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.

Checkout our new video page that features videos from the Jemez Mountains.

JemezCentral Videos

You can also find a link to the video page at the top of every JemezCentral page on the main menu.

Just in the nick of time and over the last two weeks, the Jemez has received significant moisture. I think that we are “out of the woods” with regard to fire danger for the rest of this year. So….it is time to get “into the woods” and enjoy all that a moist, green, cool and inviting forest has to offer. Effective today (July 12th) at 8:00 am all fire restrictions were lifted within the Santa Fe National Forest-Jemez Ranger District. Campfires and charcoal grills are now allowed in all campgrounds and within the forest in dispersed camping situations. Campfires are a very important part of the camping experience but in spite of the moist condition of the forest, please enjoy responsibly. The weather forecast is perfect with a 20 to 30% chance of afternoon showers through the weekend and increasing chances next week. Load up Grandma and the kids and come on up.

Conditions have changed….so I am modifying this post. (modified Tuesday July 3rd).

The rains have arrived and the forest closure has been postponed. As of now the forest is open. While we have received some rain, it is still very dry, and we are still under Stage II Fire Restrictions. All campgrounds and forest roads are open. No campfires or charcoal are allowed anywhere within the Santa Fe National Forest-Jemez Ranger District. Propane is ok in all campgrounds and picnic areas. Fenton Lake State Park remains open for camping and fishing. Rain is in the forecast for the next week or so. My recommendation now is to come on up and enjoy this 4th of July holiday in the Jemez.