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Why We Love Spring
Red River has been blessed with plenty of great snow this year. In fact, word on the street is that the mountain is in the best condition it's been in in years. Yep, even those narrow, steep, nearly hidden trails are open for daredevil skiers and snowboarders looking to get off the "beaten path." Each day we look up at the gorgeous, uncrowded trails and think about how lucky we are to live in such a great place. But we have to be honest... we're a little cold. The snow that keeps the mountain in such pristine condition is the same snow that requires plowing out of the driveway, so it's about this time each year we start thinking about spring conditions.
In the spring the sun comes out, windows are rolled down, and you can actually get away with shorts every once in a while. Locals congregate on the deck at the Lift House between runs, and you can hear the sounds of Bob Marley and other island-themed music resonating through the valley until the sun starts to dip behind the mountain. The days are longer, the snow is softer, and the people are happier.
Recently we've been asked (a lot), "Why Red River for Spring Break over Colorado?" Here's our response (verbose as it may be): New Mexico’s dry climate translates into incredible spring skiing and snowboarding conditions. The mountains are still covered in powdery white snow while the roads remain clear and open for travel. Red River’s spring temperatures range from about 40 degrees during the day to the mid-twenties at night. These warm and sunny days are the perfect backdrop for “Beach Week,” a Red River tradition that mixes skis and snowboards with tank tops and hula skirts. The mountains of New Mexico offer all of the same terrain and experiences as those in Colorado. Want to hike a ridge or go back-country skiing? You can do that in Red River. Generally 100% of the Red River Ski Area is open in March, so you’ll find the same challenging terrain without battling all of the crowds. Something else Red River has to offer is the proximity of the ski area to the town. Two of the main chair lifts leave from the center of town and 70% of the lodging in Red River is within walking distance to the lift. This offers an attractive alternative to parking 2 miles away, loading all of your gear up, and being hauled on a cattle trailer to the office where you buy your lift tickets. Even better, skip the office altogether and buy your lift tickets at one of our fully automated kiosks at the base of each chair lift.
Something we're really looking forward to again this year is the end of season Pond Skimming on March 21st. Adventurous guys and gals ski or ride down the face of the mountain and try to skim across a home made pond that has been put in just for the occasion. Last year was the first time Red River tried such a thing, and BOY was it fun! If you've got the guts to try it plan on being at the base of the new chair lift around noon. If it sounds like something you'd rather enjoy from afar, meet everyone else at the Lift House for the best seats. Cameras and video cameras are a must have - none of your friends that stayed home will believe your stories without proof.
All this blogging about spring has served its purpose... we're starting to warm up just thinking about it! "Beach Week" starts in just 2 weeks, so pull out your Hawaiian shirts and ski pants and get ready for Spring Break. We'll see you on the slopes!
We LOVE Fresh Snow
It is currently snowing in Red River for the twenty-fourth consecutive hour (assuming it didn't stop while we were asleep). This may seem terrible for someone who is not as enthusiastic about fresh snow as we are (my grandmother, for one) but for those of us who are lucky to call Red River home we live for days like this. As of 10am this morning the ski area was 100% open with 9" of fresh snow. Eager skiers and snowboarders lined up to catch first chair, anxious to make fresh tracks on each of the 57 trails that are now open. We've gotten some incredible photos from the ski area, and also wanted to share this video with you. Looks like we're in our own little snow globe, doesn't it? Hope you get a chance to come ski with us soon...
Tooting Our Horn
We walked into the office this morning to an incredibly pleasant surprise. There were quite a few people on Twitter congratulating Red River for being named one of Sunset Magazine's "Top 10 Ski Resorts in the West." Our first reaction (being the humble folks that we are) was to question if there were some sort of mistake. Us? Little ol' Red River? Top 10? We had to see this for ourselves. So with a little research and a few clicks, there we were... listed at number four, sandwiched between Kirkwood Mountain, CA and Deer Valley, UT, was Red River, NM:
For Western skiing the way it used to be, head to Red River, where, besides snowmaking and some newfangled modernizing, not much has changed. Lifts take off right from Main Street and are a short stroll from the town's rustic lodging and steakhouses. For the moment, you won't find any million-dollar condos, only a classic Rocky Mountain ski area with foot after foot of fluff―and not an ounce of pretension.
Wow! Red River is listed among the big guys from California, British Columbia, Montana, Idaho, and Colorado (Vail & Winter Park). Why us?
And then it started to sink in... why not? We may not be as big as some of the neighboring resorts, but we also don't have $15 cheeseburgers and $95 lift tickets. You won't find line after line of snooty skiers trying to push their way to the front of the chair lift. You won't find high dollar boutiques trying to sell you a $35 fur hat that's necessary to keep your toddler warm. You won't find valet parking at your lodge that costs $20 each night of your trip, nor will you find hidden resort fees at the end of your stay for the ski tuning you never used or the cashmere bathrobe hanging in your closet.
What you will find is a friendly face when you check in to your reasonably priced hotel room, a FREE trolley to take you up to the ski area if you're a little chilly, and smiling employees who are happy to get you your inexpensive lift ticket and set you up with a professional and courteous ski or snowboard instructor. You'll find good food at good prices, a wide variety of shopping, and the cutest Main Street in America. Above that, you'll find yourself in a relaxed state of mind that would be considered priceless anywhere else in the world, and you'll find money in your wallet when you leave.
So thank you, Sunset Magazine, for helping us remember what we never should have questioned in the first place... We're # 1 (or at least in the Top Ten)!
Happy New Year
Is it over already? Have the holidays already flown by? It seems like just a few days ago that we were decorating the park and all of the buildings in town, and now it's time to take everything down again! Where does the time go? As quickly as it went, we did have a wonderful crowd here during Christmas and the weekend after New Year's Day. The ski area was able to show off their new chair lift, the ski school taught a near record number of students how to ski and snowboard, and the town is giddy with excitement over how many happy people made Red River their holiday home. In addition to the many things to do while on vacation here (skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, shopping, snowmobiling, etc) one particular holiday tradition is the Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade and fireworks show. Check out the video from this year's celebration:
You can catch a similar torchlight parade every Saturday night during the ski season, so mark your calendar when you head to Red River.
Time to go take down some Christmas lights...
Until next time!
Ski Area Update
Just a quick update: We're now into our second weekend at the ski area, with a perfect combination of fresh an man made snow. We had another storm this week that brought in a few inches, but the REAL accumulation began when temperatures dipped into the single digits and the snowmaking crew started converting millions of gallons of water into beautiful white snow all over the mountain. We are open all the way to the top, with another 1/2 Price Weekend December 11-13. We will be open full time December 18 - March 24. Come see us!
New Flight from DFW to Santa Fe
We're blogging from Dallas today while we're here for a big event to promote Red River (and to chase the snow Texas is getting back up into the mountains). Instead of doing the usual "drive to Dallas" or "drive to Albuquerque to fly to Dallas," we decided to try the new direct flight from Santa Fe. American Airlines has recently started flying out of SAF again, so the allure of a two-hour drive to the airport over a three-hour drive to the airport was too much to pass up. The three of us in our travel group made it to the airport without any hassles, and since it's still a relatively small airport the parking was cheap and the security lines small (seriously, we're talking 2 people). Currently there are two direct flights from DFW each day, so there were a few business travelers and a few vacation travelers. After a brief wait at the airport, we were all settled in our seats and ready to go! The plane is not your typical 737 and our flight was only about 1/2 full. After a quick 1 and a half hour flight (and a couple of diet cokes) we were touching down at DFW and off to our event. The flight back was just as easy and hopefully will get used a lot this ski season!
Snowshoeing at the Enchanted Forest
We went up to the Enchanted Forest Cross-Country Ski & Snowshoe Area for the first snowshoe adventure of the season. It was, after all, opening day and we had been chomping at the bit to get some winter exercise. It never ceases to amaze everyone how beautiful and serene it is up there (up there being 5 miles outside of Red River at Bobcat Pass). The day pass was pretty affordable at $5 (early-season conditions = cheap tickets), and even with limited terrain open there was still plenty to explore. So here's the video we took to give you some idea of what to expect. Snowshoeing is incredibly easy (the one spill one of us took at the end of the day was due more to silliness than anything) and a great way to get out and enjoy nature. Usually tickets and rentals run about $30 for adults and teens, with reduced rates for seniors and children under 12. Traveling with your dog? They also have a few miles of designated dog trails for your pet. Enjoy!
Is it Time to Ski Yet?
Is it time to ski yet? It seems like we were all just sitting around at Oktoberfest saying how the summer flew by. In the blink of an eye, we've skipped over fall and are headed right into winter! Red River received 12" of fresh snow on top of the mountain over the weekend, and the ski area crew has been hard at work making new snow every single second the conditions will allow. We braved the chilly air this morning to get some video of snowmaking on the Face and over at the Gold Chair. Enjoy this for now, and we'll see you in 9 days when the ski area opens for the 2009-2010 season!
Snowmaking at the Red River Ski Area 11/16/09
What a Summer!
So much for our commitment to blog every week...
At least we have a good excuse though: this has been a BUSY summer in Red River! From the first motorcycle that rolled in over Memorial Weekend to the record-breaking crowd at "Hot Chili Days, Cool Mountain Nights," Red River has seen it's fair share of people this year. It certainly gives us a warm, fuzzy feeling to know that families and friends are still making their way up to the mountains for their annual vacation, and that all of the effort we put into making Red River a "home away from home" doesn't go unnoticed.
Before we go on to tell you about all of the fun and exciting things left to do in Red River before the leaves fall, it seems appropriate to update you on the 7th annual "Hot Chili Days, Cool Mountain Nights" Music Festival and Cook-off. Once again, Larry Joe Taylor put together a stunning lineup of musicians that kept the crowd entertained for three days straight. Beginning with the "Songswap Campfire" and Joe Ely concert Thursday night, the Red River Valley was the backdrop for some incredible entertainment. And even though our trip to the top of the mountain for the concert at "The Tip" was rained out, everyone was in good spirits for the remainder of the weekend. The Tejas Brothers wowed the crowd at the cook-off Saturday and even got couples out of their seats for a little two-steppin' in the park. Keith Sykes, Terry Allen, Richard Leigh, the Josh Grider Trio, Michael Hearne, Jed Zimmerman, and South by Southwest were all terrific performers and we look forward to having them all back again in the future.
Saturday's cook-off drew a record 1,400+ attendees who enjoyed the perfect weather while sampling chili, green chile, and BBQ. With 39 CASI teams, 20 green chile teams, and 11 BBQ teams, the competition was HOT! After all was said and done, our CASI "Red River Red" champion hailed from New Mexico, our BBQ grand champion came from Texas and our New Mexico Green Chile State Champion drove in from Colorado. Good to see what a large draw this event has!
So now we're gearing up for the numerous fall events the Red River Chamber of Commerce puts on. September kicks off with our annual softball tournament on Labor Day Weekend, followed by the Enchanted Circle Century Tour and Top o' the World Mountain Bike Race, September 12th & 13th. This is always an adrenaline filled weekend with 1,000 cyclists and 150 mountain bikers speeding around the Enchanted Circle and the Enchanted Forest XC Ski Area. September 18th - 20th you'll find Brandenburg Park and the Red River Conference Center filled with hundreds of arts and crafts vendors for Aspencade, then Red River returns to the "Wild, Wild West" October 2nd - 4th for Days of 1895 (our version of Pioneer Days). Lastly, we wrap up the festive fall season with a local favorite, Oktoberfest, October 9th - 11th. With polka music, authentic German food, microwbreweries, and more, Red River's Oktoberfest is a "must do."
So hopefully you're all caught up on what's been happening the last few weeks in the mountains. We've got a few more good weeks left in us before things start to dramatically slow down and locals start to put on their winter bulk for the ski season. Hope you get a chance to visit again soon!
This is Where the Music Happens
Surely you've heard the old saying, "this is where the magic happens." Right before our three-day music festival last year it came to us: "Red River - this is where the music happens." We've known for decades that Red River is a musical place. Hundreds of singer/songwriters have gathered inspiration in these hills: Michael Martin Murphey, Ray Wylie Hubbard, BW Stevenson, Jerry Jeff Walker, Rusty Weir, and Gary P Nunn just to name a few. Heck, Neil Young even spent a few weeks here (though that was quite a while ago). These days Red River is home to some of the most creative musicians in the region, and second home to quite a few too. On most nights of the week you can find Mike Addington & Paul Gatton at the Lost Love Saloon. Typical weekends are filled with music as the Highway 38 Houndogs play at the Bull, with either the Naughty Pines or the Damn Band across the street at the Motherlode. Sunday afternoons are laid back with either Fagan & Fritz or Philip J. Brooks at Mountain Treasures, and special occasions are even more special with the melodic sounds of Mandy Buchanan and Ben Butler or Rick Fowler. The Community House is home to weekly music showcases throughout the summer with guest bands from around the southwest, and these days it's not uncommon to find live music at the Lift House or the Lonesome Pine Pub. Top that off with guest appearances by Larry Joe Taylor, Joe Ely, The Rifters, South by Southwest, Asleep at the Wheel, Leon Russell, Suzzy Bogguss, Michael Martin Murphy (still plays at Bobcat Pass), Band of Heathens, and others, and you have one tiny mountain town with HUGE talent!
We're getting pretty close to that three-day music festival again, "Hot Chili Days, Cool Mountain Nights," August 13th-15th. This annual event combines music at some pretty cool venues (on top of the mountain & along the Red River) with a chili, BBQ, and green chile cook-off in the park on August 15th. If you're a music lover (and who isn't?) this is the event for you. If you can't make it up that particular weekend, any weekend will do. Themusic calendar has just been posted and things in Red River are looking pretty darn entertaining to us.
Busy, Busy, Busy!
When we first created a blog the intention was to update once or twice each week. It has been so busy around here that we've been told we're slacking (not that we didn't see that coming)! So here it is - our sixth official blog entry!
The Fourth of July was an incredible success. The town was packed with people from all over Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arizona, Colorado, and Kansas (with a few others sprinkled here and there). The Red River Chamber registered 70 floats for the parade and, with the exception of a dispute between a horse and a fire engine, everyone had a great time (we know now that all horses need to be placed behind the sirens). After the parade there was plenty to do in Red River: free games & entertainment at the Community House, live music and a BBQ in the park, the shoot-out at Frye's Old Town, the Red River Valley Charter School's Duck Race, and Cowboy Evening at Bobcat Pass. It was so great to see so many smiling faces and happy families in town! Quite a few people made the drive over to Eagle Nest to watch the spectacular fireworks; we haven't seen pictures yet but we know they'll be in the paper this week.
So what's coming up in Red River? Michael Martin Murphey has a few more dates at Cowboy Evening, the Community House continues with their great line-up of FREE activities, Vanilla Pop has a show at the Bull o' the Woods, and the rest of us gear up for "Hot Chili Days, Cool Mountain Nights" Music Festival and Cook-off! Larry Joe Taylor announced nine bands today for "Hot Chili Days, Cool Mountain Nights," including Joe Ely, Michale Hearne, South by Southwest, Keith Sykes, Richard Leigh, Josh Grider Trio, and Jed Zimmerman. This is just one of the many fantastic events we have over the summer and we'll tell you more about it in an upcoming post (which hopefully won't take two weeks to write)! In the meantime we hope you're having a great summer and we hope to see you in Red River real soon!
Fine Art & Wine Festival
What started out as a wet, chilly weekend turned into something absolutely beautiful! The 2009 "Fine Art & Wine Festival," put on by the Red River Chamber of Commerce, was another huge success thanks to the artists, wineries, volunteers, and attendees. Friday night's welcome reception at Mountain Treasures was delicious... and not just because all of the vintners brought bottles of their favorite wines. Alli Connor, Red River's resident wine expert, did a great job talking to everyone about the different types of wine at the reception, and Steve Garrett, Mountain Treasures own little treasure, prepared scrumptious hors d' oeuvres that were enjoyed by all (pulled pork sandwiches with apple butter on puffed pastries... YUM!).
Saturday turned out to be typical spring weather in the mountains, but we were surprised at how many people braved the rain and wind to come out to the festival (we think the seven wineries may have contributed to the bravery of attendees). Gabrielle Louise was as cute as a button with a dynamite voice and songwriting skills, and Phillip, Mandy, and Ben were crowd pleasers as usual. We are so blessed to have such amazing talent right here in our little valley! The art was beyond compare - sculptors, painters, photographers, potters... you name it, we had it. Magnificent artist, Ed Sandoval, was here again from Taos to judge our juried show, and multiple Red River businesses contributed awards for the winners.
As things started to wind down at the park Saturday afternoon, thirty people hopped on board the Red River Trolley for our first ever progressive wine dinner. From Sundance, to Capo's, to Timbers (stuffed filet mignon), and Onota Bakery, guests were treated to a dinner beyond compare with wines to match. Considering the smiles of contentment we observed, we gather the progressive dinner was a huge success. The Chamber is considering putting together the progressive wine dinner on a regular basis, so stop by their office in Town Hall if you'd like more information.
Sunday was a day for the books in Red River. The sunshine finally came out and warmed up the town to about 70 degrees. A new crowd of people ventured out to Brandenbur
g Park to enjoy the music, art, wine, and food (we couldn't help but notice how many people also took advantage of Red River being one of the most dog-friendly communities in New Mexico). Fold out chairs and blankets were all over the park while people soaked up some sun and enjoyed the ambiance. As children enjoyed the grass on their bare feet and adults enjoyed the wine on their palates, you could see smile after smile until the last note was played Sunday afternoon.
Festivals like "Fine Art & Wine" are one of the best reasons to live in Red River... or at least visit a lot more often.
"River & Brews" Blues Fest
We sure did have a good time at the "River & Brews" Blues Fest this weekend. I think we're all pretty pleased with the attendance for the first year (over 400 people), and I know we're happy with the music. Johnny Mack made the trip up to Red River a little early to join in the open mic Friday night at the Lift House. He played with Red River favorites Jeff Fagan and Fritz Davis, along with a few other blues aficionados that wanted to join in. It was a packed crowd and everyone really seemed to enjoy the Lift House as Red River's newest music venue! Tijerina, Albuquerque Blues Connection, Johnny Mack, and Bugs Henderson all played on the outdoor stage Saturday on the face of the mountain. Santa Fe Brewing Company was well represented, as was West Texas BBQ (pulled pork sandwiches... YUM!). There were a few unpleasant wind gusts later in the afternoon, but the rain held off and everyone had a great time. Later that night some of the more hard core blues fans made it out to the Bull o' the Woods Saloon for an encore performance from the Albuquerque Blues Connection. They are definitely a favorite and we hope to see them back again this summer!
Now we're preparing for the Fine Art & Wine Festival this weekend. Black Mesa Winery, Santa Fe Vineyards, Tularosa Vineyards, Ponderosa Valley Vineyards, Falcon Meadery & Winery, Wines of the San Juan, and St. Clair Vineyards will all be here this year, as will some of the most talented artists, photographers, and potters in the southwest. Gabrielle Louise, and incredible vocalist and musician from Colorado, will be performing at the festival on Saturday, and we'll have Philip Brooks, one of our fabulous Red River musicians, playing Saturday & Sunday. Hope you can make it!
2009-2010 Vacation Guide
We were so excited last night to find out that the Red River Ski Area has started blogging too (follow them at www.redriverskiarea.blogspot.com) - just one of the MANY things we discovered at the Community House's Hospitality Showcase. At the beginning of both summer and winter the Community House puts on an informational presentation for those of us that live here, aimed at making sure we know about the great (and new) activities in Red River. We heard folks talk about the fish stocking program, the shoot-outs at Frye's Old Town, the daily activities the Community House is doing, the trails available for hiking & mountain biking, the ATV trails, the scenic summer chair lift, horseback riding, and more. We also learned about new stuff this summer - "Mommy & Me" and an expansion of the arts & crafts program (using recyclable materials) at the Community House, history tours of Red River on the trolley (I think we're most excited about this), guided segway tours, a new blues event in June, the NM Green Chile State Championship in the August. It was a full night of information (and the free burgers didn't hurt either). If you're ever in town in early-June please stop by and join us for the Hospitality Showcase to make new friends and get great insight into what keeps Red River going!
The weather has been playing tricks on us this week. We all know it's the summer season, but we've been getting rain every afternoon. While our flowers are ready for some sunshine, the rain is keeping the days cool and the forest green. The Copper Chair is going to be open for weekend rides up to the top of the mountain beginning June 12th, then open full-time June 26th. This will be the first time the Copper Chair has been operating during the summer (since the Red Chair is being replaced), so we're all looking forward to seeing the ski area from a new perspective. In addition to the beautiful scenery, one of our favorite things about riding the chair up is the chipmunks at the tip. Bring your camera and catch these guys in action... smiles guaranteed!
So that's it for Red River's first blog entry. If there's anything you'd like us to address or if you have any questions about topics we're covering feel free to send an email!
