December 11, 2009

December 11, 2009

It is time for our annual pilgrimage back to the land of cold and ice. So we loaded up the car, got our coats out of storage and headed east hours before sunup. As soon as we crossed into New Mexico we left the highway and took a scenic byway north. Our route passes first thru the mining town of Silver City and then heads uphill for almost two hours into a pine forest full of snow. Fortunately it is the kind of snow I like. It is sunny, not too cold, and the snow is only on the side of the road. Aimee thinks we are crazy for taking this route in the winter. Despite it being off-season and way off the beaten track we find we are far from being the only nuts when we arrive at Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.


Gila Cliff is another of the many ancient Indian cliff dwellings in the Southwest. It is not large but it is very nice and set in a scenic canyon. Plus the tour takes us inside the dwelling. After our quick two-hour visit we are back on the road. Getting to and from the monument is a big part of the experience. The park sits at the end of a very long and very winding mountain road. Fortunately we are not in a hurry and the pine forest/canyon scenery we pass through is some of the best that New Mexico has to offer.

After driving almost the whole day we finally stop for the night south of Albuquerque in Socorro, NM. Aimee is already missing the warm weather of Tucson.