Ramah Lake PAINT OUT
The photos show the cottonwoods in full fall foliage, but they were NOT taken this year! Still, the color is starting, and by Saturday I think it will be good.
Date: Saturday, September 26, 2020
Time: Meet at 10 a.m.
Max # Registrants: 10 (join waitlist if max reached)
Location: Ramah Lake, in Ramah, one hour west of Grants on NM 53
Host: Michael Chesley Johnson, mcj.painter@gmail.com , 505-303-0702 (please text, as calls are unreliable)
Open to non-members.
What to Expect:
The parking lot is large and can accommodate perhaps a dozen vehicles. If it is full (highly unlikely), you can park in a little turnout just before the cattle grate. From the parking lot, you will need to make a short (flat) hike of about 5 minutes or so to the earthen dam, which offers views of the lake. Other trails go directly to the lake or to viewpoints of the lake from the cliffs. There are his-and-hers vault toilets.
If you would like to make this an overnight trip, there is camping with hookups at El Morro RV Park, just east of El Morro National Monument, as well as free dry camping at the monument itself (first-come, first-served.) If you prefer a cabin, El Morro RV Park also has very nice cabins. Go to https://www.elmorro-nm.com/ for details. These are only 13 miles east of Ramah. There is also US National Forest land here and there that you can camp on. Plus, there's plenty of lodging in Grants and Gallup.
The Plan: We'll meet at 10 a.m. Plan on painting all day and bring a bag lunch. If you need help getting to the site, my phone number is 505-303-0702. (However, I’m having trouble with actually being able to answer calls. It’s a T-Mobile problem. Texting is far more reliable!) I’ll be on-site at 9:30 to greet everyone.
Directions:
1. From I-40 in Grants, take exit 81 in Grants for NM 53.
2. Follow NM 53 for 52 miles (you will pass El Malpais National Monument, Bandera Ice Caves, El Calderon, El Morro National Monument and finally enter Ramah.)
3. At the only stop sign on NM 53 in Ramah, go right on Bloomfield Ave.
4. Go 0.6 miles straight. You will go through two intersections (Lewis St, then McNeil St.) Then you will see a turn to your right, just before an unusual two-story stone house. This turn will be a gravel road. There used to be a sign for the lake here, but it is gone.
5. Follow the gravel road 0.4 miles to the end. You'll see a big parking lot there with a vault toilet. The parking area is for the Ramah Mormon Pioneer Trail. (You can read about it here - https://www.enchantedlands.org/ramah-hiking-trail.htm )
This is about 2 hours from Albuquerque and 1 hour from Gallup.
Here is the route, from I-40 in Grants:
https://goo.gl/maps/PDQWt9jsSZEQ8Z2Z7
For more information about paintout protocol visit the NEW Paintouts page.
We will be watching for changes in the New Mexico Covid guidelines to be in compliance with them and will let you know when they change. For now we know:
- Masks are required
- Six feet apart
- “Avoid crowds”
- Cars also should be parked six feet apart
- Any visitors from out-of-state must self-quarantine for two weeks.
But since the parking is somewhat limited we will be setting a limit on the number of registrants. We will keep a wait-list. And please do write to Michael as indicated, with any questions, but also to let him know of your interest. And the registration list will be available to all as well.
Safe painting, everyone.
Note before you complete your paint out registration you will need to check the box asserting that during this pandemic, the Plein Air Painters of New Mexico is released from covid-related liability.
You may also download the Covid liability release here:
LiabilityReleaseWaiverDuringPandemic.txt:
*Non-members will need to agree to this additional release of liability also (sent by email after registration): Non-members Release of Liability.
