MEETUP POINT (Las Cruces): Parking lot of old K-Mart off US-70 E

MEET TIME (Las Cruces): 6:30 a.m. to leave at 6:45 a.m.

MEETUP POINT (closer destination than Las Cruces): High Rolls General Store on left hand as you're going through High Rolls up to Cloudcroft

MEETUP TIME AT GENERAL STORE: 7:45 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.

ITINERARY: Some time will be spent in High Rolls.

• The Lion's Club Clubhouse parking lot and environs (take first left immediately beyond General Store) are frequently good places to see Bluebirds, Townsend's Solitaire and other mountain species.
• Proceeding up to Cloudcroft, there are at least two spots along the way to check for birds. If interesting avifauna is spotted, stops will be made there as well.
• Cloudcroft, the Mexican Trestle Rest Area/Trail. Head on the right just before you enter town. (Not the overlook area further down the hill). 

LUNCH: The new MVAS Webmeister/Newsletter Editor Sid Webb and his wife own a cabin about 5 miles east of the village. They will graciously host a lunch there. Modifying that, it was proposed that each bring a brown bag lunch to either eat or share. That way, the meal prep burden isn't on our host and hostess. Plus, we can enjoy sampling others' culinary productions!

ADDITIONAL ITINERARY: The porch of the above mentioned cabin is a great place to watch Hummingbirds, Steller's Jays and other birds.

There is also a great walk into Lincoln National Forest a short drive from the cabin. This will be a great place to investigate either before or after lunch. Birds spotted are:

• Mountain Chickadees
• White-breasted and Pygmy Nuthatches
• Brown Creepers
• Wilson's, Townsend's, Yellow and Yellow-rumped Warblers
• Common Ravens
• Red-tailed and Cooper's Hawks

OTHER MISCELLANEOUS DETAILS:  Since this is an all-day event, plan on arriving back in Las Cruces by mid-afternoon, at the earliest. Please contact Mark Pendelton at [email protected] if interested in attending and put Cloudcroft in the subject line of email.

• Fieldtrip is open to anyone, MVAS member or not.
• Be sure to bring plenty of water, binoculars, broad-brimmed hat to keep off the sun's rays, sunscreen, and insect repellent.
• You can buy apples at the Draney Orchards for about $1.20/lb