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Thanks to everyone who responded to the questions in my thread! I've gotten some very useful and informative information about these areas which will definitely make my relocation experience easier and less stressful. I'm going to be moving from probably the furthest away from New Mexico as you can possibly get in terms of the landscape and environment - South Florida! Has anyone around there ever relocated to NM from Florida? Would appreciate any info/tips and preparation you could give me! In comparing Farmington and Aztec, which town has the most true "southwestern" feel in terms of the landscape, views, and scenery? Do you get alot of snow in this area? Help, I know I'm going to need a wardrobe adjustment! Thanks to all you NM natives who've given me some great info.
I can give you my limited perspective.....I spent most of my time looking in Farmington, because I wanted to be near all of the conveniences (swimming, Walmart, Sam's, Best Buy, restaurants, et al), and I didn't want to drive from either Bloomfield OR Aztec 3-5 days a week.
I did look at a few properties in Aztec, and found it a really eclectic mixture. Aztec is much smaller, and has more of a Colorado mining town feel to me...which isn't surprising since it is closer to Durango, which IS an old mining town, LOL! I liked, it, though, a lot, just as I did Farmington.
Farmington has more of a Southwestern feel, I think. I've never been to FL, so I can't help you there. You WILL need some good winter clothes, LOL!!
With the temperate winter we have had here in south central NM, I have looked enviously at Farmington's much lower temps....and SNOW.
But Alamogordo is a lot prettier than Farmington, so....
With the temperate winter we have had here in south central NM, I have looked enviously at Farmington's much lower temps....and SNOW.
?... Temps have been below normal in Ruidoso this winter. One reason I moved to southern NM is because the temps are milder... ie less extreme hot and cold than northern NM. In Farmington the Jan high is 40.6, and the July high is 91.7. In Alamogordo these are 55.1 and 93.8. In Ruidoso, 49.4 and 81.4.
Also, it looks like Farmington doesn't get much snow... it's cold enough, but just very dry.
Here is a good place for weather stats. Move your mouse over the red dots: New Mexico
?... Temps have been below normal in Ruidoso this winter. One reason I moved to southern NM is because the temps are milder... ie less extreme hot and cold than northern NM. In Farmington the Jan high is 40.6, and the July high is 91.7. In Alamogordo these are 55.1 and 93.8. In Ruidoso, 49.4 and 81.4.
Also, it looks like Farmington doesn't get much snow... it's cold enough, but just very dry.
Here is a good place for weather stats. Move your mouse over the red dots: New Mexico
What I do is track temperatures on a daily basis. I get a list from Weather.com that has data for 10 cities. It's now 54/sunny here, and 29 in Farmington. Ruidoso is now 41. Ruidoso's temperatures have been fairly high for 6500+ feet elevation, and if this is below normal, that tells me I won't be skiing locally very many years here.
Thank you for the link to area weather. I marked it this time....
When I left Midland, TX, last August after closing, it was 90....I get back to Alamo (I closed the house here in July, a month earlier)...and it's 102.
I was much chagrined, LOL!!!
Midland got a LOT of snow around Thanksgiving, as did El Paso and other parts of West Texas. Farmington and ABQ did, too...Alamo got nothing but snow flurries, and not very much at that.
No, Farmington doesn't get much snow.....but they apparently get much more than Alamo does.
Ski conditions are great at Durango Mountain Resort/Purgatory, about the same distance from Farmington as Ruidoso/SKi Apache is from Alamo.
Conditions are very poor at Ski Apache. Hardpack, 18 inch base, midway--and with terrain that rough, anything less than 36 inches (48 is better) at midway, makes for not so good skiing.
With the price of gas and $50 lift tickets...it's just not worth it.
I knew when I moved here that I'd have some years where I wouldn't be able to ski in the area...I was just hoping that this year wouldn't be one of them, LOL!!
Yes, skiing is very spotty here. Last year was very good even though it was warmer than this year. I wonder if it is possible to find the history of conditions at Ski Apache?
Yes, skiing is very spotty here. Last year was very good even though it was warmer than this year. I wonder if it is possible to find the history of conditions at Ski Apache?
I don't know, but I would guess the stats are SOMEWHERE.....
I did not ski last season, because I was driving all over NM looking at places, and I wanted to put that money toward moving. Turned out that last year was one of the best ski seasons in years, including Ski Apache, LOL!!!
I had been off of skis for 15 years, prior to skiing year before last, and I need a wide open area to get my legs back this season (as well as my head, LOL!!)....the new shaped skis are different, too. That was not a particularly good season, either. I skied at Sipapu, which is ok as to the setup (drive in, park, ski), but the trails are narrow, lots of trees....no wide open meadows to practice on to get the confidence back.
I delayed my trip to Farmington last year because of the snow, ice and bad weather. Midland got snow last year THREE times, and Farmington a number of times.
Lower Deep Freeze is great to practice on, if I recall....I haven't been to SKi Apache since 1984. We'd go to Durango/Purgatory instead, which is just really terrific.
We've had a lot of snow this year in Farmington, and it's not leaving. I was camping last weekend along Lime Creek, which is north of Purgatory. There was around 4 feet of snow on the ground, and they've received another 3 feet in the last few days. The ski area is claiming much more.
The La Plata river NW of town is running, which in itself is kind of unusual this time of year. I'd have to say that we've had as much snow as I've seen in at least 20 years. 'Course, as I age the snowstorms from my youth seem to get deeper and deeper....
Reports from the oilfield are that the frost is much deeper than usual, and that the spring thaw will be one gigantic mudbog. On the bright side, we'll have plenty of water this year if it continues since we're totally dependant on snowpack for our supply.
We've had a lot of snow this year in Farmington, and it's not leaving. I was camping last weekend along Lime Creek, which is north of Purgatory. There was around 4 feet of snow on the ground, and they've received another 3 feet in the last few days. The ski area is claiming much more.
The La Plata river NW of town is running, which in itself is kind of unusual this time of year. I'd have to say that we've had as much snow as I've seen in at least 20 years. 'Course, as I age the snowstorms from my youth seem to get deeper and deeper....
Reports from the oilfield are that the frost is much deeper than usual, and that the spring thaw will be one gigantic mudbog. On the bright side, we'll have plenty of water this year if it continues since we're totally dependant on snowpack for our supply.
*Simmering with jealousy*..... LOL!!
It sounds great to me. Snowpack is important for all of New Mexico, too.
I'll keep my eye on things over the next few years.....
Aztec is quickly becoming a suburb of Farmington. The town has grown that much in the past 15 years. The small community between them, Flora Vista, is visually lost to all the expansion. So I suggest you choose a neighborhood you like. You may have to check out 50 homes to find it.
Why would anyone want to leave the heat, humidity, hurricanes and humanity of South Florida to move to a dry, desolate, deserted place like Farmington?
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