NEW ERA DIARY

BABY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE
April 23, 2023 (6:30 AM)

Sedona started our trip with the gift of cool morning temps (45-50) and warm afternoons (70-80). Santa Fe, on the other hand, has been downright cold in the AM (30-35) and cool in the afternoons, reaching the low to mid 60’s. Yesterday, we took a drive to Ski Santa Fe, a forty-five minute drive through the Carson National Forest with an approximate 5,000 foot rise to an altitude of over 12,000 feet. At the start of our ride, the temperature was 42 degrees. By the time we reached the top, at the base of the ski lift, the temperature was 30 degrees with a wind chill factor of 21 degrees.

This morning, as you can observe below, the temperature is 29 with a wind chill making it feel like 22.

Screenshot of this morning’s temps

We are taking the ride to Bandelier National Monument hoping that upon our arrival at 9 AM the temperature will be @42 degrees. Neither of us really planned this level of cold weather. Still, it hasn’t prevented us from doing what we must. And, when I say must, I mean yesterday I had to pee terribly. Adele also had to pee but decided to wait and find a ‘port-a-potty’ down the canyon trail. But, there was no way I could forestall the call to nature. Suffice it to say that I learned what the phrase “frozen in time” means. I got back in the car with a stalactite in my pants.

Stalactites

Santa Fe is a special place. The evidence lies with the people you meet. We have spoken to people over breakfast, waiting for dinner seatings, shopkeepers and other customers, on and off trails, all of whom are now residents of Santa Fe. And, they all tell a similar story. Not originally from here, they arrived under a variety of circumstances - with a friend on a trip, following a divorce, taking time off from work and exploring, on a ski trip, even a reluctant ‘plus one’ - and immediately decided that they did not want to leave. That was the consistent theme. There is something magical about Santa Fe. They fell victim to its charms. Undoubtedly, there is a dose of New Age permeating the air…but not like Sedona, NM. People here feel more grounded, are friendly, there is little pretense, everyone seems available and open, and everyone has a story to tell. Of course, nature comes up frequently in conversation as it is such an integral element to the surroundings and a primary reason for relocation.

Winter was hard and long this year, remembering that Santa Fe is 7,500 ft. high in altitude.

We decided that a return would be either later in April or May, or in October for the changing leaves.

A typical Adobe structure.

5:15 PM
We traveled to Puye Cliff Dwellings and took a Guided Tour of the mesa cliffs and caves. These Native Americans, who lived and thrived here since 900 AD have a sophisticated culture. They built summer and winter dwellings. all participated in decision making, the chief had ceremonial duties but did not rule other than to be a tie breaker if the population could not decide upon a final determination.

Winter dwellings in the caves. The walls are thick keeping the rooms cool in summer and toasty in winter. The facade is South facing for day long sun. The rock outlines you see are where a connecting second room would have been, along with a second and third floor.

The people’s who lived here average 21/2’ - 4’ in height.

This is a view of the winter cave dwellings from down near the valley floor.

Remains of the summer dwellings and a nearly complete single family home. They were all connected with a dense wall between homes.

This is the starting point of our exploration.

Looking down from the village onto the valley floor. Apache and Comanche tribes would attempt annual raids on these people of diminutive size thinking they could not defend themselves. But deep into the valley were lookouts who waited and once spotted would run back to the village and warn the population of imminent attack. Captured tribesmen and women would not be harmed or killed. They would be invited to live with the population. They were willing because they wanted to live a peaceful existence themselves and typically stayed to become integral with the population.

A local scene

Our guide and all-around good guy. I did a little photo editing on this image.

High-steppin’ it in Santa Fe.