We woke to unseasonably cold weather, with a chance of rain turning to a chance of snow. Kind of alarming because we have to make our way over a high pass this afternoon to reach the other side of the Rockies. Surely it won't really snow!
The High Road between Santa Fe and Taos winds through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, with lots of historical sites and scenic stops along the way. We made our first quick stop at Camel Rock, on our way to El Santuario de Chimayo.
Camel Rock
El Santuario de Chimayo is a small shrine that is one of the most important Catholic pilgrimage sites in the United States. Legend has it that the dirt here has great healing powers, and the location has been a place of worship even before the chapel's construction in 1813.
El Santuario de Chimayo
A pilgrim on his pilgrimage
The Last Supper
Resurrection
Stone arch crosses
We continued north along the High Road, admiring the snow-capped mountains and picturesque villages. In Las Trampas, we happened by the Church of San Jose de Gracia, considered to be one of the best preserved examples of Spanish colonial architecture in New Mexico. Built between 1760 and 1776, the church is still in use after 250 years.
Truchas, New Mexico
Truchas Overlook
Church of San Jose de Gracia, Las Trampas, NM
From Taos, we drove west for ten miles to the Rio Grande Overlook. The Rio Grande Gorge runs for 50 miles from near the Colorado border to southwest of Taos, reaching a depth of up to 800 feet. The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, at 650 feet above the river, is the fifth highest bridge in the United States. We could see dark clouds all around us, so we didn't stay long.
Rio Grande Gorge Bridge
Rio Grande Gorge
Two miles west of the gorge is the site of an earthship community. An “earthship” is an off-grid home built out of dirt and recycled trash such as tires, cans, and bottles. Earth-shippers typically collect and recycle rainwater multiple times and generate power through the sun and wind. The buildings are...interesting.
Earthship community
Earthship
Foreboding sky
With precipitation inevitable, it was time to get up and over the Rocky Mountains before the weather turned ugly. We took the southern route around Wheeler Peak, New Mexico's highest point, which we unfortunately would not be visiting. An overlook of Eagle Nest Lake was our last stop on the west side of the Rockies.
Eagle Nest Lake
Our first stop on the eastern side of the Rockies was at Palisades Sill, spectacular 300-foot cliffs along the Cimarron River which form a somewhat spooky canyon. The views were stunning, but the temperature had dropped markedly and it was beginning to snow, so we had to keep moving.
Tom at Palisades Sill
300-foot cliffs
Once we left the mountains and reached the High Plains, the weather seemed fine to continue on to Raton, NM, just another hour up the road, but then conditions quickly worsened to a near blizzard, and soon I was driving through a virtual white-out. At one point, I had to stop for a herd of elk that was standing in the middle of US 64. Then shortly after that, a warning popped up on the dash that the van's radar was blocked – by ice, obviously – and therefore some of the safety features weren't working. Super.
Finally, our white-knuckle journey ended as we pulled in to our hotel in Raton. We took a few photos, knocked some of the ice off the van's grill, and then collapsed in our room. An hour later, we emerged to find that the sun had come out and the weather was beautiful. A freak spring storm in the plains. Gotta love it, right?
Raton Pass Motor Inn, Raton, NM
Tail-end of the blizzard
Freezing flamingo
Icy Odyssey
Lodging: Raton Pass Motor Inn, Raton, NM – “The Home of Vintage Cool.” This boutique motel was built in 1956, and each room is decorated in a particular theme. We stayed in El Matador, or The Bullfighter. The rooms are large, clean, comfortable, and fun!
Home of Vintage Cool
El Matador
Sunshine after the snow
Colfax Ale Cellar is a local Raton brewery with amazing beer and a solid selection of pub grub. Iris, the bartender, was awesome. We closed the place down at 8:00 p.m. and took a crowler of ale to go.
Belgian Strong Dark Ale