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| Path between springs and stream, Montezuma, New Mexico |
I visited Montezuma a few years ago, then again a few weekends ago, this time with one of my sisters. Albeit tiny, Montezuma is kinda famous for three discrete attractions:
- A castle, of sorts
- A house of light
- A hot spring alongside a cold stream
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| Springs, Montezuma, New Mexico |
Water
The hot springs don't fool around - they are hot. Different pools have different temperatures. For some people, this fact is a no brainer, but for newbies - like I was some years ago - this is helpful information. A long time ago, my daughter and I went to some springs in British Columbia and we had no idea that the water at one end would boil you like a lobstor, whereas over at the other hand, the temp was just pleasantly warm.
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| Springs, Montezuma, New Mexico |
The springs in Montezuma are near a cold stream.
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| Springs, Montezuma, New Mexico |
When my sister and I visited a few weekends ago, there were people soaking in the hot spring baths and people swimming in the stream and there were people going back and forth to enjoy both.
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| Stream near springs, Montezuma, New Mexico |
The vibe around the springs and water is like what you'd expect it was back in the 'old days' regardless of what constitutes the 'old days' for you - whatever decade it was when you were a kid and you went to the swimming hole in the summer.
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| Springs, Montezuma, New Mexico |
In Montezuma, you can enjoy the hot springs year-round, of course. The Las Vegas natives we talked to, who were taking in the waters while we were there, affirmed that it is just as delicious to soak in the hot water while there's snow around you as you might imagine it to be.
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| Springs, Montezuma, New Mexico |
The holes above were dark and deep. I swear I saw something slow and heavy at the bottom slide under the divider, and into the other hole. Kind of Stephen-Kingish. This water was very, very hot, and I wondered what living thing could live down there in the depths. .... but maybe I just imagined it.
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| Stream near springs, Montezuma, New Mexico |
Unknown artistic folks created a Japanesque river design by placing stones atop stones.
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| Springs, Montezuma, New Mexico |
An elegant collection of white flowers stood near the spring structures.
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| Springs, Montezuma, New Mexico |
We talked to one couple who had been the whole day, soaking. They had selected a small spring bath with just enough room for the two of them. It was sunny out, a warm day.
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| Springs, Montezuma, New Mexico |
A good day to indulge in such simple pleasure.
2 comments:
Hi there - nice photos of Montezuma in the summer. A few items - nothing lives in the toaster (the deep springs you described). I soak in them all the time (in the winter, too hot in summer), and we clean them out every other month, so I can tell you that for a fact.
The white flower you photographed is Yerba Mansa - Anemopsis californica. It is a medicinal herb transplanted to the site thousands of years ago my indigenous people (probably Jicarilla Apache).
The Montezuma hot springs are a sacred site and precious community resource. thanks for visiting.
wonderful place! i live in the east, so only get there every 5-10 years. beware the little round one with re-bar ladder rungs. when i was in it, it was so hot i was afraid i might pass out and cook. the two deep, rectangular ones are more moderate temperature.
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