|
ALPINE PROPERTIES
Sangre De Cristo Ranches Alpine Lots are generally
above 9,000' in elevation with some as high as 11,600'. They have seasonal access, usually between Memorial Day and
New Year's day.
Since the temperature drops 3.2 degrees for every 1000' of elevation, it is often up to 20
degrees cooler up there. Precipitation goes up with elevation, and while at 8,500' in our area we have pinons and cedars,
tall trees will be found above 9,200' ( Ponderosas, Spruce, Firs and Aspen). Where Alamosa at 7,500' has a high
desert climate with only 7" of average annual moisture, the high country will often see 40"-80" of annual
precipitation. Alpine flowers will spring up in late June and bloom most of the summer. Trees and grasses are
much more lush and green, and the elk and deer head up in the high country as the snow melts and they are driven back
down when the snow up there gets too deep.
There are many cabins up in the high country and some people
keep snow-mobiles to access their cabins after snow drifts or deep snow close the roads in December or January. Wolfgang
has been coming to Costilla County since 1969 . He does not remember a year, that heavy snows closed the alpine roads in October
or November, when the regular elk and deer hunting seasons are held.
The area is ideal to sit on the porch
of a cabin just to cool off when the temperatures in Denver and Colorado Springs get up close to 100 degrees. With over 400
miles of Costilla County maintained roads -- many of them criss-cross the high country. There are plenty
of possibilities for riding ATV's and trail-bikes up there. These roads also are great for cross country skiing.
Most of out alpine parcel customers are hunters. They will use their cabin for family outings in the Summer and bring
their hunting buddies up there in September for bow hunting and muzzle loading season or during the regular hunting seasons
in October and November. The Sangre de Cristo Elk Herd ranges from 4,000-6,000 animals, and hunting is usually
good above 10,000'. There are thousands of acres of Greenbelt available for hunting and with a large parcel
with proper terrain and no occupied cabins within 1/4 mile, it is often possible to hunt on your own land.
Last
season, two bulls were taken on our SDCR D-3.
|
