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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE NEWSLETTER #58
May 4, 2001
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Dear Subscriber:

Peg and I were loading aspen logs into our pickup earlier this
week when the Peeples drove by. Lewis and Lisa Peeples live in
El Paso, but they spend their summers in their mountain home 
near Cloudcroft, just up the hill from where we live.

Lewis rolled down his window and projected "I see you guys made
it through the winter".

In my mind I flashed back to a scene from the movie "The Great
Escape" when Steve McQueen was released from Solitary
Confinement in a German POW camp. He squinted in defense of a 
bright sun he hadn't seen for months. The other inmates watched
in reverent awe as McQueen walked across the prison yard. "He 
made it," they were saying to each other. "He survived".

Give me a break. He spent all that time in a cell with no worry
about making next month's mortgage. No concern about making 
that quota at work. What kind of torture is that? Put a TV in 
there and make him watch "A-Team" re-runs. Now, THAT'S torture!

There is a vague mystique about living through the winter on a
mountaintop where the snow can often come up to your armpits 
and when the electricity goes off, there's no guarantee it will 
come back on anytime soon. You become a slave to the fireplace.
If you're not stoking the fire, you're re-stocking your supply 
of firewood. How many times this winter did I hear Peggy say
"your fire is going out". MY fire? Wasn't she receiving heat
from it, too?

In reality it is all an urban legend. There is really no more
hardship associated with a winter on the mountain than there 
is on the slobber-slick byways of Houston, Texas after an ice 
storm. Sure, we stock canned goods, kerosene and flashlight 
batteries in case we're snowed in by The Big One (we haven't 
had one that big in recent memory).

In the winter months neighborhood etiquette is altered 
slightly. You call people before you head down to Alamogordo 
to see if you can bring supplies up to them. Your sense of 
interdependence is heightened somewhat.

"Warm" becomes a relative thing. To me there is no more intense
feeling of warmth than when a driving snowstorm is dancing
around outside your picture window and you have a fire going 
in the living room, something hot to drink in the cup in your 
hand and oldies on the stereo. That is a down-to-the-marrow-of-
your-bones warm.

Yet we are content to let The Peeples and our other summer
residents think we're made of special stuff because we endure
what Nature throws our way each November-thru-March.

We made plans with the Peeples to get together from time to 
time during the summer and they drove on. Peggy and I squinted
in the bright sunlight as we watched them disappear around the 
corner...our eyes not yet adjusted to the spring sun.

Don Vanlandingham
Cloudcroft.com

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This issue of the Cloudcroft Newsletter is brought to you by
Dusty's Place. Make the most of this summer's vacation. Stay
with us at Dusty's Place "where mountain memories are made".

http://www.cloudcroft.com/dusty/index.htm

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IN THIS ISSUE
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1. LOOKING AT THE WEATHER
2. VILLAGE NEWS
3. INSIDE THE SHOP -- CHEEZ-A-SMOKN
4. CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- THE VILLAGE SKATING RINK
5. Q AND A -- BECAUSE CLOUDCROFT ONLINE READERS WANT TO KNOW
6. COMING EVENTS
7. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
8. CONTACT INFORMATION
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LOOKING AT THE WEATHER
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The Sacramentos saw that magic number on the thermometer this
week. With the mercury making it to 70, the mountain can look
forward to what the summer brings its way.

The heavy winds of last week have subsided. Lows are in the
upper 30s. Highs in the upper 60s on average. Outside of a few
sprinkles, there has been no appreciable moisture in the past
week.

The fire danger is listed as "Very High," but there are no
access restrictions posted in the Lincoln National Forest. This
situation can change without notice so it is prudent to call
ahead before making camping plans. The Sacramento Ranger Dist.
number is (505)-682-2551.
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VILLAGE NEWS
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Not only will the Sacramento River Road (the road linking
Cloudcroft with Timberon) soon be paved, it will also be 
widened and straightened. The construction company in charge 
of the project is clearing trees and blasting rock now in 
preparation for the actual paving job. The Forest Service is 
also involved in the project, providing walking trails and 
viewing areas along the road.

The project is scheduled for completion before Christmas.
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INSIDE THE SHOP -- CHEEZ-A-SMOKN
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Developed from a recipe that is over 100 years old, the gourmet
cheeses at Cheez-A-Smokn have become legend on the mountain.

See their website link on Cloudcroft.com.
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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- THE VILLAGE SKATING RINK
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Wrong time of year to be talking about the village ice skating
rink? Not exactly. In the warm weather months the rink is
transformed into a play area for skateboarding, in-line 
skating, etc. Call the village office for operating times and 
activities. (505) 682-2411.
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Q AND A -- BECAUSE CLOUDCROFT ONLINE READERS WANT TO KNOW
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Q - Cloudcroft village officials say there's a water shortage
in the village, yet they are allowing a huge new residential
development (The Woodlands) to tap into the village water 
system. What gives?

A - According to information we have received, the water
shortage was not projected when an agreement was reached with
The Woodlands with regard to village water.

Since then, however, owners of The Woodlands have been working
with the village to prevent any water shortage problems. A new
water storage tank has been provided by The Woodlands and a new
pump station is planned for the near future. Meanwhile the
village of Cloudcroft is undergoing an exploratory project in
search of new water supplies.
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COMING EVENTS
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May 5 -- High Altitude Classic mountain bike race. 
Entertainment scheduled on Burro Avenue that night.

May 25, 26 -- Melodrama. The Open Air Pavilion.

May 26 -- Mayfair Street Dance. Burro Avenue. 7pm.

May 26 -- G. Gordon Wimsatt Memorial Rodeo. Wimsatt Arena. 2pm.

May 26, 27 -- 25th Annual Mayfair Juried Art Show. Zenith Park.
10am, both days.

May 28, 29 -- Cloudcroft Academy of Ballet. "The Bride". First
Baptist Church in Artesia.

Cloudcroft Art Society meets the second Thursday of each month
in the Old Red Brick Schoolhouse. Call (505) 682-2494 for more
info. The Society is sponsoring a Miniature Art Show each 
Friday (10-4pm), Saturday (10-4pm), and Sunday (12-4pm)in May.
All art work is for sale and is by area artists.

Senior van from Timberon to Alamogordo leaves the Timberon
Lodge promptly at 8:30 every Tuesday morning.

If you have news of public events in the Cloudcroft area, email
us.

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For an online calendar of area events, click the Events Calendar
link in the left column of our home page:

http://www.cloudcroft.com/index.html

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
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Dear Newsletter:

I hike in the high sierra country of California every year.
Forest fires: Watch your campfire, but better yet, use butane 
fuel and a cooking stove. Don't just throw your smoking material
on the ground, put it out in water. Your smoking material will 
cause forest fires.

Controlled burning is great if you use common sense, no strong 
winds, etc.

Wayne Cave 

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Dear Newsletter:

We will be making our first visit to Cloudcroft May 14-17.

We have been doing research on and off the web for a year and
are so excited we can hardly wait. Your newsletter puts us 
right over the edge with folks who think this place is so 
special. I'm from Dallas and my husband is New York Italian, 
but has been in Texas for over 35 years.

Thanks again.
More Cloudcroft WannaBe's
David and Carolynne Priore

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Dear Newsletter:

We have just returned from a European trip. In Bayeau, France, 
in the hotel, we were stopped by a family who recognized my 
Cloudcroft Lodge sweatshirt. It seems they visited the area, 
White Sands, etc several years ago and loved it. They actually 
live in New Hampshire.

Our host in Amsterdam has contacted your website and already 
sent a message about how he would like to visit the area 
sometime. If you are hoping to keep Cloudcroft a secret, it's
probably too late. We will just have to work hard to keep it 
as wonderful as it is today.

Marcia and Wade Scott
Arlington, Texas

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Dear Newsletter:

Ann and I have made the transition from Scenic Hills. Texas 
back to Cloudcroft, with two gas stops enroute, and breakfast 
in Kerrville at The Cracker Barrel.

Once again we are enjoying the magnificent view of The Lodge 
Golf Course from our 2 decks at Cloud Nine Townhouses.... It's 
great to be back strolling Burro Ave, and observing some 
changes, including the Cloudcroft Hotel... and the new benches
along the Boardwalk.

One of our first priorities was to clean up the winter debris 
at The Depot flower bed...which is our pet civic contribution to
the Rails-to-Trails Trailhead at the Depot Site.

Ann has already put in a row of flowers, and there are signs 
of life with the annuals showing some green. In another month,
look for splendor in the flower beds. 

Also, Richard, our host at The Depot, has already put in his 
magnificent flower bed, with instant results. His hummingbird 
feeders are up and the little creatures are enjoying the sweet
nectar.

We have had many hikers doing the Trestle Trail already and 
expect hundreds more. When in Cloudcroft, be sure to walk the 
historic trail leading to the Mexican Trestle.

In addition, Ann is already grooming our own flower bed facing 
The Lodge Golf Course. It is showing great promise and the 
lilac tree has buds.

Today, Dr. Wallace Sanders, another resident, and I toured the
Ponderosa Pines Golf Course and enjoyed the new layout...it is
great, and it is tough, with a new 550 yard par 5 hole.

It has been a splendid sunny, warm day on the mountain. Join 
us when you can, all you Flatlanders from far and wide. You'll
love it!

Best Regards,
Dayt and Ann Blanchard

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