The following description of Valley of Fires is from the recreation.gov website:
"Valley of Fires Recreation Area is located immediately adjacent to the Malpais Lava Flow. Approximately 5,000 years ago, Little Black Peak erupted and lava flowed 44 miles into the Tularosa Basin, filling the basin with molten rock. The resulting lava flow is four to six miles wide, up to 160 feet thick and covers 125 square miles. The lava flow is considered to be one of the youngest lava flows in the continental United States."
On Sunday January 17th we went out for a four day camping trip to the Valley of Fires Recreation Area in Carrizozo, New Mexico, 130 miles from our home. In addition to exploring the 44 mile lava flow, we also drove up into the Lincoln National Forest on the 18th to visit the Sierra Blanca Mountains. Late that afternoon winds began to blow through with gusts up to 40 mph. We spent that night and all day on the 19th hunkered down in our trailer as a ferocious windstorm raged around us. We suffered no damage, but it was very intimidating and we were grateful that we were not camping in a tent. By the morning of the 20th the winds had slowed and we headed back toward home. On the way, we stopped at one of our favorite haunts, the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. It was still very overcast and cold, but a great visit. It was a great trip.
Valley of Fires Recreation Area
Three pictures of the sunset at Valley of Fires
And a sunrise
In the Sierra Blanca Mountains
South Fork Campground had a major fire in 2012 and has still not recovered.
Dark-eyed Junco
White-breasted Nuthatch
Snow on the ground in an Aspen Grove
Oak Grove Campground
Bosque del Apache
Snow Geese and a Bald Eagle
Male and female Bald Eagles
Snow Geese
Red-winged Blackbirds
Sandhill Cranes
Spotted Towhee
Immature White-crowned Sparrow
Javelina (Collared Peccary)
Greater Roadrunner
Meadow Lark
White-crowned Sparrow
Young Mule Deer Buck
Mule Deer Buck
Rio Grand wetlands
Bald Eagles
The road towards home
