“Get out before Dawn!”, they said…

That was the best advice I received on this most recent trip out to my beloved Infinity Acres. I believed it to be the best advice since it was the key to getting ‘out’ when it snows. Leave before dawn, while everything is still frozen, before the sun comes up & melts the snow into water which will mix with the dirt making a muddy mess out of the road if driven on in that state.

Each of my annual visits out to Infinity Acres, located within Pine Meadow Ranches subdivision in New Mexico, resulted in very different experiences. Luckily my first ‘real’ visit out there was pretty awesome, as the subsequent visits were not nearly as good. So each visit was very unique and educational about that particular time of year and what to expect. Maybe. The climate is changing and there are no guarantees!

The first visit to my little 2 1/2 acre piece of land was very short due to the harrowing experience of finding it! We didn’t spend much time at all out there once we finally found it. That was back in September 2018. The weather was warm, sunny & beautiful. I am told that September is the best month for the weather out there. I really did not explore very far away from the dirt road, and only spent minimal time there that afternoon. The 2nd time I went out was May 2019. I was itching to get out there and planned it just after the threat of snow was gone. One day I will brave it out & drive in the snow, I have no choice, but until then I try to avoid it. Regardless of my planning the weather still showed me who’s boss! Rain (which turned out to be snow) was forecast, so I opted to leave after 4 days and I needed ice for my coolers anyway. The 3rd visit was June 2020. I didn’t stay as long as I planned & hoped due to being miserable with all the weird, buzzing bugs flying around! And I needed ice anyway.

Here we are, my 4th visit in October 2021. I did risk it with the possibility of snow, but I had to go. The forecast was favorable, but I know that is only a vague guess! A few factors went into my choice for the timing of my trip, one being the annual Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque. I went to that and then headed over to my land. This time, for some reason, I was more anxious about the drive out there on the rocky, rutted dirt roads, but it turned out less scary than I remember and gave me confidence for next time. People come & go on these roads daily, so I can too!

First thing I do when I arrive is walk around & take stock of the state of the land, vegetation, etc… Here is a track I noticed with my foot for scale. I love to see the evidence of wild, free animals! I’d just like to know what it was! I know elk are hunted in this area and turkey. There are ‘free range’ cows nearby which could wander over my way, who knows!

Prior to my visit I learned about the drought of the current year followed by the feast of the beetles. The drought resulted in trees not being able to produce the sap they would use to defend themselves against the ravenous beetle who would be drowned upon burrowing into the tree. Burrow away they did, all summer, leaving the trees looking like swiss cheese and dead. Dead trees are AKA widow makers since they can fall over and kill you.

Someone decided to cut down two of the trees on my property. I was quite upset at first. Later I noticed the bark left beside the stumps which came from the butchered trees was full of holes, the beetles already killed these trees so maybe this was a preventive type of act? Later I learned that NO ONE should be cutting down trees on property they don’t own, according to the property owner’s association. In the picture above, notice the white ‘stick’ in the ground with orange ‘something’ on it? That’s my marker & an obvious sign of ownership to whoever cut down those two trees right next to it.

Some time passed and I noticed the southern view that opened up by cutting those trees.

Dead trees are also more likely to catch fire. Even though the day I was there the fire advisory was low, the recent burn ban helped me to decide if I had a fire it would be very, very small. I never ended up burning as I was too busy with other endeavors. One being, to shovel out my fire pit and clean up the old coals.

Each time I visit I reaffirm my lot’s boundaries. I’m sure of the north & south borders along the road due to landmarks I use from a satellite view based on my GPS coordinates. However, the deeper I head west into my long rectangular lot I lose ‘true’. Partially because the land slopes and rolls, and also because I don’t use a compass. Silly, I know! Until this time. One of the last things I did this time was actually use a compass, pick a point, head west, make a mark (rocks/dead wood) and repeat over & over. I was surprised to discover that what I thought was west without consulting the compass was more like WNW. Some of the land marks I initially thought were on my lot may lie just north…bummer… But that would mean I haven’t even explored the most southern west corner of my lot! Really trying to DIY without paying an expensive land surveyor.

One of my favorite areas deeper into what I hope is my lot. Otherwise it is just on the other side of my northern border, and is owned by Cattlemen’s Title Company. I hope they never sell. The photo doesn’t quite show the levels of the boulders, like a natural stone terrace with a tall Pine right at the top, BEAUTIFUL! I’d use it like a patio.

There was a trashy area where it appeared some project was begun & abandoned some time ago… Random warped wood, tar paper, and other dry rotted debris. I found a pile of rocks which appears to be a very rudimentary foundation, I’m guessing. Made with the rocks one can find laying about and a rough type of cement mixture on one corner. My mind wandered, as it often does, to the possibility this ‘project’ was a grave? I hope not! I spent some time tidying up the area, thinking it was on my property until I got that compass out the next day. It’s questionable! Oh well, I would have cleaned up that trash (still have to haul it out) anyway because it is so close to my lot and no one seems to be there.

Aside from all the work (which seems like play) I did out there, I also stopped to smell the roses, um, er…rather, check out the fat lizard! LOL

…And check out weird things I find! Like a little ship in a bottle, a little desert scene in this one, including that tiny skull! How cool!

I brought more bottles out and stashed them in my spot among the dead limbs. A bottle wall is most definitely in my future!

My Peace sign made with broken bottles. I still shake my head at myself not realizing in time that the water would freeze & the bottles would break. Live & Learn!

It was a short but productive visit this time. Only 2 days and one night. That one night was quite cold! Down somewhere in the 20’s maybe…I was told… The next night was to be colder and bring precipitation. Snow that would inevitably melt once the sun came up. So I got out of there early enough to make it out before dark. And I needed ice anyway. 😉

I decided what better place to stay than the Sky City Casino Hotel! I’ve never been there and it is affiliated with my favorite tribe, Acoma. I will stay there again! It was a 5 star experience for a 2 star price!