Flooding In New Mexico and Colorado

It is times like these that I am glad that I live on a hill. 

Severe flooding has hit the flatlands of Southwest Colorado (Durango was hit pretty hard from the Animas River and Pagosa Springs was also hit by the San Juan River) and Northeast New Mexico. We didn't get too much rain yesterday. The storm basically skirted around us and hit on the other side of the Continental Divide.

KOAT posted this video on the flooding:

 Wild WeatherUS posted this on Colorado:

The Durango Herald posted this video:

Deb Haaland Rode On Jeffrey Epstein's Jet

Document in Epstein files shows NM Governor candidate Deb Haaland rode on Jeffrey Epstein's jet video by KOAT.

Summary: 

Another New Mexico politician found in Epstein files

KOAT Action 7 News is your home for New Mexico breaking news and weather. For your latest New Mexico news and weather visit: https://koat.com/

 

Best Campgrounds Along Route 66 Revealed

Best campgrounds along Route 66 revealed video by KOAT.

Summary:

Best campgrounds along Route 66 revealed

The video features my favorite Albuquerque RV park, the Route 66 RV Resort. 

Allegations of Bodies Buried At Epstein's New Mexico Ranch

Allegations that bodies were buried at Jeffrey Epstein's Zorro Ranch in New Mexico prompts calls for investigation.

KOAT reported:

New Mexico officials are urging an investigation into claims of bodies buried at Jeffrey Epstein's Zorro Ranch, following the release of documents related to the convicted sex offender's crimes.

More Snow Coming

It appears we may be getting more snow this week. I sure hope so, we definitely need it!

From KOAT Channel 7:

Gallup, Grants and Jamestown are in the dark blue area.

Video: Second Amendment Rally In Santa Fe

 

Fall Is Better — For Travel

Above, camping at Fort Massac in Metropolis, Illinois. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Is fall a better time to travel?

That question arises every so often. I actually prefer autumn to summer. There are a number of benefits to traveling in the fall. The primary one for me is less crowds.

Albuquerque station KOAT has posted an article with the position that fall is better.

They begin it with:

Sure, an escape to the beach or cooler mountain air or the arctic air-conditioning of a museum comes not a moment too soon when summer really starts to heat up.

But if you can wait until the season winds down, the rewards can be significant – both in terms of savings and experience. And after the summer the world has had – with record heat, uncomfortably warm ocean water, devastating wildfires, epic crowds and high prices – the relative calm of traveling in September and October will be right on time for many travelers.

Is fall a better time to travel than summer?

To read more, go here. 

Interstate 40 To Be Closed Eastbound From Gallup 2 Nights

Tonight and tomorrow night are going to be interesting.

Eastbound Interstate 40 from Gallup will be closed both nights from 9:00 to 6:00 for road repairs at Coolidge (MM 44) due to a constant pothole problem. The only way the New Mexico Department of Transportation can make effective repairs is to close the highway.

From KOAT:

The New Mexico State Police have alerted motorists planning to travel east on I-40 through Gallup, that the road will be closed at Exit 16 between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Monday and Tuesday, March 27 and 28.

With no detour available at that location, travelers have been advised to seek overnight accommodations in Gallup.

Exiting eastbound out of the city will be prohibited during the planned night work. No detour is available. Traffic will not be permitted to use local routes.

Biden Coming to New Mexico

Democrats in New Mexico are getting desperate.

With Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham behind Mark Ronchetti in the latest Trafalgar Group poll, they need His Fraudulency Joe Biden to come to the rescue.

KOAT reported:

WASHINGTON — The White House has announced that President Joe Biden will be traveling to New Mexico on Nov. 3.

The White House says the president will be meeting with New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and other state and local leaders. The trip comes just a few days before Election Day.

This will be the second visit by the president this year.

Her Fraudulency Kamala Harris was in New Mexico a few days ago. 

I seriously doubt that Biden will do Lujan Grisham any good.

To read more, go here. 

Albuquerque Sunport Travel Up 23% Over Last Year

Above, the Albuquerque Sunport lobby. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It seems like only yesterday that we entered 2022. But, time flies, especially so when one gets older.

Independence Day weekend looks like it will top last year's numbers, despite high gas prices and the topsy-turvy so-called airline pilot "shortage" (which I don't believe is real, but that's me).

The Albuquerque Sunport expects to see more air travelers.

According to KOAT:

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The Albuquerque International Sunport will be seeing about 75,000 passengers between now and Tuesday.

This is a 23% increase from last year.

The development manager at the Albuquerque International Sunport, Lisa Leyva said, “Sunday is going to be our busiest day. So plan accordingly. We're going to see approximately 15,000 people in and out of this airport on Sunday.”

Several airlines are still working through staffing shortages prompting flight changes.

“Your airline is your best resource to know if your flight is delayed, where they're going to be relocating you or when you're going to be booked on your next flight,” Leyva said.

To read more, go here. 

Cibola and Other New Mexico National Forests Closed

Above, the road into Six Mile Canyon yesterday. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today's the day that Cibola National Forest and other New Mexico national forests are to be closed as a precaution for the dangerous fire conditions we are currently in.

I went to the gate of Six Mile Canyon of the Cibola National Forest yesterday and saw no notices of today's closure. But a ranger did drive in while I was there. 

From KOAT:

The Cibola National Forest has implemented a forest closure on all National Forest System lands, roads, and trails in the Mt. Taylor, Mountainair and Sandia Ranger Districts.

The closure order will start on May 19 and last until July 18.

Forest officials say fire activity, weather conditions and user activities play a role in when deciding closures and restrictions.

What's closed?

All roads, lands, and trails within the boundaries of the Cibola National Forest including the Mt. Taylor, Mountainair and Sandia Ranger Districts.

To read more, go here. 

Extreme Fire Conditions and Strong Winds In New Mexico

Above, Six Mile Canyon of the Cibola National Forest is a tinderbox. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Much of New Mexico is under extreme fire conditions due to dry conditions and strong winds.

Residents in Jamestown are voicing concern over these conditions as our community is adjacent to the Cibola National Forest.

One posted on Facebook:

Jamestown is crazy if we don’t think that we are not vulnerable to a wildfire. Just one spark…

Please no trash burning. No weed burning. The news this morning even stated that wildfires can be sparked by shooting at a firing range. 

 According to KOAT:

Much of New Mexico will be dealing with strong winds and extreme fire danger, triggering a weather alert day for Friday.

Much of New Mexico could see the strongest winds of the season throughout much of the state.

New Mexico is experiencing a megadrought, one of the worst droughts in 1,200 years. Dry vegetation, above-normal temperatures, and the strong winds forecast will create extreme fire concerns on Friday.

Residents are recommended to stay inside when those winds begin.

 To read more, go here.

Group Stuck Overnight In Aerial Tram Car

Above, a tram car of the Jackson Hole Aerial Tramway. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After having been on the Jackson Hole Aerial Tramway in Jackson, Wyoming in 2019, I can only imagine how miserable it must have been for 21 people stuck overnight in a similar tram car at Sandia Peak Tramway this weekend near Albuquerque.

According to KOAT:

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Twenty-one Sandia Peak Tram and Ten 3 employees spent their New Year’s Eve and most of New Year’s Day trapped inside a Tram car.

Sandia Peak Tramway general manager Michael Donovan told KOAT the group was on the Tram’s last trip down Friday when operators had to stop the tram because of “severe icing due to the moisture and cold temperature that affected the emergency cable.”

“That cable actually dropped down within the system, and it was not safe to operate. So, we had to cease operations due to the high winds and the icing and unfortunately stranded,” he said.

Donovan said the group did have water, food and space blankets aboard the Tram.

Rescue crews were able to rescue most of the group Saturday afternoon, but had to cease operations around 1 p.m because of weather in the area. But by 4 p.m. everyone was off the Tram and safe on the base.

Nothing like starting the new year on a high note.

While it was good the stranded passengers had food, water and blankets, what about toilet needs? Wonder how that was dealt with?

To read more, go here. 

Snow: Looks Like The Forecast Was Right

Above, I guess I won't be sitting out on the deck today. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A few minutes ago, I braved the cold temperature outside to snap a few photos of the morning's snow.

It is about 30° outside when I stepped out. 

Above, the front yard. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

According to KOAT:

The last winter storm of the year is expected to bring several inches of snow to parts of New Mexico.

The southern part of the state is already seeing snow and rain Friday, with a few inches in Cloudcroft and Ski Apache.

Winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories are already in effect for the southern high terrain. Those will expire by 5 p.m. Saturday.

Western and northern New Mexico will see winter storm warnings in effect from noon Friday until the same time Saturday.

Winter storm warnings will be in effect from 6 p.m. Friday to noon Saturday from Santa Fe eastwards.

Expected snow totals below:

Taos should get 6-12"

• Gallup: 4-6"
• Grants: 3-4"
• Las Vegas: 1-3"
• Santa Fe expecting up to 4" of snow below 7,000' and 5-8" above 7,000'
• Sandia & Manzano mountains: 8-12"
• Northern mountains: 12-20" above 9,000'
• Sacramento mountains: 8-14"
• Gila & Black Range: 6-12"

From what I see outside, it looks like the 4-6" Gallup snow total is accurate. It is still snowing.

Above, another view of the deck furniture. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I guess I have some snow shoveling to do today before the snow turns to ice.

To read more, go here. 

Navajo Nation Not Ready To Receive Visitors

Above, Monument Valley petroglyphs. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As much as I would like to visit Monument Valley Tribal Park in the Navajo Nation again, I would have to agree with Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez that now is not the time.

The Navajo Nation made great strides in their vaccination program, but it is wiser to wait a bit before reopening.

KOAT reported:

NAVAJO, N.M. — You might've noticed billboards on I-25 highlighting "Discover Navajo" land. The Navajo Nation leadership signed a bill to reopen the nation's roads to visitors by April, but Navajo Nation’s President Jonathan Nez vetoed that decision.

Nez said the decision was well thought out.

“All the public health professionals, they all agreed that now is not the time to reopen. Let’s get our plans developed,” Nez said.

He said it’s in hopes of keeping not only Navajo people safe, but also the many visitors that travel through.

“We are not allowing visitors to stay and be able to see some of the sites on the Navajo Nation. It's just to protect our visitors and to protect our people as well,” Nez sad.

COVID-19 hit the nation and its people hard, gaining national attention.

To read more, go here. 

Travel Increasing At The Sunport

Above, the barren Sunport terminal last summer. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As more people are getting COVID-19 vaccinations and restrictions imposed by the nanny state ease, they are traveling in increasing numbers.

That also goes for Albuquerque's Sunport.

According to KOAT:

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — All 50 states are expanding, or will relax COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to everyone 16 or older by May. As vaccination efforts take off, so are travelers.

More people are walking into the Sunport and checking in for a flight.

The TSA reports more than a million people went through their check points each day since March 11.

Sunport officials said every week, they're seeing more fly.

To read more, go here. 

McKinley County Now At Green Level

Above, Earl's Family Restaurant in Gallup can now seat 50% of maximum capacity indoors. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The New Mexico county I reside in, McKinley County, is now in Green Level.

KOAT News:

The red, yellow, green and turquoise county-by-county map for New Mexico shows seven counties operating in the turquoise level, seven counties at the green level and 18 counties in the yellow level and only one county operating in the red level with Wednesday’s update.

Counties that are in the turquoise level are De Baca, Quay, Los Alamos, Harding, Union, Sierra and Catron counties.

The counties in green are Santa Fe, McKinley, San Juan, Roosevelt, Hidalgo, Lea and Socorro counties.

Bernalillo, Doña Ana, San Miguel, Colfax, Sandoval, Chaves, Cibola, Grant, Valencia, Taos, Curry, Luna, Rio Arriba, Lincoln, Eddy, Torrance, More and Otero counties are all in the the yellow level.

Guadalupe County is the only county in the red level.

According to the El Defensor Chieftan:

In the meantime, at the Green Level:

• Essential businesses (non-retail): No capacity restrictions but operations must be limited to only those absolutely necessary to carry out essential functions 

• Essential retail spaces: 50 percent of maximum capacity, indoor and outdoor. 

• Food and drink establishments that are NM Safe Certified: 50 percent of maximum capacity for indoor dining; 75 percent of maximum capacity for outdoors dining. 

• Close-contact businesses: 50 percent of maximum capacity (indoor and outdoor). 

• Large entertainment venues: 25 percent of the maximum capacity for any indoor/outdoor enclosed space on-premises; 50 percent for any outdoor space on-premises. 

• Recreational facilities:25 percent of maximum capacity of any indoor/enclosed space on the premises; 50 percent of any outdoor space on the premises. 

• Bars and clubs: 25 percent of maximum capacity of any outdoor space on-premises, where applicable; indoor not permitted. 

• All other businesses: 350 percent of maximum capacity (indoor and outdoor). 

• Houses of worship: Houses of worship: May hold religious services, indoors or outdoors, or provide services through audiovisual means, but may not exceed 50 percent of the maximum capacity of any enclosed space on the premises. 

• Places of lodging:75 percent of maximum occupancy for those that have completed NM Safe Certified training; 40 percent of maximum occupancy for all others; 10 guests maximum for vacation rentals. 

• Mass gatherings limit:20 persons, 120 vehicles.

 

This is good news. But we must still be careful not to slack off and fall back into more restrictions. The "drives" by the Navajo Nation in getting people vaccinated is a big help in getting McKinley County in the green level.

Maybe I'll go for sushi this weekend.

To read more, go here.