These mountains have a special place in my heart – you may know them as well – for their deep, free-spirited pallet with a sky above that never feels like it ends. These hidden-gem features exhale healing energy aura here that’s unlike anywhere else in the world. Don’t believe me? Catch a sunset in Taos, or look at the stars on a clear night in Red River – and a deep feeling of wonder and awe will glaze over you.

Story (feel free to laugh at my young 20-something stupidity):

For me personally, this healing spirit here is more-than-real. When I was a young whipper-snapper (mid 20’s), I was coming down from Denver (where I lived) to see my pops at our family home in Red River. Well, I circled in a Great Sand Dunes run (as it was on the way) and burned the HELL out of my feet, as it was the middle of July! Why didn’t anybody warn me out there?? (Word of advice: do NOT go on desert sand barefoot in the middle of summer)!

Well, that was just the first STEP of this mini-journey. The Great Sand Dunes were simply incredible - I felt so inspired by its beauty - so I full sent the hill heading down with my bike (no helmet, yikers)! My dumb ass was filming with ONE HAND on the bike, and abruptly came too quickly to the parking lot – slammed the left handle bar brake (front brake, double yikers)! I flew forward – truly in God’s hands – and slammed into the asphalt – basically head-first (I think), well it’s hard to remember, so I must’ve hit my head! Well I did, and half my ear was scraped off on the asphalt, with half my face too (picture Harvey Dent).

Luckily, an angel was there for me – a nurse (all the way from South Carolina on vacay) happened to be close – and called the ambulance while keeping me calm (I was in shock, probably because I could have died)! The ambulance came, hospital next – luckily – NO brain damage.

I made my way out, drove the rest to Red River from Alamosa, made it – but with half my face left at The Great Sand Dunes…

KICKER (WHY I am telling you this story): The next couple days in Red River I was messed up man. I could barely move. Lucky no bones were broken (and my brain intact). I was bruised from head to toe (remember – my feet got burned too)! Yet, miraculously – I healed very quickly. Within just 2-3 days, the scabs healed up – leaving NO scars on my face. It was truly a blessing – because I bet you could find the skin cells still hanging around the asphalt at that parking lot.

I was young, wild, and free – yet this was a defining moment when I realized there was a special aura to these mountains. This space heals through it’s “breathability” - is what I call it. The open sky, the breezy whistle of the pine trees, the caws of the ravens - it all feels intact with the history of this land.

Years later, I’m proud to call it my home (although I never envisioned this - and that’s how life works)! My goal here is to connect everyone who is as stoked about this place as I am – and weave the threads of this place together with its unique people who represent it.