This was by far the warmest and driest winter in our 28 years of living in Northern New Mexico. When we headed off-trail up into the rock cliffs on our 27th hike of the season, it was warm and sunny.

But after about an hour a fierce, icy wind began to blow, and the dark clouds moving swiftly from the southwest mountains meant a hasty retreat. Fortunately the rock chimney was nearby, so we climbed up it to the top of the mesa, took a last view, and headed home without stopping for lunch.

Soon after the snow began to fly, but we were warm and safe.