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The other night on the Sundance Channel they ran a short documentary called Off the Grid, Life on the Mesa.
It was an interesting story about people who check out of society and set up homes on what was described as a 15 square mile area in Northern New Mexico.
These people had no running water or electricity yet seemed to be pretty happy.
It was not disclosed where this area was. Does anybody know anything about this? The docu left alot of things unanswered.
Thanks,
Clutch
Yeah, Clutch, it's northeast of Taos, close to the Colorado border-and I have a very good friend who lived out there at one time-loved it!
The area is locally known as TWIN PEAKS. Contrary to what the documentary mentioned (as I recall it), the land is not BLM land, but rather land that was subdivided years ago and then never really developed - apparently prior to the advent of the "Hippy Era."
When I move to NM, is it safe to drive out to the area where the film was made or is there a local person I could connect with for the drive? I do a lot of writing and thought this could make an interesting column.
When I move to NM, is it safe to drive out to the area where the film was made or is there a local person I could connect with for the drive? I do a lot of writing and thought this could make an interesting column.
What do you think?
Would you go out there by yourself?
There have been times when I have been out on the West Mesa (ABQ/Rio Rancho area) by myself and have enjoyed the solitude. And there have been times that I thought a person could have an accident and die out here.
My son in law got lost in the same area for about 6 hours, he then began carrying some emergency provisions.
It seems every year tourists come out to get lost on Sandia Mountain.
There is a lot to see in New Mexico. I have been here eleven years this time. I have yet had the time or the desire to "go out there".
The documentary was filmed 25 miles NW of Taos in an area known as "Two Peaks" toTaoseños and "Carson Estates" to the mesa rats. The documentary didn't even begin to scratch the surface of the dangers of the largest open air insane asylum in the USA. Ambulances won't go there without a Sheriff's dept escort and the Sheriff's dept won't go there willingly. It's far more common for them to transport people needing medical attention to the west rim road and then do a hand off to the ambulance. I've been out there several times... always armed and always during daylight hours.
There is no electricity, no phone service and no water. Wells are pretty much out of the question because the highest water levels start at 600ft. A lot of people are attracted to a false romantic vision of life on the mesa so they load up their vehicles and throw down $1,500 for a 1/4 acre lot because "The mountain called them". The vast majority are then rejected by "The Mountain" and pack up a few essentials and leave their shacks, converted buses, teepees, Conex, Yurt and tents behind along with a ton of garbage.
Every summer young "adults" show up from all over the southwest to camp out in abandoned sites. They spend their days panhandling and shoplifting in Taos then hitchhike or drive to Two Peaks at night to get drunk or stoned.
Yes, it is absolutely lawless, it is dangerous and most people living out there are not mentally stable.
Having moved to Taos in the '70's with a place now on the high road, I rep Rhymes with House for the balanced accessment. For my own unbalanced accessment, I have to add that some of those folks are not only hearing our Taos hum but are communicating with it!
When I move to NM, is it safe to drive out to the area where the film was made or is there a local person I could connect with for the drive? I do a lot of writing and thought this could make an interesting column.
In answer to your question of safety, I would say the same thing I say to those who want to come up here to Alaska to travel to The Bus (Chris McCandless's death spot "Into the Wild")....... NO!
I would rep Poncho for his response but I have to spread it around.
There are a lot of folks "hiding out" in northern NM who do not take kindly to journalists, cameras (even casual cameras), gov. workers, census takers, nosy tourists, etc. I mean this in the nicest way. They want their privacy & why not give it to them?
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RE: Life On The Mesa
