Timberon and Surrounding Communities (Alamogordo, Ruidoso: homes, buy, live)

[egglady]

For Radicat


I took this a few weeks ago. He was following me around while I was hanging up the laundry. Seemed to be attracted to my white T-Shirt. I was trying to get him to light on my tomato plants so I wouldn't hurt him accidentally while hanging up clothes. So I grabbed a camera and took a picture while he was sitting on my hand.

I found on the internet that this is a California Sister, or - aka - Arizona Sister butterfly. 'Sister' like a nun for the white markings resembling a habit.

[songinthewind7]

How pretty she is.

[Radicat]

Originally Posted by catman

I've done quite a bit of experimenting with astrophotography. I got a nice 3-minute exposure of Comet Hale-Bopp, and fair photos of Venus and Saturn through my telescope. I'll bet I could get a halfway decent shot of the Timberon night sky, but of course it wouldn't have the same sensory impact as being there! I'd sure like to be there to try, in any case. I get to see a really dark sky very infrequently, and there is nothing like it.

That would make a great screensaver! You're welcome to set up your equipment on my lot anytime. It's on top of a small ridge and open enough to get a wide view. Direct Message me for directions, if you should ever need them.

[Radicat]

egglady, you are fortunate to have been seen as a friend of Mother Nature. Thanks for sharing.

[JDTH]

Originally Posted by egglady

For Radicat


I took this a few weeks ago. He was following me around while I was hanging up the laundry. Seemed to be attracted to my white T-Shirt. I was trying to get him to light on my tomato plants so I wouldn't hurt him accidentally while hanging up clothes. So I grabbed a camera and took a picture while he was sitting on my hand.

I found on the internet that this is a California Sister, or - aka - Arizona Sister butterfly. 'Sister' like a nun for the white markings resembling a habit.

It certainly looks like it is in the Swallowtail family!

[Old Gringo]

Timberon, Sacramento, Weed, Mayhill, Cloudcroft, Pinon, Sunspot, Elk, High Rolls, and others

The southern Sacramentos are like an island of cool pine forests in an ocean of deserts. It's an area that's largely unspoiled and lightly populated. Outdoor activities are the main attraction and nature lovers would find it nearly ideal. The climate is refreshing in summer and the winters are milder than most mountain locations, with moderate snowfall and lots of sunshine.

Cloudcroft is the largest of these places and offers basic services and limited shopping. It has quite a few activites scheduled for weekends pretty much year-round.

Sacramento, Weed, and Mayhill are very small mountain villages with very limited amenities, but beautiful surroundings.

Pinon and Elk are even smaller and lie on the high mesa, which is more desert than mountain.

Timberon is a very isolated development in a striking mountain setting. Real estate prices are very attractive, but the isolation means traveling considerable distances for basics.

High Rolls is a development about halfway between Alamogordo and Cloudcroft. It sits in the transition zone between desert and mountain but is closest to all services and shopping in Alamogordo.

Wildlife abounds throughout the area. Many old timers won't go out at night w/o a sidearm due to the presence of predators like cougars and black bears. Pets should be brought in at night.

All of these places are within a two/two and a half hour drive from El Paso, a city of 600,000 with all services and shopping most would ever need.

[Radicat]

Thanks Old Gringo. Very nicely done.

[catman]

Beautiful photo, egglady!

I love the Sacramentos. I've been to Cloudcroft, High Rolls and Ruidoso, and taken the lovely drive through the Mescalero lands to Alamogordo, but I haven't been to all the hamlets. High Rolls seems like a perfect location, but real estate is hard to find there and it's relatively expensive.

Thanks, Old Gringo!

[Old Gringo]

Originally Posted by catman

Beautiful photo, egglady!

I love the Sacramentos. I've been to Cloudcroft, High Rolls and Ruidoso, and taken the lovely drive through the Mescalero lands to Alamogordo, but I haven't been to all the hamlets. High Rolls seems like a perfect location, but real estate is hard to find there and it's relatively expensive.

Thanks, Old Gringo!

One thing to consider; High Rolls requires air conditioning in the summertime. The higher elevations do well w/o it. And that drive on Hwy 244 between Cloudcroft and Ruidoso is breathtaking. Watch out for elk on the road after dark, though.

[jaxart]

I'd like to call attention to another area that's not been discussed here. That's the development above the village of La Luz that I refer to as "The Orchards." Not sure if it has an official designation or not. You access it by driving through La Luz and uphill on a paved county road. There is a pretty good graded gravel road that allows access from High Rolls.

The reason this area is so attractive is the unparalleled view out across the Tularosa Basin. Plus the fact it's much milder in winter, being on the west-facing slopes, and not that bad in summer since it's at the same elevation as High Rolls.

Another similar area is the community called Bent, just above (to the east of) Tularosa. Not sure who owns all the property there, or how available building sites are. There is a good paved road up Nogal Canyon to the south of Bent - but not the views that Bent has.