angel fire and the Moreno Valley (Taos: vacation home, employment, buying)

[sailorgirl]

can anyone tell me about living in Angel Fire or the Moreno Valley? We were there a year ago and loved the area. How about problems adjusting to the altitude? My husband had a touch of altitude sickness the entire week and wants to know if anyone has ever NOT adjusted to the altitude?????

[jecc]

I haven't yet been to Angel Fire, but I live even higher than that in southern NM. I had very little trouble adjusting, but some poeple never get over it. Problems generally start around 8,000 feet. Some folks get over it in a couple of weeks, while others take months. It's really an individual thing.

People up where I am range from newborns to old-timers over 90, so it's possible to do well at elevation regardless of age or health. You just have to try it and find out. There are dozens of towns in Colorado that are above 8,000, 9,000, and even 10,000 feet. People thrive there. I want to visit Lhasa, Tibet, to feel what 17,000 feet is like!

As for life in Angel Fire, I hear it's mostly an upscale (?) resort town with not much employment or many amenities. I'm pretty sure you would have to commute for those things.

[ontheroad]

Angel Fire is rather an upscale, resort town. I drove over one day for a light lunch and a peek. The drive was beautiful, but dangerous from Taos. Not many day-to-day shops, and the restaurant/cafe hard to find (behind the main road). It was off-season, very few people around, and many places closed.

As for altitude, I think one's body adjusts to it. I was in La Paz (Bolivia) with very high elevation. I felt it the first day, but by the second day I felt fine.

What I've noticed is that it is easier to adjust if you make the climb slowly--driving up from a lower altitude and rising your body begins to accept the changes.

[gonefishing]

Upscale?? Well. there are some nicer homes (probably vacation homes) but lots of ones I'd consider shacks, too. We got a reality check when we went into the school and saw the little kids. We were told that many qualify for free lunches.

It was also shared with us that to do any real shopping you have to go to Taos which is much more dangerous when it is snowing (yes they had an SUV).....and you have lots and lots of cold snow. We were told you might not get over there for at least a month so you really have to stock up on supplies. (They were buying canned veggies by the cases.) Yes, there is a little mini type grocery there but ohmygoodness---the price just for cough syrup was obscene!

[Mountain Gal]

I have spent a lot of time in Angel Fire. I would not describe it as 'upscale' or 'food stamp'. It's mountain resort town. It is actually considered to be one of the few areas of its caliber that is under valued, especially when compared to similar areas in Colorado and California.

The Moreno Valley is a truly amazing place. To live in such a naturally beautiful area means that it is slightly remote. I have driven the road to Taos many many times in all seasons. In my opinion it is not 'unsafe'. It is, however a place where drivers need to drive slower and with more caution. Angel Fire is one of the warmest mountain resorts in the U.S. It has a short inter and a long summer.

Angel Fire has amazing amenities and community events and organizations. One may not realize it when just driving into town for a short visit, but there is a wonderful community there.