Desert Tango

Now that winter is pretty much over (although I’m sure we’ll get at least one more snow storm here in New Mexico before summer), I recently spent some time reviewing photos from my winter outdoor activities. I came across several images from the dozens of excursions I’ve done this winter and early spring. In terms of pure fun and good times, I have to say that this winter has been one of the most memorable to date. Copious amounts of snowfall in the mountains meant that our winter backcountry  skiing activities extended well into March this year. Plus we were able to make a quick and easy transition from skiing to mountain biking; there was even an afternoon where I did both in the same day.  So with spring, singletrack and sunshine up on us,  I present a collection of images that celebrate this past winter’s glory.

Snow is great if you get to play in it  and then head home to a city where all of your needs are a quick jaunt to the store, like I do. But living in a remote area when a big storm hits can make daily life challenging for some, especially on distant parts of the reservation. The Ramah Navajo reservation has seen it’s share of powder this winter, and the resulting mud from the melting of all that white stuff creates access problems. The chapter house has been delivering loads of supplies of food, water, firewood and hay to residents who either live on inaccessible roads, or are elderly and unable to make the journey into town.

Like many newspaper assignments, this one came down the pipes at the last minute. I believe it said something like “Get a photo of the water tanker at Ramah Market”; not really the most exciting photo idea for an impact story about the area’s recent bout with winter weather. Luckily, some of the information I received was incorrect, which forced me to track down a chapter official who put me into contact with his crew of guys delivering hay. So I ended up spending a couple of hours  delivering hay and mud bogging through remote backcountry on the Ramah Navajo reservation. Kevin Chatto and his crew were working 12-14 hour days, sometimes off the clock, trying to get hay and do welfare checks to old grandma’s,  grandpa’s and families stuck in the mud way out in the middle of nowhere.

It turned out to be a really gratifying assignment, I only wish I had had more time, but the daily newspaper deadline was looming and I had to leave.

Like the rest of the country,  western New Mexico has had it’s share of snow this winter. To a Midwesterner like myself, I can’t say that it rivals the amount we would get living along the western coast of Lake Michigan, but it’s no less fun. In fact, it’s more like an invitation to continue to getting out and having fun, even as the biking season winds down. The Zuni Mountains are a fantastic set of mountains to explore, their smooth and rolling nature lends itself to short backcountry excursions with your choice of up and downs along the small ridges,  or just cruising along in the open  meadows.  And when it’s all done, there is nothing better than coming back to the warmth of a friends cabin.