by C.F. David
A visit to North Central New Mexico brings you face-to-face with the beauty of the Sangre De Cristo mountains. However, with a quick trip from Red River, to Questa you learn that the range conceals valuable minerals, and that taking them might leave scars.
I haven’t visited this area of New Mexico much, but first came 42 years ago.
I first saw the Palisades near Eagle Nest one moonlit night in early July, 1966. I thought the craggy granite face was stunning then, and each time I make the drive, I always anticipate their beauty.
Most of the weekend of Aug. 22-24 my wife Linda and I spent our anniversary celebration in and near Red River. We browsed the shops such as the Bobcat, where we picked up condiments, and syrups and looked over gorgeous Indian headdresses.
We had breakfast at The Hole Thing, where I found the lightest pancakes I’ve ever eaten. This restaurant, which seemed to always be busy is for sale…to someone who wants to “retire” to the mountains. However, the investment in time and money will be considerable.
We had lunch at a small stand near the go-cart track, served by a pretty young woman from Maryland, who several years ago drove into nearby Angel Fire, and fell in love with the community, and apparently a young man, if the rings she wore are any indication.
Linda ordered a corn dog, since the frank was hand dipped in corn bread mix, she found it tasty, but thought Pup’s was better. I had a BBQ sandwich, and luckily this part of New Mexico is civilized…they have Doctor Pepper.
We drove northwest of Red River to one of the several small parks maintained by the National Park Service, for a small fee of $15, we rented a space, ate our corndog and BBQ sandwich, and enjoyed the sounds of the river, and beauty of creation.
We enjoyed watching trout fishermen travel up and down the river casting for fish and coming back with their creels full.
The river was flowing swiftly, and it was cold.
The trout seemed to hide well for none were obvious to the naked eye.
For supper we chose Texas Red’s, Steakhouse where Linda chose a ham steak, and I a ribeye; the service was excellent and the food, especially the steak…wonderful.
On Sunday morning we ate breakfast at Shotgun Willie’s, a small shotgun style building where the food is cooked but you are expected to clean up after yourself. The food was good and filling.
Having never been to Questa and having heard of it all my life, we drove from Red River to Questa on Sunday; it’s a drive of about 12 miles, and in between is Chevron oil company’s molybdenum mine. The mine seems to have left a scar on the mountain side with several miles where few if any plant life exists.
According to on-line research done by Linda, the mine reopened in 1982 as an underground mine, but plans are in the works to revert to an open mining operation to move 150 tons of molybdenum. The value of the ore has gone from $3 an ounce in the mid 1980s to $33.88 today.
According to Linda’s research, molybdenum is a transition element with the atomic number of 42 and is Mo on the periodic table. It is used to toughen alloy steels, and soften tungsten alloy, and is used in plant nutrition, dyes, enamels and reagents. It will melt at 2,617 degrees C and boil at 4,612 degrees C.
The mine which employs 400 people is not without its detractors. On-line bloggers lament the idea of the mountain being stripped away to reach the valuable metal, while others point out that it has been an economic boone to the locals bringing good salaries, and benefits.
As with most of New Mexico, the Northcentral part is beautiful. However, sheer economics may bring a drastic change to the mountains northwest of Red River, my advice, don’t miss them and see them now.
