Beat The Heat! - Elevation 9000 ft.

by Carroll
(Columbus NM)

New Mexico is a one-license plate state, so many of the locals and other New Mexicans who have a cabin, or visit Cloudcroft in the summer, have a yellow license plate with red letters ELEV 9000 on their front bumper. Pretty neat.

At 9000 feet the months of May-June-July-August-September have monthly averages of: Low-38F and High-72F. WOW--even neater. The winters average 71 inches of snow so there is inner-tubing, snowmen/women, tobogganing, chances of playing in the snow and lots of cross-country skiing

Cloudcroft, and area, is surrounded by over 1,000,000 acres of the USDA-Lincoln National Forest. Cloudcroft, alone, has several NF-CGs within a 1-8 mile radius: e.g. - Apache, Deerhead, Fir (groups only across highway from Pines), Pines (our favorite-1 mile walk on OSHA Trail to "C"), Saddle, Silver and Sleepy Grass. The typical charge with a Golden Age Passport is $8.50/night w/14 day limit. A dump ($5) is available and water, too (n/c).

The Sr Center ($2.50 lunch-- w/soup, entree, veggies, roll/bread, 1-milk, dessert, and unlimited tea) has a book-exchange library (300-500 contemporary paper backs). Cloudcroft library probably has a 3000+ book exchange (w/some current magazines). Plus Sr Cen & Lib offer free computer usage (e.g. -- share if others are waiting). USPS "honors" general delivery during short stays and/or summers.

Cloudcroft is basically 2 streets (Hwy 82 and Burro St) (pics 1& 2) and some above average meals/beverages at: Big Daddy's Diner, Dave's Pinecone Cafe, Front Porch Eatery,
Jamoca Bean (hmm--Panini sandwiches w with Portobello mushrooms, goat cheese, greens), Rebecca's Fine Dining (Cloudcroft Lodge-Resort), Texas BBQ and other places with hamburgers, Mexican food, a bakery w/fresh scones-Danishes-jalapeno cheese bread, etc.


In 2010 there will be multiple performances of these Melodramas: Happy Hollandaise, Blazing Guns at Roaring Gulch and The Boarding House. Plus there is a Renaissance Faire, juried Art Shows, July-HamFest, Arts & Crafts, High Rolls Cherry Festival, Weed 14th annual Bluegrass Festival, Labor Day Fiesta, Sep--(pic 3) Lumberjack Day (cash prizes and glory---free admittance).

When we don't stay at the Lincoln NF-Pines CG, we stay at (pic 4) Sugar Pines RV Pk with FHU and about 1/2 mile walk on gravel roads to downtown /all 4 blocks of Cloudcroft. Otherwise, it's a mile drive on paved roads. In 2010 Sugar Pines is $20/N, $400/M or better long-term rates. It has free cable, free wireless internet, pull thrus, etc. Their facilities include a sundeck, laundry, bathrooms-showers, BBQ pit, etc.

Ruidoso is less than 40 miles away with horse races all summer and the million+$$-Futurity Quarterhorse race Labor Day weekend. It has lakes, rivers, three Indian casinos- name entertainers, Spencer Theater, many antique shops, big-time winter skiing-----but Ruidoso is another story.