Orilla Verde on The Rio Grande

just a followup and a battery report on Orilla Verde. 

Boondocked for 3 nights with two GC2s and my 80 watt zamp.  Battery SOC never below 80% and usually closer to 90%+.  I guess we are energy misers.  Used heater, lights, fridge, inverter for air mattress, etc.  So, i am very happy with those results. 

Temps were great-mid 60s for highs and mid 30s for lows.  Oodles of hiking available and plenty of water. No success on fish, but it is a bit early and i didn't try very hard either.  I was spring break but campgrounds mostly empty.   We camped right next to the rio grande where it narrows and had great river sounds.  You are only 15 miles from Taos if you need something or a change of scenery.  There are no dumps in the area, have to go to taos and pay.   Some campsights with hookups and water.
The spring runoff has not really hit yet.  That will turn the river to chocolate milk in a few  you can see the pod in the center...


pod and Sangre de cristos

Well, there are some RV Parks in taos Valley along Hwy 64,and there's a real nice new one over by Angelfire called Angelfire Resort.

My first year of teaching was at Ojo Caliente back in 1981. The hot springs consisted of the old part of the hotel and a few bathtubs in outbuildings! A lot has changed since then. There is a trail on the west side of the river up on top of the gorge that begins at the Highway 64 bridge and goes several miles south that you can hike or mountain bike while enjoying views of the gorge and the mountains around Taos. When I taught there in '81, I actually lived in a small town called La Madera...beautiful area. 

I drove within 15 miles of there this afternoon (passing through Ojo Caliente on Hwy 285 on my way to Colorado to pick up my new RP-180) and it was gorgeous. 60 degrees, sunny, and just a few small spots of snow on the ground in shady places. Forecast is for more of the same through the weekend and beyond.

supposed to be in the mid to upper 60s and night time above freezing according to the weather folks.  It will be cooler down in the gorge for sure.  heck it is 70 deg in taos and Pilar now!