New Mexicans Getting Back to Nature Posted On: May 27, 2020 By: Britt Runyon Filed Under: Inflatable Kayak, Nature Tagged In: Bighorn sheep, inflatable kayak, Rio Grande del Norte National Monument 10 rules for New Mexicans looking to get outside: The health of others should still be your top priority. Bring a mask whenever you recreate and put it on when approaching other groups. Practice physical distancing. Forget about campfires. There are statewide fire restrictions in place. Check this site for details on fire bans before you go on a trip. Avoid crowded trailheads. Have a back-up plan if your favorite spot is too crowded. Remember, the State Parks that are open are operating under limited, day-use only capacity. Check for closures. Check the land management agencies’ websites before venturing out to recreate. Many of these places are closed right now to protect both recreationist and staff. Practice Leave No Trace principles.Pack it in, pack it out. Protect your fellow outdoor recreationist. Protect the natural resources. Be prepared. Many developed recreation sites (including bathrooms) remain closed. Be self-sufficient by bringing in your own snacks, waters, and trash bags. You can only camp overnight at dispersed, remote campsites. All public and private developed campsites remain closed. You can book some outdoor guided trips. You must still adhere to all group-size limits and physical distancing rules. Don’t go out if you are sick. If you are not exhibiting symptoms, wear a mask to protect your guide or coach. Follow all the Covid-safe practices outlined by the Governor’s Office. Public gatherings, events, and camping in developed sites are still banned. Gear rentals can resume. So long as the equipment is properly and thoroughly sanitized between uses. BIGHORN SHEEP IN THE RIO GRANDE DEL NORTE NATIONAL MONUMENT, NEW MEXICO Rule number 10 allows New Mexicans to get out and float the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. New Wave Rafting is presently renting our Inflatable Kayak (funyak) fleet for use on the Rio Grande. Thanks for stopping by.
Big Day For Wildlife, 2-25-19 Posted On: April 1, 2019 By: Steve Miller Filed Under: Nature Tagged In: bald eagle, Bighorn sheep, ducks, Otter Yesterday (2-25-19) was a big day for wildlife viewing in the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, in northern New Mexico. Shucks, it’s only a National Monument, but has populations of wildlife that rival National Parks. And this is especially so in the winter, when a variety of northern ducks and bald eagles arrive at the generally ice-free waters of the Rio Grande to winter. In less than an hour’s time, I was able to observe and photograph the creatures that follow. This first movie is of a pair of mallards feeding on midges that have been caught up in foam. Not over two miles upstream, I spotted a group of bighorn ewes and young, part way up the slope on the far side of the river. After filming this group of sheep, I looked back down at the river, and saw a long cylindrical shape in the water, which was, of course, an otter. I was seated in my van, using it as a blind, and the otter was about 160′ away (measured with Google Earth), so it was not alarmed. It swam leisurely up and down along the shoreline for a few minutes, before climbing out of the river. Read More…
Start Of Spring Along The Rio Grande, 3-30-19 Posted On: March 30, 2019 By: Steve Miller Filed Under: Nature Tagged In: Bighorn sheep, Rio Grande nm, Taos Start Of Spring Along The Rio Grande. I have been keeping an eye on the Gauging Station creekbed lately, expecting that the creek would soon begin to run. A couple of days in the 70s did the trick, and today, there it was. Gauging Station Creek comes down the canyon that you cross at the “Horseshoe Curve” on Hwy 68, a few miles south of Taos. https://newwaverafting.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/GaugingStationCrek.m4v The Rio Grande is rising as well, with the flow today at 688 cfs. What else? The swallows have returned, and they were catching mayflies over the river. Read More…
The Rio Grande in Rocks Posted On: January 27, 2018 By: Steve Miller Filed Under: Nature Tagged In: Beaver, Bighorn sheep, Otter, Rio Grande del Norte National Monument Just downstream of Taos Junction Rapid, on the Rio Grande of northern New Mexico, is a group of basalt rocks that, at high water, are vigorously washed by strong currents. The sediment carried by the high water sculpts and polishes these rocks. To my eye, the sculpting of the rocks model the river’s waves, while the polish on the rocks model the river’s gleam. Read More…
Fall Along the Rio Grande, 2017 Posted On: December 13, 2017 By: Steve Miller Filed Under: Nature Tagged In: Bighorn sheep, Funyak, Orilla Verde, Rio Grande del Norte National Monument Fall colors, bighorn sheep, brown trout and beautiful days! All photos were taken in September, October and November of this year. Read More…
“The most wonderful raft trip down the Rio Grande” Posted On: July 29, 2017 By: Steve Miller Filed Under: Testimonials Tagged In: Bighorn sheep, Britt Runyon Guide Testimonial Britt Runyon, 7/29/17 “On Wednesday Susan and I took the most wonderful raft trip down the Rio Grande south of Taos. Our guide, for the second time, was our friend Britt Runyon, with New Wave Rafting. Britt has such a great love for this area, along with deep knowledge of the plants, animals and the river itself (and is such a great guy), that the trip was a total joy! We highly recommend him and the river itself.” Read More…
Bighorn Sheep and Channel Fill Posted On: June 12, 2017 By: Steve Miller Filed Under: Nature Tagged In: Bighorn sheep, Britt Runyon, Rio Grande, Rio Grande del Norte National Monument Bighorn Sheep and a “channel fill” are seen in this arresting photo by Britt Runyon (below), taken in the Taos Box portion of the Rio Grande Gorge. “What’s a channel fill?”, you say? Bighorn sheep and channel fill OK, I’ll explain. But first, I need to discuss the geologic history of the Rio Grande Gorge. In this part of gorge, the Rio Grande is incised into a succession of lava flows, one sitting atop the other, like a layer cake – and I’ve counted as many as 7 different layers in that cake. Before these lava flows began, let’s suppose that the Rio Grande was running through a valley, as rivers do. The first lava flow into that valley dammed up the river, causing a lake to form behind the dam. When the lake rose to the height of the lava dam, its waters began to spill out and meander over the surface of the lava flow. Depending on the amount of time that elapsed between the over-topping of the lava dam and the arrival of the second flow, the Rio Grande would (with less time) have cut a channel into the flow, and (with more time) cut a gorge. This same process would have repeated with the arrival of each new lava flow. The Rio finally had the opportunity to cut down more fully through that stack of layers once the lava flows stopped coming. Read More…
See Bighorn Sheep in the Taos Box Posted On: May 23, 2017 By: Steve Miller Filed Under: Nature Tagged In: Bighorn sheep See Bighorn Sheep in the Taos Box. Many bighorn sheep, with newborn lambs, were seen on our Taos Box raft trip of 5-20-17. The sheep come to river-side at this time of the year to graze on the new grass and other vegetation. There may be no better way to come into such close contact with these magnificent wild critters, which may be a better reason for running the Box than the whitewater itself! Lamb, Taos Box run, Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, New Mexico. Photo by Britt Runyon, 5-20-17 Read More…
Back to the Box Posted On: May 13, 2016 By: Steve Miller Filed Under: River trips Tagged In: Bighorn sheep, Rio Grande del Norte National Monument We’re going again to the Taos Box, and are thrilled to have good flows for our run. We have 7 guests there today (along with some Box guide trainees). They will enjoy 80 degree temperatures, bighorn sheep sightings and maybe even see the otters, or golden eagles, or migrating western tanagers … or who knows what? Golden eagle, by Britt Runyon Read More…