 |
Our property in New Mexico is a small inholding NW of Tres Piedras and way deep in the Carson National Forest at an elevation of 9000 feet, about 11 miles west of San Antonio Mountain in Rio Arriba County.
It has a trout stream (browns and Rio Grande Cutthroats) running through it, and it is the last private land up to the headwaters of the Rio San Antonio about 8 miles further upstream. The Rio San Antonio, a tributary of the Los Pinos River (which flows northeast into Colorado) flows right through the property, and we own both sides. It is half of a 20 acre inholding, and the nearest other private land is about 2 miles away downstream, so it feels as though we own 10,000 acres and the entire valley!
It has both north facing dark timber, with aspens, fir, spruce and a few huge evergreens about 12 feet around. In the middle of the land are open meadows and on the north side, south facing ponderosa/open, ideal for cabins with sun exposure in the winter. The area is covered in elk and there are also mule deer, antelope, grouse and a few turkeys. Within our fence, we have seen all of this game except turkey. This is in NM game unit 52, a favorite among elk hunters. In recent years, we have been getting a landowner elk permit for our land. This is a major summer and wintering range for elk (see http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/publications/documents/SAMElkProject.pdf)
On either side, the valley sides rise up to over 10,000 feet, Olguin Mesa and Banco Julian. This is about 9 miles south of the Colorado border, south of the Cruces Basin Wilderness area. Our property is at the end of a National Forest Service road (88A), and is very rugged and remote. No vehicle access is allowed past our fenceline on National Forest land. 4 wheel drive is a must since the road can be in poor condition, and snowmobiles are needed for access in the winter. No utilities of any kind. No cabin there yet, just a table and an outhouse. This property is unique in the beauty, solitude, and live stream.... a special place in the West.
But it is not for the fainthearted, there are no neighbors nor stores nearby. And yes, we can catch a cell phone signal there! It is absolutely gorgeous, perfect, our dream property but we have to sell it to pay for our kids education.
|
|
