“Bizarre travel plans are dancing lessons from God.” ~Kurt Vonnegut
hello travelers
whether you are heading to the southwest for an adventure in a different climate, geology, ecology, cuisine, & culture than what you are accustomed to, or visiting the high dry southwest once again for a taste of the familiar, there may be information here that could help you plan your trip:
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Truth or Consequences is in what is called a high desert or cold desert, so the weather can be extreme. Mostly tho, it’s well on the warm side & very sunny.
The winter temps can get down into the 20’s & on rare occasions even lower, tho temperatures like these are usually brief & most often during the night… it might snow but it will almost always be melted by late afternoon… because there is a wee nip to the air, folks will burn aromatic woods like pinyon & juniper in their fireplaces & it smells just beautiful~
Spring is sunny & temperature wise perfect… however, it is the windy season & it can be wild at times~ you’ll notice our hats have chin straps, that’s no fashion statement friends, we just don’t wanna lose our lids!
The summer features regular temperatures in the upper 90’s & not uncommonly the low 100s, with the summer nights usually being in the 70’s… The heat is indeed usually very dry, so sweating is able to do it’s thing to cool you off as long as you keep hydrated~ Traditionally in July, but sometimes starting in June, are the monsoon rains, (if we are lucky, as we are in the midst of a historic drought)… the southwestern monsoons are a series of regular storms coming in from the Pacific Ocean, usually in the afternoons or overnight, & provide valuable rain to the southwestern deserts. Sometimes the rain happens only in the atmosphere & doesn’t get to the ground… when it does hit the ground, things do dry back out pretty quickly. It can be hot & intense, & when the rain falls it cools the air deliciously. It is incredibly beautiful with dramatic skies, blooming flowers, greenery softening the canyons, water flowing down the rivers & arroyos… of course, this would also be the rare time of year when there are any mosquitoes; everything has a price…
Autumn is chile roasting season & while it’s definitely lovely, when i lived in the eastern forests i did not leave during October as it is the most glorious time there. Weather here is extremely pleasant then, but isn’t that just autumn everywhere? I will say it has a different flavor from autumn just to the north, if you crave that melancholy fall vibe you can scoot up just north of Albuquerque where the mountains have some lovely deciduous trees, or a wee bit west into the wilderness
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Now, just where in tarnation is Truth or Consequences, New Mexico?
It is in the southern part of New Mexico, in Sierra County. It is 2 hours south of Albuquerque & 2 hours north & west of El Paso, Texas.
It is located just on the other side of the Caballo Mountains from the historic Camino Real & the Jornada del Muerto, Journey of the Working Dead Man… (more on that strange & interesting tale to come…) A few miles to the west is Elephant Butte Lake, a state park featuring an interesting & dramatic man-made lake, the largest lake in New Mexico & definitely a big summer recreation situation…
Just a wee bit over an hour south of us is the lovely small city of Las Cruces & the incredible Organ Mountains which must be seen to be appreciated… about halfway down to Cruces is the famous chile growing mecca of Hatch… along the way there are acres of small family farms growing cotton & chiles & shady groves of pecan trees…
In every direction are vast distances of desert canyons, mesas, buttes… the town is surrounded by mountains, Turtleback Mountain to the southeast, with the Rio Grande flowing along the base, being the big one that features large in our scenic views. There is also Mud Mountain to the northwest, with its humble name, it’s said to be the source of the hot waters that flow beneath us. On the horizon you can see the Black Range, a gorgeous mountain range directly west, in the Gila Wilderness… a short incredibly scenic drive will take you there. We’re at the very northernmost reach of the Chihuahuan Desert, the largest desert in North America. This desert covers part of southern New Mexico, part of southwest Texas, & much of northern Mexico.
The elevation in town ranges from about 4200 to about 4800 feet above sea level, depending on where in town you are… Skinflower Cosmic Art studio is at 4360 feet above sea level~ If you are visiting from nearer to the coasts this means there is less oxygen in the air than you might be used to, so make sure you don’t push yourself physically as it can be common to feel a bit lightheaded at times when you are not accustomed to it.
At this elevation the sun is also quite a bit more intense than it is at sea level, as well you will notice less large tall trees, more low shrubs & cactus & yucca; there is little naturally occurring shade, so you will want to have a wide brimmed hat of some kind, long sleeves (even in summer) & sunscreen, even if you don’t normally. Trust me, the sun here is not kidding.
The Rio Grande flows thru Truth or Consequences & the downtown area is known as the water district, as it is populated by natural hotsprings that bubble up from the earth. This provides us several lovely places to soak your weary body in the delightfully relaxing mineral rich hot spring waters… you will likely want to take advantage of this while you are here. Before 1950, the town was called Hot Springs, New Mexico. (watch this space at a later date for a tale about the name of the town that is quite the wild ride!) The name is often shortened by locals to “ T or C ”
from what i can gather, Truth or Consequences is in Apache territory, with the Chiricahua to the west & the Mescalero to the east… the Pueblos are to the north…
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How do i get to Truth or Consequences?
from the east coast: head west & take a left toin at Albuquerque~ 😹 ha! i’m kidding, but also not…
If you plan to fly out here, the airport in Albuquerque is so easy to navigate, it is on the south end of the city, & of course has all the usual car rental options… also, Albuquerque is a great food city! Make a point of eating there if you can~
I have not yet gotten to experience the El Paso airport, but, knowing some of the lay of the land between here & there, i think it will be a lovely drive…& i’m absolutely certain El Paso has some interesting things going on… (i’ll edit this once i have experienced some of it)
Is New Mexico real?
YES! the Land of Enchantment is a real state, one of the United States of America, technically. It is south of Colorado, east of Arizona, west of Texas & Oklahoma, & north of Mexico… Much of New Mexico is the territory of a wide variety of Native people who have lived here for centuries & the Pueblo Peoples still maintain many of the beautiful adobe buildings that have made up their village centers for centuries…