New Mexico to Colorado PRE-TRIP ITINERARY OCTOBER 13- OCTOBER 21, 2018

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1 Zapata Ranch, CO Harold E. Malde PRE-TRIP ITINERARY New Mexico to Colorado A SPECIAL NATURE CONSERVANCY DEPARTURE OCTOBER 13- OCTOBER 21, 2018 Estimated Price: $4,590 per person based on double occupancy; $5,195 per person based on single occupancy (limited single availability at Zapata Ranch) Join The Nature Conservancy Legacy Club for a memorable trip to the Southern Rockies of New Mexico and Colorado at a time when the aspen forests should be ablaze with fall color. Visit The Nature Conservancy s signature Rio Grande Water Fund forest and watershed health demonstration project, implemented in partnership with Taos Ski Valley. Three nights of the tour are based at the Zapata Ranch, adjacent to magnificent Great Sand Dunes National Park, the striking Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and productive mountain wetlands of the San Luis Valley, including those of the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge. Highlights of the journey include traveling on the scenic Cumbres and Toltec Railroad, the artisan markets, dances and celebrations at Taos Pueblo surrounding San Geronimo Day, and a chance to tour Georgia O Keeffe s home at Abiquiu and to explore the landscapes that inspired her. Preliminary Trip Itinerary 3

2 Itinerary Actual time and activities may change depending on availability, schedules, weather and opportunities TRIP AT A GLANCE Day 1 Arrive in Albuquerque, drive to Santa Fe Day 2 Explore Santa Fe Preserve, local museums and highlights Day 3 Georgia O Keeffe s home & Ghost Ranch Day 4 Drive to Zapata & Rio Grande Water Project demonstration, Monte Vista NWR Day 5 Zapata Ranch and Sand Dunes National Park Day 6 Zapata Ranch: riding, hiking or ranch tour Day 7 Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad Ride Day 8 Taos optional activities Day 9 Depart for airport Preliminary Trip Itinerary 4

3 Panorama of Santa Fe Canyon Alan W. Eckert Trip Overview This journey is a great blend of nature, culture, hiking and horseback riding don t miss a chance to explore Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado at a stunning time, and gain a better understanding of The Nature Conservancy s work in the region. The Nature Conservancy s Santa Fe Canyon Preserve was launched in April 2000 when the Public Service Company of New Mexico donated the site to the Conservancy. Since the start of the preserve, the Conservancy has worked to restore the land to its natural state and constructed a 1.5-mile interpretive loop trail detailing the colorful history and fragile ecology of the place. New Mexico s Rio Grande and its tributaries supply water for wildlife and over 1 million people. The health of these waterways is key to the health of Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Native American Pueblos and other communities half of New Mexico s population and an essential ingredient for the state s economic growth. Forests store and filter a majority of New Mexico s water supply. But when these forests are overcrowded, they can t provide the clean reliable water, and the region s health and economy are jeopardized. Both frequent, high-severity wildfires and subsequent post-fire flooding increasingly threaten the Rio Grande s water security and cause extensive soil erosion and debris flows that degrade water quality for communities downstream. The Nature Conservancy-led Rio Grande Water Fund is a ground-breaking project that is protecting vital forests in northern New Mexico and the water they provide. By uniting water users and using innovative research, tools and alliances to help protect water and the natural resources we all depend on. The work in this region is contributing to our global goal of safeguarding 60,000 miles of the world s most precious sources of fresh water. As the global population soars, demands for food, energy and shelter are putting unprecedented pressure on our planet and water is at the heart of this crisis. The Nature Conservancy s plan is to fundamentally change the way our most precious resource water is used and managed so that nature and people can thrive together. The Nature Conservancy s work in New Mexico and Colorado is also contributing to our shared conservation agenda of conserving 500 million acres of forests, grasslands and working lands. Protecting land is where The Nature Conservancy s story began. It is our legacy and our future. Preliminary Trip Itinerary 5

4 Day 1: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13 - ARRIVAL IN ALBUQUERQUE Afternoon Arrive in Albuquerque or meet at Santa Fe Transfer to Santa Fe Hotel Santa Fe, Santa Fe Plan to arrive at the Albuquerque International Airport (ABQ) no later than 2:00 pm. We plan to drive north to Santa Fe, pausing along the way to enjoy the fall colors. We arrive in Santa Fe late afternoon, with time to settle into our accommodations. Enjoy a welcome dinner at one of Santa Fe s many great restaurants. We will be joined at dinner by Conservancy staff. We will be spending the next three nights at Hotel Santa Fe. No hotel embodies the values of the Pueblo people more than Hotel Santa Fe, a tradition-centric retreat that invites you to experience true hospitality in the city s only Native American owned hotel. The hotel offers you a relaxed yet deeply reverent immersion into the art, architecture, music and language of the Pueblo people. For more than 25 years, the hotel has celebrated and shared the very best of the Pueblo culture with visitors seeking experiences not found in guidebooks. Santa Fe National Forest Karine Aigner Day 2: SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14 - SANTA FE PRESERVE Afternoon Visit Santa Fe Preserve Explore museums and Santa Fe at leisure Hotel Santa Fe Once the center of Santa Fe s hydroelectric activity, Santa Fe Canyon Preserve is today a peaceful nature preserve brimming with wildflowers, willows, ponderosa pine, songbirds, deer and bears. Beavers, along with their dams and lodges, are also an increasingly common sight at this urban preserve. Restoration efforts at the preserve have made the habitat enticing to these wood-gnawing critters. Conservancy scientists have been working since 2012 to re-establish the northern Leopard Frog at the preserve. Aspen Woodlands in the Fall Alan W. Eckert These 525 acres of open space, only a few miles from Santa Fe s bustling historic plaza, offer: a thriving bosque of cottonwood and willow trees, a pond, the ruins of a historic Victorian-era dam, hiking trails, and opportunities to see more than 140 species of birds and the original route of the Santa Fe River. One of the last unspoiled areas along the river, the preserve is nestled in the foothills adjacent to the Santa Fe National Forest. In the afternoon, we return to the historic plaza in Santa Fe for free time to shop, visit a few of the city s prized museums, or simply take in the ambiance of the historic square in front of the Palace of the Governors, the longest-used public building in the United States. Preliminary Trip Itinerary 6

5 Day 3: MONDAY, OCTOBER 15 - GHOST RANCH Afternoon Visit Georgia O Keeffe s home and studio Explore Ghost Ranch Hotel Santa Fe This morning, we enjoy a special guided visit to Georgia O Keeffe s small but inspiring home. Her home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. O Keeffe moved permanently to this home in 1949, inspired by the landscapes that surround Abiquiu. O Keeffe purchased the Abiquiu property from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santa Fe in 1945, after eyeing the house and grounds and attempting to buy them for ten years. After touring the home and studio, we will continue to Ghost Ranch. With a history as colorful as the surrounding red and yellow cliffs of the Piedra Lumbre (shining stone), Ghost Ranch offers a diversity of programs and adventure. The Ranch is committed to spiritual development, peace and justice, honoring the environment, and exploring family through the celebration of art, culture, and nature. The landscape of Ghost Ranch was made famous by Georgia O Keeffe s artwork and encompasses 21,000 acres of towering rock walls, vivid colors and vast skies. Day 4: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16 - RIO GRANDE WATER FUND DEMONSTRATION SITE AND ZAPATA RANCH Drive from Santa Fe to Zapata Stop at Rio Grande Water Demonstration Site at Taos Ski Valley Stop at Monte Vista or Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge Zapata Ranch, CO Today we drive north, following the road to Alamosa, Colorado and the vast San Luis Valley (60- by 125-miles wide). On the way to Zapata, we will visit the Rio Grande Water Demonstration Site to learn how the Rio Grande Water Fund is protecting forests and water they provide for 1 million people in northern New Mexico, while boosting local economies by creating jobs in the wood industry. American Avocet Lewis Hayton Area Protected Under the Rio Grande Water Fund Alan W. Eckert We will then stop at Monte Vista or Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge complex with their spring-fed marshes and wetlands. Wetlands in the broad San Luis Valley provide a staging area for migrating Greater Sandhill Cranes, and with luck, we may cross paths with the first arriving groups of cranes, making a symphony of sound. At At ponds of the refuge, we get spotting scopes out to view grebe, White-faced Ibis, American Avocet, Wilson s Common Snipe, Neotropical Cormorant, and a variety of waterfowl. Make sure to watch the sky for raptors such as Peregrine Falcons and Northern Harriers, and look for residents of the area such as Black-crowned Night-Herons, Virginia and Sora rails, and Yellow-headed Blackbirds. Preliminary Trip Itinerary 7

6 From here, we continue to drive north to Zapata Ranch, our lodgings for the next three nights. What a delight to spend time with experts at this ranch with its classic western ambiance of log buildings set amid tall, colorful cottonwood trees. The ranch as a long history in the region, and fans of photography are sure to be in their element here. Day 5: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17 - ZAPATA RANCH Day at Zapata and Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve Zapata Ranch, CO We will spend the day exploring the ranch and the nearby Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve. At Zapata Ranch, The Nature Conservancy has had a large scale impact on the adjacent national park, making major expansions possible. Learn first-hand and behind the scenes how this conservation success story was crafted and unveiled. Enjoy time with biologists to better understand the region s complexity. Great Horned Owl at the Ranch Nick Hall Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve is one of the gems of our National Park Service, an unusual environment to find mid-continent amid the mountains. Massive dunes rise 800 feet from the valley floor. Learn about the fascinating geology of the area. The sand dunes are strange and captivating, tucked into this region of mountains, lakes, and forests. These impressive hills of sand often inspire adults to play like children. Time to walk, climb, and roll! In the surrounding pinyon-juniper habitat, we often find Pinyon Jay, Mountain Chickadee, Western Bluebird, Townsend s Solitaire, and Common Bushtit. Along a nearby creek, we may be able to spot Steller s and Western Scrub Jays, and lingering fall migrant songbirds. Rubber Rabbitbrush grows in profusion here; we may find fall-flying insects and butterflies on the vibrant yellow blooms. Mule Deer and Elk are possible and memorable mammal finds, as the males are in prime condition and courting females. Sand Dunes Park Nick Hall Sand Dunes Park Nick Hall Preliminary Trip Itinerary 8

7 Day 6: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18 - ZAPATA RANCH Day at Zapata with ranch tour, riding, hiking or other options Zapata Ranch, CO Hike trails with stunning peaks in view, and learn about ranch techniques and history. For those that wish, there is a chance to explore on a guided horseback ride. The high desert grasslands, alpine forests, wetlands, sand dunes, creeks, and lush meadows offer one of the most scenic and ecologically diverse landscapes in the United States. You may choose to take a leisurely ride, work and drive cattle, or ride through the bison herd while we help you to focus on improving your horsemanship and riding skills. The ranch welcomes guests of all levels of riding experience as they have a solid herd of horses and will take time to provide education opportunities based on a rider s skill set. For those interested in experiencing the full range of a rancher s daily work, guests are invited to join the cowboys as they monitor herd health, irrigate farmland, assess pasture conditions, and perform any number of other activities required on a working ranch. Guests will learn about important land conservation management practices, grass-fed cattle and bison production, and our prescriptive grazing program. Day 7: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19 - TAOS Leave Zapata early for Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad Ride Transfer to Taos Inn on La Loma Plaza, Taos This morning, we board the Cumbres and Toltec Railroad for a day trip through spectacular country. This scenic railroad trip gets rave reviews, crossing the mountains that, at this time of year, should be painted with colors of Fall. Sit back and watch the glorious mix of aspen and conifer forests, with towering peaks all around you. With luck, we may see Rocky Mountain Elk or Mule Deer in the meadows. This is a beautiful six-hour train ride, with a lunch stop at the mid-way point. Photography from the train is excellent. Bison at Zapata Ranch Dave Showalter Riding at Zapata Ranch Nick Hall Learning Photography at the Ranch Erika Nortemann Preliminary Trip Itinerary 9

8 After the train ride, we will transfer to Taos in the north-central region of New Mexico nestled in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. We will be spending the next two nights at the Inn on La Loma Plaza in Taos. This is a historic hacienda, sequestered behind adobe walls and situated in a quiet park setting with towering trees, commanding mountain views and expansive gardens. Just two blocks from Taos Plaza, this 215-year-old property is listed on the National Historic Registry and has been beautifully restored. Day 8: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20 - TAOS All day Taos optional activities and free time Inn on La Loma Plaza, Taos October is a lovely time to visit Taos Pueblo, (Place of the Red Willows), framed by the rugged Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Feel free to take in local museums, shops, galleries, and wonderful local food. View of Sangre de Cristo Mountains Chris Pague Day 9: SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21 - DEPARTURES Depart for Santa Fe or Albuquerque We have a full morning of driving back to Santa Fe for those departing from there or with cars to continue onward. Estimated arrival is 10 a.m. From there the shuttle will continue on to Albuquerque, arriving around noon, for those departing from ABQ. We hope you will leave this trip with a better understanding of The Nature Conservancy s commitment to conservation and sustainability in New Mexico and Colorado. THANK YOU FOR TRAVELING WITH THE NATURE CONSERVANCY! Raunbow over the mountains Erika Nortemann Pelicans flying in southern Colorado Giiford Ewing Preliminary Trip Itinerary 10