A Small Piece of Home
For residents of Las Cruces, NM the view to the east is usually something that is taken for granted. The Organ Mountains provide a striking view regardless of the time of year for anyone living or traveling through the area. As residents of the Mesilla Valley return from their travels, the granite peaks offer a symbol of home that can be seen from many miles away.
Lights of traveling vehicles pass through the Mesilla Valley. Two major highways (Interstate 10 & 25 ) cut through Las Cruces, NM
People have inhabited the area surrounding the Organ Mountains dating back to over eight thousand years ago. History has happened with these mountains in the backdrop with both The Camino Real and Butterfield Trail running through the area. Throughout history there have been many different people who have called this place home and the remains of abandoned mining camps scattered throughout the hills show a more recent past.
(Mining camp, “1939” is etched in the concrete foundation) The Yucca, the state flower of New Mexico, is scattered throughout the landscape at the base of the mountains.
Designated a National Monument on May 21, 2014 the Organ Mountains have always been and will continue to attract tourists and residents who use the public lands for leisure.
“I come up here to kill time or just to relax, its pretty peaceful. There are a lot of trails I like to cruise around and sometimes come shooting up here. They really are something that reminds me of home, I was born and raised in the area and moved back after being discharged from the Army. The other places I lived didn’t have anything like this. I lived in Kentucky and San Antonio both of those places were completely different.”- Mark Farris
The weather patterns that the mountains see every year are wide ranging from flash flooding, extreme heat, and snow. Regardless of the weather there is something spectacular about this place that represents home to so many.
Snow covers the Organ Mountains on Christmas Eve 2013.
Record temperatures recorded as low as -10 degrees Fahrenheit on this day. (February 2,2011)
Rain waters flood down an arroyo near Baylor Canyon Road on September 23,2014
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Gorgeous.
A series that are an appreciation of a place is a National Geographic staple.
One thing they do, though, is always try to relate the place to humanity, another staple (reference George Steinmetz). I think you need to do a little more of that.
Kill the repeated shot of the same guy and truck and add another one of another person doing something in this environment. The Tortugas annual hike to A mountain, a rancher fixing a windmill, a Park Ranger patrolling or preventing an abuse or helping hikers, a mountain bike kickin’ up dust. I.E., put some life into this.
As for your text: you need more information. The 5Ws and the H. The age of them, their size (exactly), the designation as a national Park, the role of BLM, the encroachment of the city onto them, etc. This is essential or just have pretty pictures without context.
That’s all you’d need to have a Geographic level story.