Angel Fire was first named by the Utes – Fire of the Gods – after the gloriously red and orange sunsets and glow seen above the mountains at dusk and dawn. The Spanish later renamed it The Place of the Fire of the Angels. Renowned explorer and buffalo killer Kit Carson would later rename it to Angel Fire. Karen’s good friend graciously lent us her condo at the resort for the weekend. A weekend when the air quality in Colorado meant working out indoors if at all. Not only was there some visibility in New Mexico, but it was 20° cooler.

I was in Angel Fire last in 2016 to run a 24 hour relay through the ski slopes with my friends. Karen and I hiked the Greenbelt across the road from the ski slopes because they are 99% dedicated to mountain bikers during the summer. We hiked the Lady Slipper near Monte Verde Lake Friday morning. The two photos above are from that trail.

We hiked the Deer Trail Saturday morning and we saw deer.

Brit got in a trail run while Karen and I hiked.

Once we returned to the condo, Eric launched off to Taos via the South Boundary Trail for a 22 miler.

We picked him up at the El Nogal Trailhead outside of Taos after strolling around town a bit.

Eric said it was his prettiest run of the year. He only saw 3 others, mountain bikers, the entire distance.

I’ve yet to run but expect to get in a few miles tomorrow. Nothing as extreme as Eric.