Follow Up: Red River in National Geographic

Forgive us for gushing, but we wanted to share this tidbit the Mayor forwarded this morning. As a follow up to Red River being named one of the "Best Places to Live and Play Now" in the October issue of National Geographic Adventure, many positive letters poured in about what a fantastic hidden gem Red River is. Please take a second to read the segment of "Feedback" regarding the described lovefest of fan mail they received following the article and tell us what you think!

One Town to Rule Them All?

Our annual roundup of the best adventure towns usually provokes a spirited debate. This year it sparked a lovefest. Fan mail poured in, most of it directed at Red River, New Mexico, our choice for the top spot to enjoy life on the cheap. "Red River will always hold a special place in my heart," wrote one reader. "I learned to ski and appreciate live music there and found some of the nicest people in the world. The payoff of working two jobs is being able to wake up to the sights and sounds and smells of living in the middle of a national forest." Another reader confirmed: "We own a place in Red River, and it's the best kept secret in the Southwest. Skip Colorado and come see us!"

You can read the original article here, and follow the online thread here: http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/comments/3/1166/

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?

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!