROUND FOR LOCAL FOODS

PICK YOUR OWN RASPBERRIES AT SALMAN

RASPBERRY RANCH NEAR MORA, NM

— KATIE HAUKEBO PHOTO

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22 HighCountry 2016

ALWAYSFRESH

575-377-23543373 Highway 434

Angel Fire, NM 87710

OPEN 7 DAYSFast, Friendly Checkout

Fresh MeatsFruits & Veggies

LiquorWine & Beer

CigarsSubway

Play

TrailHeadSki & Bike Shop

Angel Fire NM

Bike & Ski/SnowboardRentals & Sales

Accessories& Apparel

Maintenance

(575) 377-1010info@aftrailhead.comwww.aftrailhead.com

Eat TOGO (575) 377-3992www.thebakeryatangelfire.com

Breakfast &Lunch Daily

Fresh EveryMorning

(575) 377-6651 • (800) 284.0378 • c. (575) 447-6295Corner of Mt View Blvd & Halo Pines, Angel Fire, NM

Parade Homes of Angel Fire

September 3 ~ 4, 2016

Sangre de Cristo Homebuilders Association

angelfireparadeofhomes.com

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EL PUEBLO LODGECome stay at the edge of town, at the edge of everything! Southwest charm with early Taos architecture, but with all the modern conveniences trav-elers expect. Complimentary Wi-Fi, 40” flat screen TVs with HD and DirectTV, fitness room, heated seasonal pool and year-round hot tub. Hot breakfast bar each morning, fresh baked cookies each afternoon. Pet-friendly. Three blocks from historic Taos Plaza; 18 miles from Taos Ski Valley. Taos Pueblo and Taos Mountain Casino two miles north. Visit our website for specials & packages. #1 on TripAdvisor in the Taos area for 4 years!

412 Paseo del Pueblo Norte, Taos, New Mexicowww.ElPuebloLodge.com800.433.9612 575.758.8700

FIRESIDE INN CABINSFully-equipped one- and two- bedroom modern cabins on the banks of the San Juan River with private river and fishing access. Individual living area with gas fire-

place adjacent to the kitchen, bathroom and private bedroom(s). Front porch with seating and off-porch BBQ grill area. Located East of Old Downtown Pagosa and the Hot Springs, toward Wolf Creek Ski Area and National Forest. On-site: Guest laundry, hot tub, Wi-Fi, phone and cable. Open all year. Specials: Discounted Hot Springs passes.

1600 E. Hwy 160, Pagosa Springs, Coloradowww.FiresideCabins.com 888-264-9204 970-264-9204

ALPINE LODGING

KACHINA LODGE andMEETINGS CENTER in TaosFour blocks from the historic Taos Plaza, shops, galleries

and museums. Full-service ho-tel. Includes full hot breakfast, leisure bar/lounge with pool ta-bles, video games, and coffee shop. Southwestern dining. Out-door seasonally heated pool, hot

tub, and free high speed internet. Nightly Indian dances May-October. Near Taos Casino and Taos Pueblo. Afford-able prices, friendly service staff.

800.522.4462 575.758.2275 www.KachinaLodge.com413 Paseo del Pueblo Norte, Taos, NM

CRANES IN FLIGHT – GERAINT SMITH PHOTO

PUEBLO BALLOONCOMPANYWe fly the scenic Rio Grande Gorge and Rio Grande del Norte National Monument – the perfect way to celebrate special occasions. We drop down into the Gorge and kiss the river for the most thrilling balloon ride anywhere. Experienced, safe, and knowl-edgeable crew and FAA certified pilots. Breath- taking wildlife and sunrises; champagne toast. Hotel pick-up. Book your trip today!

www.PuebloBalloon.cominfo@puebloballoon.com575-751-9877

Hot air balloon rides into and over the Rio Grande Gorge since 1991. Flights at dawn with a ride into the desert outside Taos, inflation of the huge lighter-than-air craft, boarding the basket and floating upward with an experienced, licensed pilot. Champagne brunch and celebration included. Call for reservations and rates.

www.TaosBallooning.com ken@taosballooning.com 575-751-6098

ESKE’SPARADISEBALLOONS

THE SOLITARYANGLER“Quality Year-Round Fly Fishing Without The Crowds.” Guided fly fishing trips to wild river

canyons, Rocky Mountain lakes and streams. Best guides and best private water around. Hacienda and cabins available on the Cimarron River. Owner Van Beacham is the author of Flyfisher’s Guide to New Mexico.

www.TheSolitaryAngler.com 226C North Pueblo Rd, Taos866-502-1700

BIG RIVERRAFTINGThe ultimate NM White-water Rafting Adventure! Big River Rafts has been guiding NM rafting trips and

tours since 1983. Your adventure begins just 20 minutes south of Taos. We offer rafting trips to suit every need, every skill level. Relaxing dinner floats or exciting rapid rides down the Rio Grande, delicious picnics. Mild to wild rafting trips. Operating March-Nov. Large & small groups welcome.

www.BigRiverRafts.com bigriverbilly@yahoocom 1-800-RIVER-GO 575-758-9711

LOS RIOS RIVER RUNNERSWhitewater Rafting in Taos, Santa Fe, & Albuquerque for over 40 Years. New Mexico’s oldest and most experi-enced rafting company! Los Rios has more access to NM rivers than any other rafting company, and the best-trained, most fun rafting guides. • White-knuckle whitewater trips on the Rio Grande • Star-filled river camping in the majestic Rio Chama canyon • Serene feast and float trips with Native Pueblo Indian guides

www.LosRiosRiverRunners.com info@losriosriverrunners.com 575-776-8854

OUTFITTERS

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ANGEL FIRE RESORT GOLF & COUNTRY CLUBTake your game to a higher level – like 8,700 feet – at Angel Fire Resort Golf Course and Coun-try Club. Situated within the Sangre de Cristo mountains of northern New Mexico, our 18-hole champ ionship course offers challenging golf and spectacular views at every turn. With a $17 mil-lion, state-of-the-art Country Club clubhouse, Angel Fire Resort boasts over 6,600 yards of unfor-gettable high-altitude golf. Affordable spring & summer golf and lodging packages are available. Fees: $35-$95, including cart. Golf & Lodging Package Information: 855.926.3937 / Pro Shop: 575.377.4488 www.AngelFireResort.com

TOWA GOLF RESORT – SANTA FE, NMAwarded #1 Best Golf Hotel by Annual World Golf Awards 2015, Towa Golf Club is part of the AAA Four Diamond Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino, located only 15 short minutes north of Santa Fe Plaza. Towa is a magnificient collection of 27 holes designed by Hale Irwin and Bill Phillips. With a full array of amenities including a driving range, putting greens, full service club house with food and beverage service, pro shop, professional staff and grounds, Towa is a golfer’s paradise featuring the only island green in New Mexico. For tee times and current rates call 505.455.9000 or 877.465.3489 www.HiltonBuffaloThunder.com

TAOS COUNTRY CLUB – TAOS, NMPlay one of the top rated golf courses in New Mexico in a spectacular setting between the Rocky Mountains and the Sangre de Cristos. Measuring 7,302 yards from the back tees, this Jep Wille links-style design is open to the public and has gently rolling terrain with four sets of tees to make the course enjoyable to all. The Terrace Bar and Grill is a great place to finish your round: a gorgeous patio, delectable food, and refreshing beverages; or hold a special event for your family or company. We have PGA Professionals, a fully-equipped pro shop and practice facility. 575.758.7300 www.TaosCountryClub.com

PENDARIES GOLF RESORT – ROCIADA, NM

Located 23 miles NW of Las Vegas, this remarkable golf resort is open the end of April to the middle of October, with tee times taken up to 12 months in advance. At 8,000 foot elevation overlooking the Rociada Valley, Pendaries is a challenging 18-hole mountain course that will test every golfer’s skill level.

The golf course, lodge & restaurant make a perfect getaway for golfing couples, business meetings or retreats. Tall pines and cool temperatures create an atmosphere of relaxation and comfort. Play & Stay packages available; private homes or lodge rooms also for rent. Well worth the trip for a perfect weekend escape from the summer heat. Fees: Monday-Thursday $55, Friday-Sunday $65. Prices includes cart and sales tax. Twilight specials after 2 pm: $45 includes cart and sales tax. 505.425.3561 ext 213 for Lodge & Golf Package Reservations. Pro Shop for Tee Times 505.425.9890 www.Pendaries.net

ON THE GREEN

26 HighCountry 2016

TAOS

ACEQ – 480 State Road 150, Arroyo Seco, NM 87514. 575.776.0900. Fresh, local, fun dining at its finest. Reservations highly recommended. www.aceqrestaurant.com and info@aceqrestaurant.com

DOC MARTIN’S RESTAURANT – 1/2 block north of Taos Plaza in the Historic Taos Inn, 575-758-1977. Fresh, casual dining in a historic setting. Winner of Wine Spectator’s “Best Of” Award of Excellence for 30 consecutive years. Innovative Regional New American Cuisine using the freshest local ingredients, specializing in organic vegetables, meats and fish, including favorites like buffalo, elk, trout. Homemade desserts. Lunch, dinner, weekend brunch. Reserva-tions are recommended. Visit us online:DocMartinsRestaurant.com

EL GAMAL – Behind Taos Plaza, 112 Doña Luz. 575-613-0311. Serving conscious vege-tarian Middle Eastern food, made from scratch. Hummus, falafel, baba ganoush, shakshuka, labane, dolmas. Daily specials, soups, house-made pita, desserts. Gluten-free and vegan options; Turkish coffee and espresso drinks; beer and wine. Family-friendly: kids’ playroom,

pool table, free wi-fi. Patio seating. Call for takeout. Like us on Facebook. Open Mon-Wed 9-5; Thurs-Sat 9-9; Sun 11-3.

FARMHOUSE CAFE AND BAKERY – Three miles north of Taos Plaza at Overland Ranch. 575-758-LOVE (5683). Farm-to-table, serving local organic cuisine. Legend-ary grass-fed burger, green chile chicken stew, daily quiche. House-made soups, salads and a variety of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. Incredible assortment of artisan breads, croissants, tarts, muffins, cheesecakes, cookies and more. Specialty coffees and fresh organic grab-and-go items. Open 8 am-5 pm daily. Sunday Brunch. Visit us online: FarmhouseCafeAndBakery.com

THE GORGE BAR and GRILL – 103 East Taos Plaza. 575-758-8866. Stop by The Gorge and try our juicy burgers, handshaken margaritas, or fresh oysters – something for every-one! Enjoy The Best Happy Hour in Taos while sitting on our patio overlooking the Taos Pla-za. We feature TWO happy hours: M-F, 3-5:30 pm and again from 9-10:30 pm. Check out our new wine bar and retail shop located below The Gorge: PARCHT BOTTLESHOP + BITES. 575-758-1994. A cozy place to discover unique wines + quality craft beer + hand-picked artisanal cheese & charcuterie + locally roasted

coffee. Come explore the things that excite us while you taste + shop + unwind. Visit us at thegorgebarandgrill.com & parcht.com

GUADALAJARA GRILL – Two locations in Taos: Southside – 1384 Paseo del Pueblo Sur, 575-751-0063. Northside – 822 Paseo del Pueblo Norte, 575-737-0816. “Our secret sauce makes the difference!” Authentic Mexican food in New Mexico. Seafood, Chile Rellenos, Azteca Quesadilla, Camarones a la Diabla, Ceviche and so much more. Beer, Wine, Agave Margaritas. Won 2015 “Best Of Taos” for Best Mexican Restaurant. Nomi-nated by the NM Restaurant Association for “Best NM Restaurant 2014.” Winter hours: Sun 10:30-8:30 pm. Fri-Sat 10:30 to 9 pm. Open 7 days a week. See our menu online: GuadalajaraGrillTaos.com

RICKY’S – Located 2 1/2 blocks south of Taos Plaza at 312 Paseo del Pueblo Sur. 575-758-1156. A locals’ favorite. Breakfast, lunch and dinner specials daily. Great New Mexican and American dishes at family oriented prices. Gluten-free and vegetarian chiles. Breakfast tacos and breakfast sopapillas. Burgers made with fresh local beef daily. Kid’s menu. 80% of our dishes available vegetarian. Dine in or take out. Open 7 days, 7 am to 8 pm.

SABROSO RESTAURANT & BAR – 470 State Hwy. 150, Arroyo Seco, NM. 575-776-3333. A fine dining restaurant on the road to Taos Ski Valley. Sabroso, which means deli-cious, is housed in a historic 150-year-old ado-be in the tiny village of Arroyo Seco. Famous for our wood-grilled steaks, fully-stocked bar, and wine cellar. Patio dining in summer with outdoor bar, covered tables. Enjoy one of our fabulous margaritas, listen to musicians on our patio, or enjoy the comforts of our cozy indoor bar area. Annual 4th of July pig roast. Plan your event in our plum orchard. Open daily 4-8 pm. SabrosoTaos.com

THE TERRACE at TAOS COUNTRY CLUB – 54 Golf Course Drive in Ranchos de Taos. 575.758.7300. The Terrace at Taos Country Club is Taos’ newest dining location!

TIME TO DINE

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With 360 degree views of the beautiful Sangre de Cristo Mountains and Taos Valley, we offer breakfast & lunch daily from 8:30 am-3:30 pm with fresh sandwiches, flavorful salads, and cold beer for a long day on the course or just a quick escape from town. We serve Sun-day Brunch 9 am-3:30 pm with the best Eggs Benny, Monte Cristo sandwiches, and our Bloody Mary bar. For dinner we offer great steaks, shrimp, wine and cocktails. Served on one of the most beautiful patios in Taos. Open May-October. For menus and info:www.taoscountryclub.com/theterrace

RED RIVER

BRETT’S BISTRO – At Lifts West, 201 W. Main Street in Red River. 575-754-9959. Serving the best steaks, seafood and Rocky Mountain trout for over 25 years. Daily spe-cials, kids’ menu. Catering available. Cold Beer and Fine Wines. Like us on Facebook. Open daily 11 am–9 pm. BrettsBistro.com

SUNDANCE – High Street at Copper King. 575-754-2971. Same great food, same great service. Celebrating our 43rd year. Steaks, salads, excellent Mexican food. Great sopaipillas! Specials include shrimp fajitas and quesadillas. Frozen wine Margaritas. Res-ervations are welcome. Call for to-go orders. Open nightly 5 pm.

ANGEL FIRE

ANGEL FIRED PIZZA – Located on the second floor of the Mountain View Mall (next to Lowe’s Valley Market). 575-377-2774. Voted “Best of Angel Fire.” We serve specialty pizzas, baked pastas, calzones, and salads all in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. Gluten-free options. Wide selection of handcrafted beers and fine wines also available. Dine in or take out. Open Tues-Sun 11 am-9 pm. Daily Happy Hour.

ELEMENTS at THE COUNTRY CLUB – Located on the upper level of the Angel Fire Resort Country Club. 575-377-3055.

Open to the public year-round. Enjoy mountain-view fine dining, great appetizers, a full bar and wine selection, private dining rooms and group event spaces. Dining room is open Tuesday-Saturday 5 pm - 9 pm. Bar and lounge is open Tuesday-Saturday 4 pm - close. Extended hours during peak periods.

H2 UPTOWN – 48 North Angel Fire Road. 575-377-1200. Casual mountain style din-ing with an upscale experience, where you’re treated like family. Serving specially seasoned charbroiled steaks, wild game, pastas, fine wine, draft beer and much more. An unforget-table experience at an affordable price. Open for lunch and dinner. Reservations for dinner are suggested. Also visit Café Expresso 575-377-6669 for hearty breakfast and lunch, or Hatcha’s Grill 575-377-7011 for homemade red or green chile enchiladas!

LEGENDS GRILL – Located on the second floor of The Lodge at Angel Fire Resort. 575-377-4201. A great place for the whole family. Proudly serving 1/2 lb. New Mexico beef burgers, sandwiches, salads, pastas, chicken fried steak and more. Great selection of craft beers on tap. Sports on the big screens! Open daily 4 pm-9 pm.

THE LIFT – Located in the lobby of The Lodge at Angel Fire Resort. 575-377-4234. Serving Starbucks specialty coffees, smoothies, and freshly baked goods daily. Annie’s dishes up delicious full breakfasts and lunches, including homemade breakfast burritos (a local favorite), tasty omelettes cooked to order, gourmet paninis and sand-wiches, fresh salads and homemade dress-ings. Beer, wine and spirits also available. Open daily 7 am - 4 pm, with extended hours during peak periods.

PUB ‘N GRUB – Located at the Village Center Plaza, 52 N. Angel Fire Road. 575-377-2335. A family-friendly pub with 20 craft brews on tap including a draft style root beer. Gourmet dining in a rustic and casual environment. Best steaks in town. Open ev-ery day during winter ski season, 5 to 9 pm.

in the Historic Taos Inn125 Paseo del Pueblo Norte

DocMartinsRestaurant.com575 758 1977

Foodsthat celebrate

region and season

Since 1936

28 HighCountry 2016

2016 CALENDARMAY14 Fishing Derby, Red River19 Opening Day, Angel Fire Bike Park20 Taos Lilac Festival20 Run For The Wall, Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park21 High Mountain Half Marathon / 5K, Red River26 Taos Plaza Live – Thursdays 6 pm all summer26-30 Memorial Day Motorcycle Rally, Red River27-28 Durango Pow Wow, Sky Ute Fairgrounds28 Angel Fire Resort Zipline Opening Day28 Bike Rally with Rudy Boy & Hartless, Red River28 Mountain Bike Demo Daze, Angel Fire Bike Park28 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic & Bicycle Train, Durango29 Summer Chairlift Rides, ongoing, Angel Fire29 Fire 5 Downhill Race Series, Angel Fire Bike Park30 Memorial Weekend Ceremonies, Vietnam Veterans National Memorial, Angel Fire31-Jun 4 Taos Poetry Festival

JUNE1 Eagle Nest Farmers Market, ongoing through Labor Day1, 8 True West Rodeo, Durango3-5 Annual Red River Classic Car Show3-5 Folk n’ Bluegrass Festival, Pagosa Springs 4 Animas River Days, Durango4-5 NMTrials Association Rounds 5 & 6, Sipapu Resort9-Jul 2 Taos Opera Institute Season begins, Taos Ski Valley10-12 AAFPO Weekend, Angel Fire10-12 Angel Fire Endurance Run10-11 Pagosa Springs Car Show11 River And Brews Music Festival, Red River

11-12 Scott Enduro Mountain Bike Race, Angel Fire Resort13 San Antonio Feast Day and Corn Dances, Taos Pueblo15 Movies In The Mountains, Red River – all summer17-19 Balloons Over Angel Fire17-19 Fine Art & Wine Festival, Red River18-19 & 25-26 “Dinosaur Train,” Durango Train Depot19 “Geology Train,” Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad19-Aug 7 Taos School of Music Summer Concerts20 Missoula Children’s Theater, Angel Fire –“Rapunzel”23-26 Chile Challenge Mountain Bike Pro GRT, Angel Fire24 San Juan Feast Day, Taos Pueblo24-25 Nashville to New Mexico and Country Fest, Eagle Nest24-Sept 4 Summer Chairlift Rides, Taos Ski Valley25 Toast of Taos Wine Festival and Golf Tournament25-26 Rough Riders 200 Road Biking Tour, Angel Fire25-26 Rio Pueblo Open Disc Golf Tournament, Sipapu29 Music in the Secret Garden, Durango, ongoing

JULY 1-ongoing Michael Martin Murphey, Rockin’ 3M Chuckwagon Suppers 1 2nd Annual South Boundary Trail Ride, Angel Fire Resort4 Arroyo Seco, NM July 4th Parade4 Fourth of July Parades, Picnics & Ceremonies, all areas4 4th of July Parade & Maverick Club Rodeo, Cimarron9 StorySLAM Pollinate! Wild Rivers Amphitheater, Questa9 Fandango Fundraising Event for Taos Historic Museums8-10 Taos Pueblo Pow Wow8-10 Angel Fire ArtsFest9-10 Lavender in the Valley Festival, Abiquiu10 Music In The Mountains, Durango; ongoing all summer15-17 Logger Days Festival, South Fork16 Explore The Arts Festival, Cimarron16 Fire 5 Downhill Race Series #2, Angel Fire Bike Park16-17 Sipapu Summer Slam Disc Golf Tournament19 Full Moon Williams Lake Hike, Taos Ski Valley22-24 Las Fiestas de Taos, Taos Plaza24 3D Shoot State Archery Championship, Sipapu25 Missoula Children’s Theater’s “Rapunzel,” Taos25-31 Fiesta Days, Durango23-24 Chimney Rock Festival of Crafts & Culture, Pagosa Springs25-26 Feast Days of Santiago and Santa Ana, Taos Pueblo28-30 Angel Fire HSF Golf Invitational29-31 Annual High Country Arts & Crafts Festival, Eagle Nest30 South Boundary BigRide, Angel Fire Resort

AUGUST5 Buckaroo Ball, Red River 5-6 Dulcimer Festival, Red River5-7 Rhythms on the Rio Music Festival, South Fork6 Up and Over 10K Trail Run, Taos Ski Valley6 Dulcimer Festival, Red River6 7th Annual Maverick Ranch Rodeo, Cimarron6 Taos Home and Garden Tour6 Muck & Mire Mud Race, Purgatory Resort, Durango10-14 La Plata County Fair, Durango12-14 Chama Days, Chama13 Fire 5 Downhill Race Series, Race #3, Angel Fire Bike Park13 Eaglefest – 100th Anniversary of Eagle Nest13-14 Mtn. West Vintage Motorcycle Trials #7 & 8, Sipapu13-14 Taos Ski Valley Art Festival13-14 Four Corners BMW Meet & Greet, Pagosa Springs19-Sept 3 Music From Angel Fire Concert Series, 33rd Season17 Full Moon Williams Lake Hike, Taos Ski Valley17-20 Hot Chili Days, Cool Mountain Nights, Red River20 Millicent Rogers Museum’s Turquoise Gala, Taos20 Devil Mountain Ultra 50/50 Marathon, Pagosa Springs26-28 Cowboy Music & Poetry Gathering, Cimarron27 August Night 2016 Gala and Auction, Taos Art MuseumTBA Annual Taos Autumn Run Car Show, Taos Plaza

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DISCOVER ANGEL FIRE,NEW MEXICO

ONLY 24 MILES FROM TAOSangelfireresort.com | 888-976-4941

COOL SUMMER

Funand

Adventure

SEPTEMBER

2-3 Run For The Wall Reunion, Eagle Nest / Angel Fire2-4 Four Corners Folk Festival, Pagosa2-5 Gravity Games & Bikes, Blues & Brews, Angel Fire Bike Park3 Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Walkway Brick Installation3-4 Mtn. West Vintage Motorcycle Trials Rounds 10 & 11, Sipapu3-4 Angel Fire Parade of Homes4 Fire 5 Downhill Race Series – Race #4, Angel Fire Bike Park8-10 Michael Hearne’s Big Barn Dance, Kit Carson Park, Taos9-May 22, 2017 Taos Chamber Music Festival11 Enchanted Circle Century Bike Tour16 Full Moon Williams Lake Hike, Taos Ski Valley16-18 ColorFest Weekend 2016 Balloon Fest, Pagosa Springs16-18 Shortgrass Music Festival, Cimarron17 Oktoberfest Celebration, Taos Ski Valley17 NeoRio Arts Festival, Wild Rivers Area north of Questa17-25 Fishfest, Eagle Nest Lake23-24 The Paseo: outdoor large scale installation art fest, Taos23-25 Aspencade Performing Arts & Crafts Fair, Red River23-Oct 2 Taos Fall Arts Festival24 Taos Arts and Crafts Fair, Kit Carson Park24 Old Taos Trade Fair, Martinez Hacienda24-25 Drew Judycki Memorial Disc Golf Tournament, Red River29-30 San Geronimo Eve and Day, Taos Pueblo

OCTOBER1 Mountain Chile Cha Cha Festival, Pagosa Springs1-2 Taos Wool Festival, Kit Carson Park7-9 Oktoberfest in Red River7-8 SOMOS Storytelling Festival, Taos8 Fire 5 Downhill Race Series – Final Race, Angel Fire Bike Park8-9 Art Up Open Studio Art Tour, Angel Fire14 Angel Fire Bike Park closing weekend14-16 Fall for Antiques Show & Sale, Millicent Rogers Museum, Taos15-16 Tour of the Enchanted Circle, Angel Fire Bike Park (Finale)28-30 Taos Mountain Balloon Rally

INFORMATIONANGEL FIRE 800-446-8117CHAMA 800-477-0149CIMARRON 575-376-2417DURANGO 970-247-3500EAGLE NEST 800-494-9117PAGOSA SPRINGS 800-252-2204RED RIVER 575-754-3030SANTA FE 800-777-2489SOUTH FORK 800-571-0881 TAOS COUNTY 800-732-8267TAOS PUEBLO 575-758-1028TAOS SKI VALLEY 800-517-9816

Dates subject to change. Check with local centers for ongoing events and updated info.

30 HighCountry 2016

SHORTGRASS MUSIC FESTIVALSeptember 16-18, 2016 –Two dynamic classical performance

artists will collaborate in a cello and piano recital at Cimarron’s United

Methodist Church Sunday afternoon, September 18, at 4 p.m. Known for her “arrestingly beautiful tone color” (The Strad), cellist Denise Djokic captivates audiences with her natural musical instinct and remarkable combination of strength and sensitivity. Pianist Heng-Jin Park, the new Artistic Director of Halcyon Music Festival and founding member of the Boston Trio, is also a passionate chamber musician, heralded by the Washington Post as a “pianist of unusual artistry and musical imagination.” www.ShortGrassFestival.com

FIESTAS de TAOSJuly 22-24, 2016 – The Annual Fiestas de Taos weekend fills Historic Taos Plaza with Spanish Folk music, northern New Mexican cuisine and native dance. Four centuries of Taos culture are celebrated with high-spirited fervor. Share and enjoy delicious cuisine, traditional music and fellowship, while honoring the cultural uniqueness of Taos. Be sure to catch the famous Historical Parade on Sunday afternoon – where mounted conquistadores mingle with tribal dancers, French fur trappers and eye-popping floats. ¡Que Vivan Las Fiestas! www.FiestasdeTaos.com

MICHAEL HEARNE’S 14TH ANNUAL BIG BARN DANCE MUSIC FESTIVALSeptember 8-10, 2016 – This one-of-a-kind, world class music festival will take place again in Kit Carson Park in Taos, NM. A listening room experience in a festival setting, come experience some of the most diverse and well-respected names in Americana, Country, Bluegrass

and Folk music… along with some good old-fashioned two-step “boot scootin’.” Performers include Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis, Michael Hearne, Terri Hendrix and Lloyd Maines, Dale Watson, Tejas Brothers, Chuck Cannon, Walt Wilkins, Susan Gibson, Shake Russell, Kevin and Dustin Welch, The Rifters and many more! For information & tickets: www.MichaelHearne.com

MUSIC FROMANGEL FIREMusic From Angel Fire celebrates its 33rd season, August 19 – September 3, 2016. Join us for classical music per-formed by world-class artists in the New Mexico mountain communities of Angel Fire, Taos, Raton and Las Vegas under the artistic direction of Ida Kavafian. This year, the MFAF Summer Festival’s theme is “Storytelling – poetry and literature in music.” Over 20 concerts and festival

events bring stories to life through inspir-ing instrumental music performed by a host of internationally renowned artists. A highlight of the Festival will be a staged presentation of Stravinsky’s Soldier’s Tale, in which Dance Theatre Southwest dancers will join the musicians and actors onstage in a performance conducted by Guillermo Figueroa. Tickets go on sale on May 31 at https://holdmyticket.com or by calling the Box Office at 575.377.3300. Ticket discounts are available until August 7. To see more information about the Festival, visit www.MusicFromAngelFire.org

LIFE AT CHIMNEY ROCK FESTIVALJuly 23-24, 2016 – Chimney Rock National Monument is a place of unparalleled natural beauty preserving hundreds of prehistoric archeological sites. Chimney Rock comes alive at this FREE, fami-ly-oriented festival from 10 am to 4 pm each day. Step back in time as volunteers demonstrate ancient

tools and crafts. Visitors will have the opportunity to try their hand at interactive cultural activities. A major festival attraction is the invitational Native American Arts and Crafts Market. Vendors will be displaying their crafts and in some cases demonstrating their Native American art and skills. Chimney Rock National Monument is located 17 miles west of Pa-gosa Springs, Colorado on Highway 160. www.ChimneyRockCo.org

FESTIVAL FAVORITES

COURTESY CHIMNEY ROCK NATIONAL MONUMENT

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