#cloudcroft

Cloudcroft, New Mexico offers a mix of rustic adventure and small-town appeal. At 9,000 feet above sea level, the charming village is known as a cool summer escape from desert heat, with quaint shops and historic sites like the Mexican Canyon Trestle.

Roadside camping in Cloudcroft.

New Mexico

Group at Zenith Park, near Cloudcroft, New Mexico

Photographer: Jim Alexander

Date: ca. 1930-1939

I left Phoenix and headed to Joshua Tree National Park, it was a very pretty place, but it was so ridiculously crowded it felt like Disney land. still it was nice hiking, I couldn't camp there though so I kept going. I made my way across the state line to California. I intended to camp somewhere around Big Bear Lake. Once I got up there in the mountains I was amazed at how beautiful it was. 40°F out with the whole north side of the mountain still having a thick layer of snow on it. All camping areas where closed to after spending a while there admiring the scenery I decided to ride the rest of the way to so family I had out there. heading down the mountain from Big Bear was quite the trip though. The roads where wet with the snow melt all around, and clouds where making visibility very low.