Land of Enchantment Series (9)

Information:

Land of Enchantment
The "Land of Enchantment" describes New Mexico's scenic beauty and its rich history. This legend was placed on New Mexico license plates in 1941. This nickname became the official State Nickname of New Mexico on April 8, 1999. New Mexico welcomes you with color and art, music and dance, breathtaking landscapes, and a heritage of Indian, Anglo, and Hispanic cultures that cannot be found in any other state in the union. From prehistoric times until the present, cultures and tribes have journeyed through New Mexico's land. From the north, various native American tribes have wandered in, and from the south, people from Mexico, and Spaniards as well, and Europeans have added to the mix. Pueblo, Apache, Navajo and others are all part of the incredible diversity that marks the vibrant culture of New Mexico.
New Mexico State Flag
The yellow field and red symbol colors are the colors of Spain. First brought to New Mexico by Spanish explorers in 1540. On New Mexico's flag we see a red sun with rays streching out from it. There are four groups of rays with four rays in each group. This is an ancient sun symbol of a Native American people called the Zia. The Zia believed that the giver of all good gave them gifts in groups of four.
These gifts are:
The Four Directions: North, East, South, West
The Four Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
The Day: Sunrise, Noon, Evening, Night
Life Itself: Childhood, Youth, Middle Years, Old Age
All of these are bound by a circle of life and love, without a beginning or end.
New Mexico State Tree: PIŇON - Pinus edulis
Small bushy pine tree to 6 m (20 ft) tall and 20 cm (8 in) diameter, with a short trunk and rounded open crown. Bark gray to reddish-brown, rough, divided into scaly ridges. Buds light brown, with numerous small scales. Leaves (needles) 2-4 cm (0.8-1.6 in) long, two in a bundle. Cones egg-shaped, 4-5 cm (1.5-2 in) long, pale brown, usually resinous and sticky, with thick blunt scales. Seeds oblong, wingless, about 12 mm (0.5 in) long. Distribution: Native to the Southern Rocky Mountain region. Habitat: Mesas and mountain slopes from about 1200 to 2400 m (4000-8000 ft). Piñón is the state tree of New Mexico. The trees are too small for sawlogs, but the wood is used extensively for fuel in the Southwest. The seeds (called piñones or pine nuts) are an important nut crop in Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. Pinus is the ancient Latin name for the pines; edulis may refer to the large edible seeds.
New Mexico State Fossil: Coelophysis (SEE-low-FYE-sis)
Hollow form (of its bones) 222 to 215 million years ago. Late Triassic period Dinosaur. Carnivore - meat and fish eating, cannibalistic scavenger. Between 0.8 - 3.1 metres long, just under 1 metre high at the hip, up to 35-40 kg
The best examples of Coelophysis skeletons were found by Edwin Colbert at Ghost Ranch, New Mexico in 1947. Hundreds of skeletons were found jumbled together in what seems to have been a mass death. Coelophysis was a very early "lizard-hipped" dinosaur. Palaeontologists believe these Coelophysis died of thirst at a dried up water source. The water returned as a flash flood. It buried and preserved their bodies. From fossil evidence, palaeontologists have worked out that Coelophysis' legs and feet were long and streamlined suggesting it was able to run at speed. It may also have been cannibalistic as the fossilised remains of other Coelophysis have been found in the gut area.
New Mexico State Mammal: Black Bear
The name "black bear" can be misleading. New Mexico's black bears actually come in a variety of color phases ranging from black and brown, to cinnamon, red, and blonde. No matter what the color, the black bear is New
Mexico's state mammal! You can find black bears in all forested areas of New Mexico.
If You See A Bear:
1. Stay Calm. Move children and pets indoors or to a vehicle. 2. If the bear hasn't seen you, calmly move away and leave the area. As you move away, talk softly to let the bear discover your presence. 3. Do NOT approach the bear, back away slowly while facing the bear. Do NOT make any sudden movements. 4. Avoid eye contact with the bear, as bears may perceive this as a threat. Speak softly; this may reassure the bear that no harm is meant to it. 5. Bears sometimes run from humans, but if it feels cornered or threatened, it could attack. 6. Fight back if a black bear attacks you. Black bears have been driven away when people have fought back with rocks, sticks, binoculars, and even with their bare hands. Spraying cayenne pepper in the face (at close range) of an attacking bear can stop an attack.
New Mexico State Insect: Tarantula Hawk Wasp
The Tarantula Hawk Wasp was adopted as the state insect by the 39th Legislature in 1989. Pepsis formosa is the species selected by the state. The majority of spider wasps are black with dark wings; many are colored with a metallic blue, orange, red or white. The adult Pepsis Formosa is metallic blue with reddish antennae and fiery red wing; the antennae of the male are straight in contrast to the curved antennae of the females.
The Pepsis formosa are long-legged, very active, and often seen on flowers or running rapidly on the ground or low plants. They are some of the largest and showiest species, provisioning their nests with mygalomorph spiders - the so-called tarantulas. The female approaches the tarantula slowly, stinging its larger prey. The paralyzed spider is dragged to a previously prepared burrow where it is implanted with an egg, serving as food for the developing larva.
New Mexico State Bird: Roadrunner
The Roadrunner or Ground Cuckoo, Geococcyx californianus, is a bird that lives in thorny scrub, sparse grasslands, and deserts of Mexico and the southwestern USA. The Roadrunner can run at speeds of up to 15 miles per hour (24 km per hour). It rarely flies and does not migrate. When it is in danger, it runs or crouches to hide.
Anatomy: The Roadrunner is about 23 inches (58 cm) long. It has a shaggy crest on its head. The tail is long and narrow; it helps the Roadrunner with balance and lets it turn quickly when running. The wings are short and rarely used; the legs are long and make this bird a fast runner. Males and females are similar in appearance. Roadrunners make rattling and cooing calls.
Diet: Roadrunner eat fruit and small animals, including small lizards, scorpions, spiders, insects, eggs, small snakes, and some small rodents.
New Mexico State Fish: Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout
Rio Grande cutthroat trout have a yellowish-green to gray-brown body with scattered black spots. They have a densely spotted tail.
Typical Adult:
Length: Up to 10 inches
Weight: Up to 1 pounds
Life span: Up to 8 years
Habitat:
Rio Grande cutthroat trout inhabit mountain streams and rivers.Feeding Behavior:
Rio Grande cutthroat trout feed on insects, zooplankton, and crustaceans.
The Rio Grande cutthroat trout is the southernmost species of cutthroats.
The introduction of the rainbow trout led a decline in the populations of Rio Grande cutthroat trout, combined with early logging, grazing, and hunting practices.
New Mexico State Flower: Yucca
Glauca is the Latin word for "greenish-grey." New Mexico's state flower is in fact a plant native to the deserts of the Southwest. The yucca is also known as the "Lamparas de dios" which translates to "Lamps of the Lord" due to the bright mass of white flowers that protrude from a center stalk within the plant. Its needle-sharp leaves have given it the common name, Spanish bayonet.Also called "soapweed", "beargrass", and "Spanish bayonet", yucca is mostly found south and west of the Missouri River in North Dakota. The plant grows from southeastern Alberta south to Missouri, Texas, and New Mexico at elevations up to 8,500 ft.
The yucca is not only an attractive plant; it is has also been an important resource in past decades as its roots and palm-like leaves provided materials for the making of soap and baskets for those residing in the Southwest.
New Mexico State Vegetable: Chile
Chile (capsicum annum L.) is a unique part of the New Mexican diet. Chile is a pungent pepper that is harvested in the early fall, toasted, peeled and served as a delicious stew, stuffed with cheese or made into a favorite recipe. When the chile ripens, it turns bright red. It is then strung (chile ristras) and hung out to dry. There are as many ways to prepare red chile as there are claims of who harvests the mildest or hottest. New Mexico State University can take credit for developing a variety of strains. The introduction of the frijole and chile, along with the introduction of Indian corn to the early settlers, has certainly given the state a distinctive cuisine that can only be considered "native New Mexican".

Directions:

To find where these boxes are located you need to complete the following . . .

Land of Enchantment Series Puzzle

Clues:

State Flag (Box 1)
From the trail head, hike over the stone bridge, up a few switchbacks until you reach a bench (approximately .2 miles). While sitting on the bench, look downhill past a stump to a small tree with fallen logs at its base. Box 1 is hidden under the logs.

State Tree (Box 2)
From the bench continue up the trail until you reach a turn to the right and the trail levels out (about .1 miles from the bench). Take 37 steps and on the right you should see two tree trunks forming a "V" and at 302 degrees you should see a stump. Box 2 hides here under rocks and pine cones.

State Fossil (Box 3)
Return to trail and hike through multiple switchbacks and keep steadily climbing. After approximately another .35 miles you will encounter your second bench. Take a load off and notice a lichen covered rock six steps in front of you. The rock hides Box 3.

State Mammal (Box 4)
From the bench hike approximately another .4 mile. At this point you should see a large fallen tree off the trail in front of you at about 20 feet, a tree with part of its trunk burnt at 308 degrees and the trail makes a 90 degree turn to the right. Take 10 steps up the trail and the trail turns left. Take 25 steps and to your left will be a view of Santa Fe with a fallen tree and the remaining stump leaning to the southeast. Box is under fallen tree about one foot to the left of the stump covered with bark. There is a small pine tree growing just in front of where the box is planted. If you get to a sign post with a map of the trails, you have gone too far. Turn around and take 25 steps back the way you came and at this point you should be at the fallen tree and stump.

State Insect (Box 5)
Continue your hike until you reach an area with two picnic tables. Walk to the sign for the Circle Trail. Go to the picnic table near the fallen tree. Just beyond the fallen tree you will see a three trunked tree at about 30 degrees. Box 5 is hidden in the middle of the trunks under bark and a chunk of rock.

State Bird (Box 6)
Now head downhill for about 1 mile until you reach an intersection with a sign for the Circle Trail and a sign for the Girl Scout Trail opposite each other. From here backtrack 18 paces (you should have a fallen tree to your left as you make your way back) to two trees growing very close together and forming a "V". Box 6 is under fallen tree at base of these two trees, covered with rocks. This is right on the trail so be extra careful in hiding. Thanks!

State Fish (Box 7)
Go back to intersection and turn left, follow trail as it parallels road until you encounter a hill. Just before the hill is a sign for the Circle Trail pointing across the road. NOTE: The steps are no longer there but you can tell where they were. Don't go up the steps. Look across the road to a sign, a split rail fence and a wooden bridge. Cross the road (please be careful -- there is a curve here and it is hard to see) and walk across bridge -- continue up trail for a very short distance to a switchback to the right. Stop here. Look for another trail at 350 degrees. Follow this trail for 67 steps. You should be at the base of a small hill with a fallen tree on top of the hill. Walk up to the fallen tree. About three feet in front of the log is a rectangular rock and just beyond that is another rock all by itself. Standing between these two rocks, face the fallen tree. The left edge of the rectangular rock is resting on another rock. At this point you will find Box 7.

State Flower (Box 8)
Return back to switchback and continue on original trail. Very soon you will pass two shelters to your right and then cross a service road to continue on the trail. A little up the trail you will cross a small wooden bridge. After about .25 miles you will get to a large log along the right side of the trail and a group of shelters down the hill on your right. Follow the fallen log and stop when the log ends. From here walk 23 steps down the trail. At this point the trail should curve gently to the left. Stop! Look to the left for a large lichen covered rock with a tree growing across the top. Follow the curve of the tree to a small scrub oak, Box 8 is hidden under the tree behind the scrub oak covered with rocks.

State Vegetable (Box 9)
From here the trail becomes a little tricky. Continue on the trail for approximately 60 steps (I say approximately because I had to circumvent a large fallen pine tree blocking the trail). Look for a trail to your right at 330 degrees. Take this trail, not the one that continues directly in front of you. Continue on this trail until you reach an intersection with a trail leading to a waterfall. Take the Circle Trail to the right heading down. Your last box is about a quarter mile from this trail intersection. Here the trail makes a sharp turn to the left and there is a large building at 220 degrees. Continue left on the trail for 14 steps and look for a five foot high "jagged" stump at 40 degrees magnetic. Box 9 rests behind stump covered with three lichen covered rocks.

Hike Length: 4.0 miles
Elevation Gain: 1000 feet

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Special Note:

I have created maps and lists for boxes in the Santa Fe Area, in the Alphabetical New Mexico Series and a few other areas. You can access all of these by going to Maps and Lists for Santa Fe Area and Alphabetical New Mexico Series. Please be advised that I don’t get to check up on them on a regular basis. So, make sure you look at the clues to see if the box is ACTIVE, UNKNOWN, UNAVAILABLE, or RETIRED.