TRAILS IN THE FOREST ARE OPENING AGAIN!!

The local hiking group went on another hike on Thursday figuring because of the recent fire the trails would still be closed into the back country. We started our hike from the American Museum of Natural History Southwest Research Station and walked up the road for our walk. At the end of the road we were pleased to find the Forest Service had open the trail there. Pleased with an actual trail the group hiked it back through the forest to the research station instead of walking back up the road. Later we found other trails were also posted as now being open. So everyone put on your hiking boots and come back to the forest to hike again!!

Monsoon Rains

We are now seeing the influx of the seasonal monsoon rains into the valley. Fresh air and rain are not the only things that come with the storms. The beauty of natures clouds from Mother Natures paint brush and color palette fill the sky with beautiful cloud shapes and colors. I have been told that famed artist Maxfield Parrish studied the clouds in this part of the southwest for their shapes and colors and later used them as the models for his famous paintings. Many local artist now do the same with camera and brush to continue to capture the beauty of this season of the year. From the clouds and the rains they bring to the area will later come the wildflowers and grasses that will finish the natural paintings of the area.
Come see the beauty that nature creates here for yourself and don't forget your camera and art supplies!!

Portal/Rodeo Hikers back hiking after Horseshoe 2 Fire

Last Thursday, July 14, 2011 the hiking group from Portal, AZ and Rodeo, NM areas started hiking again after a major fire burned the local forest this spring and summer. Trails are not yet open so the group took a stroll up the road into the forest. Hopefully the Forest Service will open the trails again soon.

Whitetail Canyon Hike

A group of 22 hikers went hiking in the Cochise Head area of Whitetail Canyon area on Dec. 2nd.
Some went up to the Indian Cave while two other groups went further up to what would be Cochise's shoulder and the rest more up on his neck. The weather was perfect for hiking. Bright, sunny, and warm. Of course I'm in my traditional shorts. LOL
Because of the time of year the shortened day kept the hikers to making it to the top of his head. Rewards for the hike were fresh baked brownies and hot coffee at one of the hikers nearby home.  The attached picture shows most of the hikers. A few dogs also made the trek up the mountain. - Roger 

            Photo by DiAnn Matteson

Turkey Weekend!!

Hello everyone!! Hope everyone got their fill of turkey and all on Thanksgiving!! The weekend got off to a fun start with a hike up Owl Canyon but members and visitors to the local hiking group here. The hike was nice and split into two hikes with one group climbing the mountain and the others hiking up the canyon to an old silted in dam. The weather was perfect! Warm and sunny and all enjoyed their hikes they were on.
Seems winter has found the Rodeo, NM/Portal, AZ area finally as temps have dropped down into the 20s and below at night and only up into the 50s and low 60s during the day. How long until Spring is here???
Hope all are enjoying the start of the Holiday Season, weather and all. Have a great weekend and coming week everyone. Attached are a couple pictures from Friday's Owl Canyon Hike!!
-Roger

South Fork to Horseshoe Saddle hike Nov 18, 2010

This week's hike we noticed was only New Mexicans in AZ: Mel, Peter, Bruce,
DiAnn, Scottie and Pat.
We hiked up Burro Trail to the Red Rocks where DiAnn snapped this photo.  I
realized later that yesterday was Scottie's birthday.  A belated happy
birthday to Scottie!

Peter, Bruce, Mel and DiAnn hiked all the way to Horseshoe Saddle,
guesstimated at 10 miles round trip. GPS did not work in the woods partway
up to Red Rock for accurate measurements.  Pat did ~ 5 miles and Scottie
somewhere in between.  30 something degrees start of the hike, ~ 70 at the
end.  The maple trees had beautiful reds, yellows and oranges, especially on
the way out with the sun shining down between the foliage and limbs of the
taller trees. 

Because Thanksgiving is next week, we plan to hike on Friday November 26.
For next week - Friday hike - Owl Canyon in the Peloncillos.  Please meet at
Lorraine's house west of the Rodeo Post Office at 9 AM to carpool up Sky
Ranch Road.  Bring high clearance vehicles with good tires [no passenger
tires, the more ply the better]  Arizonans, please gather at Foothills Road
in time to get to Rodeo by 9. You'll all still have another 30 minutes of
driving to get to "the honeymoon cabin".  -Pat Owens

The French Connection!!

Yesterday I decided to check out Bing and look myself up. Never hurts to find out what is out there on the internet about yourself. LOL Anyway I noticed myself listed on a Blog from France from 2008. I had to see what the French were saying about me so opened the blog then had it translated to English. I was surprised, pleasantly surprised I must say, to find that my sculpture "The Girl with the Pearl Earring" had been included in a article about well known artists who had taken Vermeer's famous painting of the same name and created their own versions. I was the only sculptor who has created a sculpture based Vermeers Painting and my piece was place top center in the collage of recent works by modern artists and Vermeer's work as well. Of all the artists around the world who have done versions of that painting it was an honor to find that nearly three years ago now my sculpture obviously was considered  worthy enough to be included with select group artists!! This truly is "International Recognition" of my work and was a pleasant surprise to find!! I am sharing this here with my followers. Sure has made my week!! You can check out the French link mtislav.

mtislav