Photos Found another place to explore. Florida Mountains near Deming, NM

[NewMexicoJim]

The Florida Mountains are rugged and remote. The Apache came here for the abundant plants they used as medicine and food. The name Florida in Spanish means 'abundant or covered in flowers." I was too late for spring flowers but I'll definitely be coming back here. This place is gorgeous.

 

[Coywolf]

Is that pronounced 'Flor-EE-duh' up there, as it is in the Durango, CO area?

Always found that interesting. Ah, Deming. Always wanted to ride the Sunset line through that part of NM.

 

[NewMexicoJim]

Yes the Spanish pronunciation is the preferred one here. Deming itself is rather unimpressive, consisting of the usual run of motels, gas stations and RV parks one might find in any small southwestern town that is now forced to live off interstate traffic. Go a few miles out of town and the whole world changes. The Chihuahuan Desert is in full swing here. The mountains are worn and rugged and nearly impenetrable. Most trails are long vanished and roads are prone to turning into gullies of sand and rock. Everything here is distant from everything else. The mountains of the Gila, an hour north by car, are faint purple hills on the horizon. There are no rivers or perennial streams, only isolated springs that seep a precious few droplets and are the living blood of the desert, pumping life from deep below. All life is a struggle here and yet, the beauty astounds and heals the troubled soul.