Plains of San Agustin

A large area along the highway from Springerville to Socorro are know as the Plains of San Agustin. This is ranch country - cattle and sheep. I took a better look at this area on my way back from my sister's place in Arizona to my home in Albuquerque.

I had driven through Quemado (que-ma-do) on the way out but decided to stop this time. There were several business but it was the abandoned one that caught my eye plus a couple of horses in a field. 

 These two old abandoned buildings were beside the road a few miles east of Quemado. I wanted to investigate but the was a no trespassing sign and you never know who might be taking a rest inside. Especially the snakes.

There is a Continental Divide on every continent except Antarctica. It is also known as the great divide. This line marks which direction the rivers will run. Rivers run east if they are east of the line that is only known to man on maps. And the rivers run west if on the west side of the line, many of them flowing to the Pacific Ocean. I have crossed the Divide at many places on roads where it is marked at on mountains where it isn't marked with a sign. This one is well known here in New Mexico as is the one near Silver City, New Mexico. There are many places in Colorado where the Divide is marked. There is even a hiking trail along the line that many experienced hiker make a point of following through a certain state or through the whole United States. It is marked in Canada and Mexico as well and all the way through South America. This sign was also marked with a Mile 58 sign indicating you were 58 miles from Arizona.

This is a rough ridge of mountains that I think I remember my husband and I visiting many years ago. I do not remember the name and was unable to find it for sure on a map. This is rough country but does have several dirt roads into them, most requiring 4-wheel-drive. I almost took a short drive over to them but decided it was for another time when I wasn't by myself. And yes my little pickup truck does have 4-wheel-drive and I know how to use it. I have been exploring areas like this all my life, but usually with my husband or when I was little with my dad.

Walking the Continental Divide

Last night I accidentally found a wonderful program on our local PBS station which is KNME here in Albuquerque. It was a two hour show on walking the CTD or the Continental Divide. You ask what is the Continental Divide. The Divide is the geological area where the rivers and streams decide which direction they are going to flow. East of the Divide rivers flow east. West of the Divide rivers flow to the west. On the North American Continent it starts down in Mexico (that I know about) and runs north into Canada. Or I always thing of it going from south to north because I have been on more of it in New Mexico than any other state. This program was about a man who walked it from Animus, NM at the US/Mexican border to Glacier National Park where it enters Canada; a distance of about 3,100 miles. Thats a lot of miles and a lot of walking and he did it from early spring through summer and into fall. It must have been a heck of a trip. Of course it was of so much interest to us because we have seen so much of the Continental Divide considering we have lived so near it so much and took road trips that went near it at other times.
My sister lived near Animus, NM for a long time. From there he went up through Lordsburg, NM to Silver City, NM to Grants, NM to Chama, NM and the NM/Colorado border. We lived in Silver City for a number of years and have visited the other places. We have been near the Divide in CO, as well as where it wanders up through Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana on our road trips. This show has some of the most beautiful scenery you could ask for.
If You are interested in seeing this show contact your local PBS station or go to /www.flaglerfilms.com/