Showing posts with label southwest New Mexico. Show all posts
Showing posts with label southwest New Mexico. Show all posts

Wednesday

Sunrise and Sunset

The San Simon Valley gets spectacular sunrises and sunsets.  Flanked by the Chiricahua mountains to the west and the Peloncillo mountains to the east, those in the valley are treated to an abundance of beauty every morning and evening.  The view below is a 3 image panorama of wispy clouds reflecting the rising sun which has yet to climb above the Peloncillo mountains.  Some folks have said they prefer the Peloncillos at sunset but I find sunrise the most spectacular especially when there is some cloud cover to reflect the sunlight.  Both times of day either mountain range has something new to see and I'm constantly recording something new I have never seen before.

Sunrise over the Peloncillo mountains from the Painted Pony Resort
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Addendum:

Two days later after a day of light rain, the warm temperatures combined with water vapor resulted in low wispy fog at sunrise.

Wispy fog over the Peloncillo mountains in the San Simon valley.

Friday

New Mexico Magazine and Rodeo

New Mexico Magazine's beginnings back in 1923 as a publication for the Department of Transportation employees belies it's current standing as New Mexico's flagship publication.  "With a subscription and newsstand circulation of about 117,000, it is estimated almost half a million readers pick up New Mexico Magazine each month" (1).  As the oldest state magazine (celebrating it's 90th anniversary) and a publication aimed at potential visitors, New Mexico Magazine covers people, places, and events that make New Mexico special and one of those special places is Rodeo.  Last featured in the October 1965 issue Rodeo and the San Simon Valley has continued, a place of wide open spaces surrounded by mountains straddling 2 states.  Equally isolated from Arizona by the Chiricahua Mountains and New Mexico, by the Peloncillo Mountains, life is lived at a different pace.  A place where a trip to the grocery store is still a half day affair even with paved highways.  A place of ranching, farming, and retirement where people move because of the space. 

The original article about Rodeo was written by John L. Sinclair 45 years ago and little has changed in the area.  As New Mexico's most south western town people still arrive with ideas and set about creating and giving life to those ideas.  This latest article on Rodeo in the 90th anniversary issue of New Mexico Magazine is just one expression of those ideas.

The newest article on Rodeo may be found on the authors website, or in the January issue of New Mexico Magazine. 


Rodeo, New Mexico

Monday

Lodging and Accommodations in the Portal Rodeo Area



If the 9 bedrooms and 5 RV hookups at the Painted Pony Resort will not accommodate all the guests attending your event, additional lodging is available close by.  Whether for a wedding, a reunion, a meeting, or anniversary a number of additional sites for lodging are available in the area.  Below is listed a number of additional locations where guests and visitors may find lodging in the Portal Rodeo area. 

Name and website                distance from PPR              phone
Ananda Mandir                          8 miles
Arizona Sky Village                 12 miles
Birders B and B                        11 miles                   (888) 596-2557 
Casa Adobe                               6 miles                   (575) 557-7777                
Cave Creek Ranch                   11 miles                   (520) 558-2334
Chiricahua Cottages                 11 miles                  (520)-887-2340
Chiricahua Mountain Lodge       2.5 miles                  (575) 557-5757
DD Gamble Guest Lodge           15 miles                  (520) 558-1090
George Walker House                15 miles                   (520) 558-2287
Four Bar Cottages                       6 miles                   (520) 558-2580
Mountain Valley Lodge                6 miles                   (575) 520-3731
Myrtle Kraft Cottage                  10 miles                   (520) 558-2223
Mountain Shadows Getaway      12 miles                   (520) 558-5858
Portal Peak Lodge                      10 miles                   (520) 558-2223
Quailway Cottage                         6 miles                  (520) 558-0369
Rodeo Cottages                           6 miles                   (575) 557-1167
Sky Island Lodge                         6 miles                   (520) 558-0057

This Google map shows the locations of available lodging in the area (yellow pins) along with some local birding areas compiled from published sources.

Thursday

Astronomy at the Painted Pony Resort

Being located half way between Tucson, AZ and El Paso TX has its benefits, no light pollution.  As a result the area is a mecca for the North American amateur astronomy community.  Several commercial online telescope rental operations are located here as well as several communities dedicated to observing the night sky.  All-Star Telescope is currently in residence with a group of astronomers from across Canada. They have set up down by the hanger and everyone comes out at night for viewing and astro photography.  Here is a link to an astronomy site maintained by one of the guests.

Not to be left out many of the wives are artists and spend the day painting and sketching the landscape.  Of course the pool and hot tub have seen some action during their visit.

Telescopes by the hanger at the Painted Pony Resort



Water colors and Pen and Ink Sketching