Winter - wedding, Chaco Canyon, skiing to a yurt

We started our new year off right, with the wedding of two wonderful people in Santa Fe.

This event also brought some dear friends to visit, and we went to the Petroglyph National Monument which is loaded with things like this,

lovely friends searching for meaning in the rocks,

and clear markings everywhere.

Ben's parents also came out to visit in January and we went to the peak of the Sandias,

and went on a lovely hike in the foothills

where we explored an old dwelling.

Lucky us, the visitors kept coming. My brother came to visit

and we went to Chaco Canyon in in NW New Mexico. This compound was built somewhere around 800 AD.

We hiked to the top and explored from above

as well as on the ground. This looks like some amazing sculpture, but is a big rock impacted by erosion.

They are not sure what the function of these buildings were precisely, but many Pueblo people trace their ancestors back to this place in one way or another.

January also brought lots of snow to northern NM, and we spent the weekend in a yurt at a cross-country ski place near Taos, NM.

It was awesome to be surrounded by the forest and snow for a few nights

with good pals

and our skis of course. Skiing at 10,000 feet is a different ballgame.

Although super beautiful and quiet which made all the sweating worthwhile.

We also got to try out the snow shoes my family got us for Christmas

and check out a snow storm brewing over some distant mountains.

We got hit by it too and it was wonderful to be surrounded.