Although it doesn’t look like it today (four inches new snow) spring is just around the corner. Over the next few weeks school systems will take time out for Spring Break. Many families will feel the warmth of the March sun and succumb to the draw of the Jemez Mountains. Just a word of caution from JemezCentral.com. At 8000 ft in the mountains of northern New Mexico it is spring but still just a little bit winter.

Camping opportunities are few and far between as most Forest Service campgrounds will remain closed until the first part of May. The exceptions being Fenton Lake State Park with six spaces However, Fenton Lake remains completely frozen and is off limits to fishing. Also Vista Linda Campground is open with 13 spaces located on Hwy 4 at MM 13.2. All forest roads are closed and will remain so until the first part of April. There are some opportunities for dispersed camping. Stop by Amanda’s Jemez Mountain Country store and we will point you in the right direction.

That’s the bad news. The good news is that the new snow will melt fast and the weather forecast looks terrific for the next week of so. Many of the streams have been stocked recently and water conditions are generally good. The Seven Springs Kid’s Pond is free of ice and fishing should be good for the youngsters. The hot springs are always a viable option this time of year. These are a few of the reasons to visit the Jemez during Spring Break, but just remember, we still have a little bit of winter up here.

 

While it is not a common occurrence, rain during January at 8000′ in the Jemez Mountains,  is quite rare. Saturday and Saturday night brought steady rain showers to the La Cueva area. According to my rain guage we received .70 inches. Rain in January is not ideal, but we will take all of the moisture that we can get during these times of drought. We did receive about 3″ of new snow Monday night into Tuesday.

The weather forecast for this weekend and for the forseeable future is for sunshine and moderate temperatures. This is the perfect time to load up the family and make the short drive to the Jemez Mountains and enjoy a pleasant afternoon playing in the snow. There has been adequate snow this year in the Jemez and the La Cueva Snowbowl is a great place for tubing and sledding. This time of year it can get a little lonely here at Amanda’s, so come on in and say hey and we will point you in the direction of some wintertime fun….Jemez style.

If sledding is not your thing, bring your snowshoes or x-country skis and make your way to San Antonio Hot Springs, or you can make the short hike to Spence Hot Springs. 106 degree water can feel mighty good on a cold, crisp winter afternoon at 8000 ft elevation. A cup of hot chocolate or coffee will certainly hit the spot before you head home.

It’s something when a couple inches of snow in the Jemez is newsworthy. It has been a very dry fall and early winter here in the Jemez, New Mexico, and really, throughout the whole Southwest. Here at the store, I measured 2 inches. I am sure that the high country got more. A cold blast ushered in the storm with overnight temps last night at minus ten degrees. Obviously we need more snow, a lot more….but this is a start. Maybe we’ll have a white Christmas here in the Jemez Mountains after all.

 

Winter is here and certain precautions should be taken if your driving plans bring you to the Jemez Mountains. There are many road hazards aside from snowpacked and icy conditions. Black ice, which is an invisable thin layer of ice on paved roads, can be very dangerous as shown by this photo taken on Friday November 9th. Fortunately, nobody was seriously hurt in this mishap. If your trip to the Jemez takes you off-road, always be prepared for winter weather…. wet, muddy or snowy roads. Let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return. Winter storms can occur suddenly. If one comes up, start heading home. At a minimum, we suggest you  take the following items with you if traveling in the mountains. Tire chains, tow chain, first aid kit, warm clothing, shovel, full tank of gas, matches or flares, and a flashlight. Highway speed limits are posted for a reason. Other road hazards exist besides snow, ice and black ice. Gravel, rocks and boulders…. sharp, dangerous curves….and the presence of wild game, elk and deer can all create dangererous situations. Enjoy your trip to the Jemez but please use caution during the winter season.

Beginning on Labor Day, elk hunting has been taking place almost every weekend in one form or another. Bow and muzzleloader in September and muzzleloader and rifle during October.  Units 6A, 6C (public land hunts) and 6B (Valles Caldera) make up the Jemez hunting area. A lot of elk have been harvested this Fall and here are a few examples of hunting the Jemez.

 

(My apologies to any of my readers of Jemez Central.com. that may find these photos offensive.)

Congratulations on your successful Jemez Mountain hunts.

Beginning next week (October 15, 2012) if conditions are favorable, fire managers plan to begin the 7,300 acre San Juan prescribed burn, located 3-5 miles northeast of Jemez Springs, NM. Between 2,500 acres are expected to be treated each day. Prescribed burning is the managed application of fire to wildland fuels (woody material) under specified conditions, within predetermined boundaries in an effort to reduce hazardous fuels, provide community protection, and restore forest health.

Forest Roads 10, 135, 136 and 269 will be closed during the prescribed burn. These road closures will be implemented with barricades and signs.

Smoke from the burn will be visable from La Cueva, Jemez Springs, Jemez Pueblo, Canon, Ponderosa, San Ysidro, Zia Pueblo, Bernalillo, Rio Rancho and areas off I-25 and NM550. Smoke is expected to settle into lower elevations and in drainage areas during the evenings, but will lift by mid-morning.

More information may be obtained by calling Santa Fe National Forest Public Affairs Office: 505-438-5321.

Information and text courtesy of Santa Fe National Forest, Lawrence M. Lujan.

Saturday, September 29, 2012 is Free Fishing Day on all public waters throughout the State of New Mexico. ‘No license….no problem’. At Fenton Lake, State Parks and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish will offer a day of fishing, archery, kayacking and other educational activities. Participation in all events is free, although the state park charges a $5 per vehicle day use fee. Events at the park run from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. The lake was stocked earlier this week with 4000 Rainbow Trout. The weekend weather is looking fabulous….so come on up to the beautiful Jemez Mountains and enjoy a wonderful day on a New Mexico Autumn afternoon.

Conditions are perfect for a terrific last hurrah….Labor Day Weekend in the Jemez. We have had a good ‘monsoon’ season with good moisture. Spotty at times but good. The fire danger currently is at moderate with no fire restrictions. As always, please be careful with your campfires. The weather for this weekend is predicted to be perfect,  almost fall like. Warm days and cool nights with a 10 to 20% chance of afternoon showers. Water conditions on the creeks have improved dramatically over the last week or so. The East Fork, Rio San Antonio and Jemez River have all cleared and are very fishable. Most waterways and Fenton Lake are scheduled for stocking this week,  so there should be plenty of fish to keep your lines tight. Check back with JemezCentral for stocking info.

Amanda’s invites you to enjoy a three day weekend in the Jemez. Whether you are camping, fishing, hunting,  hiking, cliff jumping, hot springing, relaxing around the campfire with loved ones….or all of the above,  this is the place to be. Conditions are perfect.

One final note….if the Jemez is not in your plans, please support Lobo Football and usher the Bob Davie era by attending UNM’s opener Saturday at University Stadium, 3:00pm. Go Lobos.

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