Alphabetical New Mexico: E (Eagle Nest Lake)

Note:

June 7, 2016 - Finally made it out to Eagle Nest and replanted this box.

Information:

Eagle Nest Lake

In the early 1900s, the Valley began to again change. Ranchers Charles and Frank Springer and the Cimarron Valley Land Company were granted Permit #71 in 1907 to impound the water of the Cimarron River for irrigation by building a dam. Construction on the dam began in 1916 and continued through 1918. It is thought to be the largest privately constructed dam in the United States. The concrete structure stands 140 feet above the creek bed, is 400 feet wide, and 9.5 feet thick at its crest and 45.2 feet thick at its base.
The dam created a reservoir covering 2,200 surface acres. The reservoir was named Eagle Nest Lake because of the eagles that nested in the area. Eagle Nest Lake was stocked with trout, and fishermen began to arrive. With the fishermen came entrepreneurs. Moreno Valley was transformed from a quiet farming community to a rough and rowdy town that catered to the entertainment of cowboys and tourists.
Today Eagle Nest still exemplifies the free-soaring spirit of the eagles that continue to rise above the community on the shores of nearby Eagle Nest Lake. And the surrounding mountains are still a source of life and commerce, treating visitors to year-round recreation – some of the best scenery, hiking trails, big game hunting, fishing, and snow skiing to be found anywhere. To the delight of ice fishermen, winter ice thickness on the Lake often reaches two and one-half to three feet.

Directions:

Eagle Nest Lake is located off Hwy 64 just south of Eagle Nest, NM.

Clue:

Eagle Nest, NM
Eagle Nest Lake
Marina Way
Lake View Trail
Park by restrooms and go through two white gates. ***The trail is not very clear, lots of grass covering trail.*** After you go pass the second white gate stand with your back to the gate - the trail goes straight out from there. Walk along the trail until you come to a bench. Sitting on the bench take a compass reading of 60° and walk 33 steps in that direction to two small bushes. Box is behind the second bush under rocks.

Hike Length: 0.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 0 feet

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Special Note:

Alphabetical New Mexico Series Awards

I have placed 26 letterboxes around the state of New Mexico relating people, places, things, and events to the letters of the alphabet. On the suggestion of Desert Flower I have created a three-tier awards program.

Level 1 – Pinon Award
To receive this award you need to find 8 of the 26 boxes in the series.

Level 2 – Roadrunner Award
To receive this award you need to find 16 of the 26 boxes in the series.

Level 3 – Zia Award
To receive this award you need to find all 26 boxes in the series.

Each time you reach a level you will receive an 8½ “ x 11” certificate, so that means if you find all 26 boxes you will have three certificates.

In order to qualify for the certificate you have to log your finds on Atlas Quest. This is how I am monitoring how many boxes you found and when they were found. If you don’t log your boxes on Atlas Quest you can make a copy of the stamps for the boxes you found and the date you found them and mail those copies and dates to me, or you can scan them into your computer and then email them to me with the dates you found each box. I need both the image and the date to count it as found. Again, this is only if you don’t log your finds on Atlas Quest.

Below is a link to all the boxes on Atlas Quest.
Alphabetical New Mexico Series
And here is a list and a map to help you on your quest to find all 26 boxes.
Alphabetical New Mexico List
Alphabetical New Mexico Map