This picture was taken by my neighbor, Leland Dirks. The view is from his lot looking west across the San Luis Valley.
(https://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r288/quitesweet/Colorado/Sunset.jpg)
This herd of Elk was near our property when Leland took this picture a couple of weeks ago:
(https://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r288/quitesweet/Colorado/IMG_8350.jpg)
Looks nice like the eastern Sierra Nevada. I really like it over there.
The San Luis Valley is one of the most beautiful areas in the country! Absolutely gorgeous. The southern end sorta dips into New Mexico. Almost as purty as my land; but I have been known to be biased.
I had some land out on Wild Horse Mesa there in the valley. The night skies are stunning...
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/150/384414012_44589d5cc8.jpg?v=0)
San Luis Valley, Colorado | February 2007
Photo by Tonya Poole - [link]http://www.adventurejournalist.com/[/link]
(https://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r288/quitesweet/Colorado/J3-7395-MtBlancaMassif4.jpg)
View towards Mt Blanca Massif from a lot in the Sangre De Cristo Ranches | July 2006
Photo by Youngins
There's a cool and difficult 4WD trail up Mt. Blanca
Looks nice! Nice pictures too!
(but I also like the smaller views in my winter woods)
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/166/390675313_4631fc6fce.jpg?v=0)
Great Sand Dune National Park - Taken from Zapata Ranch, Colorado | February 2007
Photo by Tonya Poole - [link]http://www.adventurejournalist.com/[/link]
The SLV, beautiful area, not far from the site of our cabin building adventure in Creede. Are you in the area north of 160, east of Alamosa?
Watch out for the UFOs!
Judy
Our lot is in the Sangre De Cristo Ranches subdivision. It is the area south of 160 and east of 159 - I believe it is considered a part of Fort Garland.
It is close enough to Alamosa to get most modern shopping conveniences, but far enough out to get away from the things associated with big cities.
Gorgeous pictures - beautiful country - land doesn't seem to be too expensive... & Judy, I'm really enjoying watching your progress & the interesting tidbits you add.
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/159/398870096_0809f83906.jpg?v=0)
Overlooking Mountain Home Reservoir / Mt. Lindsey - Sangre De Cristo Ranches | February 2007
Photo by Leland Dirks - http://web.mac.com/leland1234/iWeb/Hermitage/Welcome.html
What's the significance of the Blood of Christ, Youngins - local story behind the name? - Red mountains as in some of the pictures?
I hauled a load of potatoes out of Alamosa around 1980.
Sangre de Cristo = Blood of Christ is believed to be named for the spectacular reds that occur during some sunrises and sunsets. At least that's what I've been told. Here in NM our Sandia Mountains (= Watermelon) are named for the pink /red sunset colors.... so they say.
Sandia -- I thought it was named after the seedy government officials - scale operator asked for a bribe one time - I missed the question or proper answer and got a ticket. >:(
Sandia National Lab... ?? :-? what a mess up as far as ... , as far as many things go. >:( There are a number of people there promoted beyond their managerial skills I believe. Screwups here and there. >:(
I know a number of good folks who work there, though, but there seems to be a bit of a "good old boys club" in play.
Judy, your not the same Judy who owns the UFO Watchtower outside of Alamosa are you?
QuoteJudy, your not the same Judy who owns the UFO Watchtower outside of Alamosa are you?
No, at least I don't think so. I may have been abducted and cloned! :o
Is she about 5'7, 125#, long bown hair-looks alot like Eva Longoria!
In that case...not me!
I've just always wondered why aliens would choose that sparsely populated valley of all the places in the world-but that's a can-o-worms for another topic
Judy
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/16/21421330_bd945e9b9b.jpg?v=0)
Moonrise over Blanca Peak
Photo by Tonya Poole - http://www.adventurejournalist.com/
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/129/411751049_24f8911cda.jpg?v=0)
Curious Neighbor in a San Luis Valley lot - March 2007
Photo by Tonya Poole - http://www.adventurejournalist.com/
Antelope or Alpaca? (or Llama)
I can't see well enough to tell--and seems like both would be more likely to be in groups.
pronghorn antelope
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/131/408084430_f6947524b9.jpg?v=0)
Neighborhood morning walk team - March 2007
Photo by Tonya Poole - http://www.adventurejournalist.com/
Those guys sure don't look like alpacas. And certainly pronghorns would be more likely out in the middle of nowhere.
I often pass a hobby farm that features a handful of alpacas three zebras some miniature donkeys a camel, and some fairly exotic cattle. I think the owner has finally gotten rid of his bison after he came close to being killed tryin to separate a mating bull and a cow--or something on that order--I think I've heard a couple of versions of that story. I think some of his guinea fowl got loose and hung around our area for a few months until they succumbed to coyotes and other varmits.
There was rumored to be an emu loose and wandering up in a small community just north of here--dubbed "The Mayor of Flatwoods," he--or she--seemed to have a pretty regular route around businesses and houses looking for handouts. I never saw it, although I always looked when I went through there.
Here's a link to an alpaca that really does look a bit--long upright neck, colors and all--like the single pronghorn. He's all gussied up for the pictures. I wish that the ones up the road looked this good. They truly don't.
http://www.oakhill-ranch.com/bigchief.html
I have a friend in Washington state (Ferndale) who raised alpacas. She also boarded other people's. They had to constantly be tending to them - some were worth $20,000. She spun the wool & made sweaters & blankets. She also had several ferrets that were quite the comedians - so much energy.
Good breeding stock apparently can go for that.
Although there may be some feeling around that the last person to buy is going to find the market collapsing right afterwards.
May be true for some of the fancy cattle as well.
Llamas, raised for pack animals, are supposed to be friendlier, but these look sooooo cute and wonderful.
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/156/417151115_c072cd9775.jpg?v=0)
Sandhill Cranes - San Luis Valley, CO - March 2007
Photo by Tonya Poole - http://www.adventurejournalist.com/
Taste like chicken? :-?
I'm trying to imagine eating a drumstick from one of them - you could use both hands.
Nice pix. :)
A couple of years ago my wife and I were searching for land in Colorado and encountered Billy Land through ebay. I tried bidding a few times, but always lost out to someone else. Luckily I researched some more and found out Good Ol' Billy is charging quite a bit more for what the going market rate is.
We eventually contacted 2 realtors in the area and got some good choices to look at. I recommend anyone interested in purchasing land to go there and personally check it out. Pictures really cannot capture the true beauty of the San Luis Valley.
To make a long story short we found our 5 acre parcel with a Super view of mount Blanca, 1o minute drive to Ft. Garland, plenty of trees, Pinyons and Spruce and with a good incline on the land for our future cozy cabin in SDCR.
No Electricity or Water there, but we plan on using Solar/Generator/Batteries; Water cistern; Septic tank. I've got plans drawn out already which conform to SDCR building covenants.
ecohutman
Welcome to the forum -- looks very much like the eastern Sierra Nevada - around Bishop or so - although the Sierra Nevada is much closer in that area to the flat area --- gets real hot and real cold.