New Mexico Oct 2007 Day 5-6 (cont.)

New Mexico Oct 2007 (Days 5 and 6 cont.)

The Sacramento Mountains

On both days 5 and 6, I spent some time exploring the Sacramento Mountains above Alamogordo. Elevations here ranged from ~8600ft in Cloudcroft to ~9200ft at the Apache Point and Sunspot Observatories.

	Most of my travels up here were along NM Highway 6563, also known as the "Sunspot Scenic Byway". The road travels thru the Lincoln National Forrest. The number 6563 is significant in that it is one wavelength (color) of light emitted by Hydrogen atoms (6563 Angstroms is about 2 ten-millionths of an inch). This particular wavelength is used by astronomers studying the Sun.
	The sign at an overlook along NM6563, describing the Tularosa Basin below.
	A shot overlooking the Tularosa Basin from the Apache Point Observatory. The shots taken here were much better than the scenic overlook on NM6563. The white area in the distance is White Sands National Monument. The mountain peaks in the distance are about 45mi away!
	A "close-up" of the White Sands area.
	Two of the "domes" of the Apache Point Observatory. The above images of the Tularosa Basin were taken from the top landing of a dome just like the one on the left.
	The Richard B. Dunn Solar Telescope at Sunspot. The structure is 136ft tall! As long as it is daylight, and the sky is clear, this telescope is always observing the Sun. You will see a couple more shots of this telescope taken from the valley floor.
	While exploring the Byway, I saw a "scenic views" marker pointing to a place called "Bluff Springs". So I figured what the heck... Well, I got about 1mi down the graded gravel road and came across this herd of cattle. Being pretty much a city boy, I had no idea how the beasts would react to my trying to drive thru them. Note the horns on the bull with the white face in the center of the image. I can just see explaining the damage to the rental car company (not to mention filing a claim on my insurance!). But I did see the cattle guard in the road, between me and the bull, so I figured it was safe to take this picture. As I was getting back into the SUV, a pickup came down the hill. I moved my car over to let him pass, and then watched him try to get thru. The pickup pulled up to the cattle guard and started beeping his horn. Some of the cattle moved, albeit slowly. The black cow on the left walked about half way across the road and stopped. So the guy in the pickup started bumping the cow with the front end of his vehicle. He had to hit the cow several times, and the last appeared to be pretty hard. I wish I had my camera out to get the look on the cows face!
	For those of you who have never seen a cattle guard (I hadn't until I started traveling the desert southwest), here is one... Cattle (and I would assume horses, sheep, etc...) will not walk across the grating. Although you can't see it here, there is barbed wire fencing on the other side of the center post (the same is true directly behind me). Guess this is better than a gate in the fence. You don't have to open or close it, just drive across. And a gate could be accidently or maliciously left open.