The San Luis Valley

High in the mountains of southern Colorado is a long, broad valley known for its cool summer days, cold winter nights and an abundance of sunshine year round. If you look closely you can spot its ovoid shape on most national TV weather maps, just behind the narrow front range of mountains on the east and extending into northern New Mexico. This is the great San Luis Valley of Colorado.

The SLV is the largest, highest inter-mountain valley in North America. At more than 7000 feet, the Valley floor is 2000 feet higher than Colorado’s prairies to the east. It is separated from them by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. On the west the Continental Divide marks the Valley’s other rim high in the San Juan Mountains. On both sides the peaks can thrust more than 14,000 feet into the stunningly clear, wide blue sky.

The Valley is a desert, receiving less than 10 inches of precipitation each year. But the surrounding mountains collect sufficient snow during the winter that the runoff, in the form of rivers, streams and deep aquifers, provides the SLV with its agricultural economy

There are notable contrasts. Desert sands border streams, lakes and marshes important to the abundant waterfowl and fish. It was the first area settled by Europeans but is among Colorado’s most sparsely populated regions. In many small communities Spanish is still the first language, preserved from the time when those villages were part of Mexico. And while still a wild place of craggy mountain wilderness, where moose, wapiti elk, deer, black bear, lynx, bighorn sheep, coyote, cougar, badger, bobcat, mountain goat and pronghorn antelope roam with minimal interference, the Valley also sports two colleges, a thriving fine arts culture and exemplifies aspects of ultra-rural health care.

Finally, it is elemental. Climate, weather and topography often challenge everyday life. Winters can be extremely cold. Water sources are not to be taken for granted. Distance is always a significant consideration. Commercial supply lines are stretched. Public services are basic. Neighbors are important.

It is rough and demanding. It is spectacular and sublime.

The Valley is all of this and for me something more. Though I didn’t grow up here, I call it home.