Wednesday, 20 November 2013
* Ruidoso, New Mexico *
The crew awoke early and gathered together in the lobby of the Inn of the Mountain Gods after a fulfilling breakfast buffet. They had a long trek in the cold below freezing weather as they tried to find a back road up into the foothills of Sierra Blanca. Recent wildfires had destroyed of the forest and closed off the usual drive up that the family used to use to get to the hiking trail their father used to take them. Docteur Mangor had figured out the path, and led the caravan of cars containing himself, Lady Angela, prince Winter, Sir Thomas Leaf, Lady Etain, prince Cian, sir Billy and his clan. As the roadway lost paved structure, the caravan of cars made their way up the old mining trail, past a guy panning for gold in the river, onwards to where the car could go no further. They parked outside the down slope of an abandoned (and flooded) old gold mine, with babies toted in their arms, slings and backpacks ready to hike as far as the children would allow them. Docteur Mangor, mixed the ashes of their mom and dad into their parent’s urns, and their grandson Sir Billy carried them up the mountain.
Sir Thomas Leaf gathered sage, mullein, rabbit tobacco, and yarrow on the way up making a smudge stick. The kids and babies were having a hard time up the trail (as did the parents carrying them) so they decided to do the actual ceremony mid-way up in a grove of gambel oaks, conifers, and aspen. White candle to the east, red candle to the south, blue candle to the west, and green candle to the north – most did not stay lit very long as the winds of change swirled around the circle. Blessing the sacred space with earth, air, fire, and water – a group grounding and invitation of ancestors, Deities, and spirits to join in the spreading of ashes. Thanks and thoughts were spoke forth from the family of their parents and grandparents, as they each took a handful and sprinkled the ashes around the circle. The rest were reserved for the men to carry to one of the peaks, to spread on their own. The mother’s took their kids down or waited midway, while Sir Rob Wildwood, Sir Thomas Leaf, Sir Billy, and Docteur Mangor hiked further up the mountain to the crossroads of Nogal trail 48 and Tortolita canyon trail 54. They found a peak overlooking the valley of Fire, along a old mining site that had a archaeological re bar marker stating PH 1 (or so as was thought the number) (could have been where a post hole was dug as PH 1 = post hole 1). There were rock piles and dig marks where something was dug up. They were at an elevation of 8,400 feet above sea level. More farewells were said to the family as the ashes were emptied from the urn into the wind … ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
Back down the path, the explorers met up with Lady Etain and prince Cian, they all walked back down to the others. Midway, Sir Thomas Leaf and Prince Cian washed their hands in the gold stream – washing away the old, welcoming the new.

They made their way back down the mountain to the parking lot where water and snacks were imbibed, they headed back towards Ruidoso. Sir Billy and his clan had to head back up to Farmington, while Docteur Mangor, Lady Angela, prince Winter, Sir Thomas Leaf, Lady Etain, prince Cian, and Sir Rob Wildwood headed on into Ruidoso. They drove through the wildfire scars and into the village proper for a break at Starbucks and to hit Rosemary’s herb shoppe so that Sir Rob could say hi to friends of friends. Stocking up on some sundries, they explorers parted ways as Sir Thomas Leaf, Lady Etain, Sir Rob Wildwood, and Prince Cian went out for dinner enjoying southwestern fare, and Docteur Mangor, Lady Angela, and prince Winter back to the Inn of the Mountain God’s casino dinner buffet. They met up later for a swim and hot tub soak in the pool area. Tired and exhausted, the crews turned into their rooms for a good night’s sleep as they chose to stay another night since the Inn was offering them an additional night of lodging for half price.