Stories at Storrie Lake

With no prior planning, we've bumped into Roger and Michelle in several different campgrounds this spring. They obviously like to camp in the same places that we enjoy. So now we are texting each other with campground advice and planning to see each other. Michelle kept an eye on the  first-come-first-served parking spots at Storrie Lake State Park, and gave us updates on their availability before we arrived because they were already there. It was good to see them again and we're ready to tell more stories at Storrie Lake with them. 

We have lots in common with this couple--we both travel full-time in our motor homes, we're retired, and we love exploring new areas. So on this beautiful afternoon they invited us for a ride around Las Vegas, New Mexico, in their pickup. We had a great time!

Another camping neighbor told us about our first stop. A man by the name of Armand Hammer has set up United World College campuses all over the world with the shared aim of "making education a force to unite people, nations, and cultures for peace and a sustainable future." With 18 campuses on four continents, this is the only one in North America.

Who would have known that students from all over the world would want to come to the United World College in the tiny town of Montezuma, New Mexico, for their 11th and 12th grade years of education?!?

The Old Stone Hotel was built in 1878 as an upscale place for tourists, and it is nicknamed "The Castle." Now it is the main classroom building of this United World College campus.

The guard at the gate explained that tours are available on a limited basis only with prior approval. So we didn't get a close-up look of the castle. But when we drove on up the steep road, we could see the castle from another angle from the top. In fact, we were now high enough into the Pecos Wilderness that we could look down to see the flat golden plains all the way to the horizon in the valley.

We continued up the winding road until it was covered by a river swollen from the snow melt. Mark is checking his GPS to see what interesting roads are beyond, as Roger was contemplating driving his four-wheel-drive pickup through the water. But both wives brought them to their senses and convinced them that it was time to turn around.

This was the beginning of the trail to Hermit's Mountain, so Denisa walked just a ways down the trail. This normally would have been at the top of our list of things to do in this area. But last summer's wild fires have charred all the trees, and taken most of the beauty from this hike.

We noticed that many of the burned trees have been cut down.

We think that this numerical tag with bright spray paint circle has something to do with which trees will be cut.

After turning around, we headed back down the mountain to another stop our local camping neighbor suggested. We had to park along the highway to get to the tiered Montezuma Hot Springs.

From here we got yet another view of the castle, which is across the river from the hot springs.

While using the hot springs is free, they do welcome donations to keep the area clean. They also had a warning sign that alerted bathers to use this rustic facility at their own risk!

A friendly local explained the history of the springs and the temperatures we would encounter. Mark is checking out the top pool, with the hottest temperatures. The local called this "the lobster pot" because it will feel like you are being boiled. While it was too hot for us, we noticed that the two locals preferred the lobster pot.

The pools get cooler as they trickle down the slope. We felt like goldilocks; the top pool was too hot, the bottom pool was too cool, and the middle pool was just right.

From our perch in the middle pool, we had yet another view of the castle's tallest turret.

Besides the warning signs, the hot springs also had signs against certain other behaviors.

Besides the three main pools, we found other soaking options along the river. We have never seen hot springs with such narrow slit openings.

A rustic changing room is available, but it only has three sides. Maybe our donation will help to complete the fourth side to offer some privacy.

The castle was built to house visitors that were soaking in this line of hot springs. We walked further down the river to find more pools while Roger moved the pickup to pick us up.

We finished this day as we have every evening since we arrived at Storrie Lake. Their reservable camp site had a nice windbreak casita facing the lake. We met there every evening to enjoy a camp fire and to get sticky making smores. Roger makes a great camp fire, and has some experience toasting marshmallows. We loved this time with them as we told stories at Storrie Lake.