Angel Fire

Angel Fire on the San Jacinto Mountains
Hemet, California – Sunset – Saturday, October 31, 2020 – Halloween

Angel Fire is a small village, population about 1,300, in a wide valley within the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in northeastern New Mexico.

The village of Angel Fire is a popular ski resort on the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway. Nearby is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park.

In the old days, the “Sangre de Cristo” Mountains were known as “La Sierra Nevada” (the Snow Covered Mountains), and “La Sierra Madre” (the Mother Mountains).

According to tradition, “sangre de Cristo” were the last words of a priest who was killed by Native Americans.

The term “Angel Fire” refers to the reddish glow of sunset reflected on the eastern horizon opposite the sun, as the sun sinks just below the western horizon.

The name “Sangre de Cristo” (“Blood of Christ”) is derived from the reddish glow on the clouds and mountains at sunset, especially when the mountains are covered with snow.

At sunset, on Halloween this year, we had our own moment of “Angel Fire” reflected on the clouds over the San Jacinto Mountains east of our home in Hemet, California.

This is “Angel Fire” as seen from our front porch.