Windy Out Today

I wanted to take a few minutes to get outside today between working on assignments and household chores, but it was far too windy. I looked at the mountains though, and I must say that I still appreciate them for everything that they are.  The feeling of calm they provide, the sense of adventure, and the possibilities are still endless in my view even after months here in Taos. I will be leaving soon to return to Florida, and I have to admit that I will truly miss these mountains.

Weekend Hike in the Pecos Wilderness

We had to go to Santa Fe today for some car repairs, and we decided to take a hike when we were done.  We decided to go to the Pecos Wilderness.  It is about 30 miles north of Santa Fe, and it is really cool.  Before you get to the National Forest, there are nice cabins along the creek all the way up.  As you start to ascend the high mountain road, snow appears.  We parked and hopped out to take a look, and a great sense of solitude surrounded us. It was so serene; we didn't hear a noise from any direction.  As we drove further, we saw the beautiful Pecos baldy up ahead, towering over the other peaks.  We drove to the top of the mountain into the Pecos Wilderness area, and we were going to hike there, but it was far too windy, and cold. Instead, we came back down a ways, and we drove up Holy Ghost Creek to the campground.  We got out and took a nice walk there.  The photos below are from that stroll.

The snow crusted edges of Holyghost Creek.

Huge boulders line the creek.  It is quite impressive.

The woodsy road on the way back down from Pecos.

Although it was quite cold, we still enjoyed this day out in nature.  It was a nice break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Williams Lake Hike

Last weekend we decided to do one of my goal hikes in the area before there was too much snow.  My list of goal hikes for the season included Williams lake. It is only four miles up to the alpine lake that lies between some of the highest peaks in northern New Mexico, but it is a very tough hike.  You start at 8,500 feet and hike to 11,100; this is a lot of elevation gain in four miles, but it is so worth it.  The trail and the lake are beautiful.  While there was some snow, the trail was clear, and the day was crisp, yet sunny. 

The trail goes right through the Taos Ski Valley ski area, so it is closed after Thanksgiving. 

Robber Jays molested us all along the trail, but we thoroughly enjoyed it.  here is one eating a granola bar out of my husband's hand. This was so fun.  It was truly a connection with nature.

Ben feeding a Robber Jay.

 I was getting really tired at this point, but I was really enjoying it, so we pushed on.  I love hiking in the high altitudes; it is so invigorating. 

Wheeler Peak - highest peak in Taos Mountains at 13,161 feet

The finale - Williams Lake

Williams Lake is too shallow to hold fish, but it is beautiful nonetheless.  It is in a cirque between many of the highest peaks in the Taos/Sangre de Cristo Range of the Rockies.

The trail on the way back down.

 This was a lovely day out. I cherished the day and will remember it always.

Saturday Morning Hike

From Vista View Trail

My husband and I got up early and drove over to Abiqui, the home of artist Georgia O'Keefe. It was a fun morning.  We hiked the Vista View Trail first and captured the first few photos in this post.  The colors are inspirational there.  It is similar to canyon country in Utah.

Me coming back down on the Vista View Trail.  It was going to rain, so we rushed back down.  My husband is tall, so he is faster than me.

Another view from Vista View Trail

We stopped by Ghost Ranch on the way back to Taos.  It is way cool.

This cool cabin sits at the edge of ghost ranch.  I went in, it is really interesting.

Echo Canyon

We took a second short hike on the way home up Echo Canyon. It is the second or third echo canyon I have been to in the west, but this one definitely had the loudest echo.  The paved path took something away from the experience, but it is accessible to everyone, so that is nice.  It was a great morning before returning home to work on school stuff. I am really glad we saw another side of New Mexico. It truly is the land of Enchantment.

Urban Field Trip Santa Fe

This is a typical Santa Fe neighborhood.  This is near St. John's College.

Santa Fe, also known as the city different is in a high desert region.  It sits at over 7,000 feet at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo range of the Rockies.  Snow stays on the peaks most of the year.  With a population of only 71,831, in many states, Santa Fe might not be considered a city at all, but it is the fourth largest in New Mexico.  In  addition, it is the third largest art market in the United States.  Opportunities for outdoor recreation are endless. There's skiing, hiking, rock climbing, fishing, hunting, kayaking, and more. 

The Loretto Resort and Spa is a luxury hotel in downtown Santa Fe that has gone green.  It is a great place to relax. 

Nearly everything is based on the adobe theme in Santa Fe.  Even this parking attendant shed is creative and made of adobe..  The plants are also holding up surprisingly well even with the low temperatures of late.

This is one of the tallest buildings in the city different. Also, notice how small the sidewalks are. Santa Fe is built around what has existed for hundreds of years, not to be a city of modern convenience.

Most people photograph the two chapels in downtown Santa Fe, but there are many other quaint chapels all over town, such as the one pictured here.

This private home is a good example of the use of native plants in Santa Fe.

Bricks other than adobe are a rare thing in Santa Fe, but is an example of a pre-zoning restriction wall.  As you can see, it doesn't really fit in.  Hence, the newer restrictions.

Santa Fe is a beautiful and exciting city. I recommend a visit or even relocation to anyone looking for a great urban lifestyle with unlimited potential for outdoor experiences.

Guided Reflection 7

GUIDED REFLECTION #7

Focus Chapter, State of the World, 2010

PREPARING FOR GROUP PRESENTATION

GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES

TRANSFORMING CULTURES TOWARD SUSTAINABILITY

NAME: Michelle Hess

1.    What is the name of your focus chapter?  Media: Broadcasting Sustainability

2.    Who are the authors?  Jonah Sachs and Susan Finkelpearl, Robin Andersen and Pamela Miller, and Amy Han.

3.    Identify the chapter’s main point. 

The main point is to use media to promote sustainability by encouraging efforts to limit messages of consumption and consumerism, and instead focusing advertising, arts, and other media on encouraging more socially positive behaviors.

4.    Select five quotes from this chapter that are significant to you. Write them down.

..people working to foster sustainable behavior must use storytelling to reach audiences on a human, personal scale. 

The marketing revolution that helped reverse cultural norms so swiftly can be seen as a small miracle – a miracle to learn from and perhaps repeat.

Learning how to critically engage with television, magazines, film, and the Internet is essential in a sprawling media landscape where users are exposed to more and more media every year.

Clever ad campaigns may cause consumers to feel clever by association, but they often encourage them to think uncritically about whether the company behind the campaign follows sustainable business practices.

Music continues to be used as a way to connect with people’s values, heritage, and cultural preferences in order to encourage behavioral change.

5.    Reflect on these five ideas and synthesize them into one idea, one personal thesis. Write this down. (Your thesis must map directly back to the concepts you selected, but do not have to agree with the ideas in the chapter.)

To use media effectively and to gain the maximum advantage in pushing sustainability and environmental causes, we must learn from the past and use advertising methods from the 50’s, storytelling, and even music to encourage people to change their behaviors.

6.    Reflect on and briefly explain why your thesis is of significance.

My thesis is significant because in this age of consumerism, we must use tried and true methods to reach people.  We must connect with them on a meaningful level to have any true impact on them and their practices.

7.    Consider your audience and their point of view. Further explain what you mean by stipulating with examples what your mean or what you do not mean, or by giving an example or two of how your thesis may be applied or misapplied in today’s culture.

My thesis could be applied by taking a popular tv ad and spinning it towards our goals. Another way to use it would be through music. Parodies are often popular, but these rarely have any meaning message.  Generally, parodies are just funny.  If we could turn humor into something meaningful, people might appreciate and catch on to the message. A parody about population control would be a great way to start.

8.    Should your idea(s) be broadly applied in today’s culture, what are the

implications? In other words, what may or may not occur?

            If we effectively applied media strategies as these have been used to boost

consumerism, we might, if we are lucky have a total reversal of consumerism.  If that isn’t possible, I am sure there would be at least a strong reduction in consumerism.  We might even be able to reduce the population.  Wouldn’t that be something.

9.    Reflect on and respectfully address opposition. You may have to do some research or discussion to complete this point.

Some believe consumerism is the American way, and that trying to reduce consumption is a violation of their rights and a breach of the fundamentals of capitalism.  I can see their point; on the other hand, if we use all of our resources, we will be left with nothing. I propose reducing population is the key to any compromise. If we reduce the population, we could all live better.

10. Bring it back to your main point by briefly discussing the consequences, intended

or unintended, or either broadly accepting or ignoring this idea?

            If we ignore the potential of the media in pushing our message, we are missing

out on a grand opportunity.  In addition, if we allow the current media messages of consumerism to continue, things are just going to get worse.  Currently, there is a movement toward simplicity due to the current state of the economy, so this is the perfect time to strike, while the iron is hot.