There’s something truly special about being in the mountains.

I personally love all mountains, be they near or far, but I’ll always hold a special place in my heart for the good old Sacramentos. My dad was a bornand-raised mountain man, and he once wrote a song called “The Sacramento Mountain Blues,” which echoes in my heart to this very day every time I venture west of town.

The forest holds a deep peace and an ancient wisdom, despite how we humans have come along and modernized it with cabins and campgrounds and amenities. You can hear the peace in the rustle of the aspen trees. You can visibly see God’s great majesty in the height of the pines. If you sit very quietly, you’ll almost certainly notice life itself happening, from the beetles that scurry beneath the rocks to the snails basking on fallen logs, all the way up the scale of life to gentle deer grazing in still meadows.

Modern civilization just can’t compete with that kind of thing, if you ask me. We all get caught up sitting at home, comfortably under the air conditioning with 20,000 streaming TV shows to pick from while we scroll away on our phones, looking for everything from local gossip to worldwide cuisine.

Don’t misunderstand me; there’s nothing wrong with a bit of creature comfort. But I think we do ourselves a disservice when we fall too heavily into the reliance upon these things. As New Mexicans, we are so blessed that we have access to such magnificent places when we need a break from the pressure of the world. If you’re in search of a little bit of heaven, it’s practically in our backyard.

I recently saw a video of two young British men who were visiting our great state, and let me tell you, they were having a wonderful time. From the spicy food to the wideopen skies and their first glimpse of a New Mexico sunset, they knew they’d found paradise. I hope they had a chance to visit the Lincoln National Forest and witness how diverse our land can be.

And, of course, I hope all visitors, be they foreign or not, will be careful to obey any and all fire warnings. Smokey Bear was right: Only we can prevent forest fires, and we should all try very hard to do so.

I hope you’re looking forward to some mountain time soon, if you need to beat the heat and find a bit of solace. A hike, a camping trip, or a day spent exploring can all be a great way to recharge. Have fun, be safe, and remember: You’re doing a great job.

“I’ve got the Sacramento Mountain blues, and I’m putting on my walking shoes. I’m headed west of town, I’m bound for higher ground, I’ve got the Sacramento mountain blues.” — Frank Devine

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Franki Ingram is a hometown Artesia girl who likes unicorns, classic rock and coffee. She has four kids ranging in age from 22-9 and dabbles in meal planning and budgeting.)