Faywood Hot Springs, NM and Gila National Forest

We escaped after 7 months of winter (Tucson style) and chose to go back to an area of New Mexico we spent at years ago.  We had camped in Deming, NM a number of times, and also Silver City.  Faywood is located 25 miles north of Deming and 25 miles south of Silver City.  Only thing in Faywood is hot springs.  It has lured many people over millennium, from prehistoric people to Spanish explorers, to westward travelers and soldiers protecting them, health-seekers, minors (silver and gold), even a professional baseball team and countless people from all over the world.  Faywood has cabins for rent, RV spaces with electric and water hookup and tent sites.  Clothing is optional in some areas.  You are guaranteed your own bath time in one of the 5 pools.  We did not come there for that, just wanted a place to rest after visiting different areas.

The first day of being there we drove north towards the Gila National Forest and stopped at Lake Roberts for a quick hike along the shore.  Very peaceful.  Then continued north and stopped at the vista lookout near Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.  We traveled on the Trail of the Mountain Spirits National Scenic Byway.  We had spent a bit of time in the past at the National Monument, just wanted to be out in the wild and enjoy.  Did see planned burning by the Gila Forest Service and saw the scorched ground. 

The Goat resting while we walked around lake

 

Our lunch stop was at the overlook called Copperas Vista suggested by forest ranger.  And we got treated to a group of high school kids plus a couple of college students and their advisors working on an intricate mosaic at the overlook.  Very impressive.

Reminded us of Slumgullion Pass in Lake City

Our lunch stop overlooking Copperas Peak

Visit to Lake City and the Slumgullion Flow

 Yesterday was my bucket list item - to go back and visit Lake City.  We spent 7 weeks camping in that town 5 years ago, had many great memories (some pretty scary -  the Alpine Loop) but I wanted to see if anything had changed.  And no, it had not.  Just a cute little mining town, founded  in 1874 with the opening of the Hotchkiss Lode mine. Tourism sustained Lake City after the mining subsided, making Lake City one of the few mining boom towns that did not end as a ghost town. So many of the old buildings have new life  with shops, museums, restaurants, cabins for rent.  Loved Lake City.

Our drive from our cabin up over the Spring Creek Pass (Continental Divide) reminded us of our trek up into the mountain.  We said, maybe if we would have had a goat to carry our stuff, would have made it a bit easier.  Just kidding.  But there are outfitters that do rent goats for backpacking purposes.  Hence the name for our car - Goat - since it carries our supplies around for us.

Passed over the Divide and continued through the valley and up and over Slumgullion Pass.  We passed some huge RVs, pulling cars or ATVs behind them and we said - good luck.  Been there, done that.  When we left Lake City back 5 years ago, Dave drove the RV and I drove the car, stopping at Spring Creek Pass to hookup together.  Thank Goodness!  Saw so much devastation from the beetle bark infestation but the good news - saw so many tiny evergreens starting up.

Stopped to take in the magnificent views, then stopped at Windy Point Overlook which describes the slumgullion earth flow.  About 700 years ago the Mesa Seco collapsed into the Lake Fork Valley and created the four mile Slumgullion Slide, named for its coloring similar to the stew favored by miners.  The slide dammed the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River, creating Lake San Cristobal.  About 400 years later, a second six mile earth flow began and continues today with a yearly flow of 3 to 20 feet a year.

We walked around town, Dave went one way to take photos, I went another looking for a t-shirt souvenir.  At an elevation of 8,661, about 400 people reside full time.  But, the town is busy year round. Summers are crazy with people driving the Alpine Loop, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, boating, camping.   You name it.  Winter has ice climbing (100 foot wall of ice in town) snowmobiling, sledding, ice fishing, etc. Festivals are numerous even into winter.   Lake City is known as the most remote city of the lower 48 states.  Five 14er's (mountains over 14,000  feet) and three 13er's surround the city so no matter what direction you look, there are snow capped mountains.

Lake San Cristobal is 2 miles wide in some spots and 89 feet deep.  A big big lake.  We drove a tidge of the beginning of the Alpine Loop to the end of the lake and took some pictures and while there, Dave spotted a beaver swimming around. Five years ago we watched moose eat the greenery in this area.  No luck this time.

Coming back from the end of the lake, we said that the homes built on the lake are right in the path of the slumgullion slide, wonder how their insurance handles that?  Especially if the slide is moving up to 20 feet a year!

Left Lake City and climbed back  up the Slumgullion Pass back to the cabin, we stopped at the North Clear Creek Falls which is considered to be the most photographed waterfall in Colorado.  Nice visit to Creede and Lake City.  Elevation is a factor, but once you get acclimated, no problems.