When people say that Red River is a cool place to be, they're not kidding. They mean it.Literally. The average daytime temperature during summer months is 75 degrees. The locals consider that to be a warm day.
When the sun goes down behind the mountain and darkness begins to slide its way silently into the valley, the temperature drops and drops, sometimes descending into the low 40s and even high 30s. Sweater weather to be sure.
It was the cool days and chilly nights that first gained Red River the attention of flatlanders and desert dwellers who sought relief from 100 degree days and 90 degree nights. As early as 1905 the word was beginning to get to the outside world that the miners were gone, but the cool air remained.
There was the lure of freshwater trout prowling the mountain streams and the icy water of the Red River that ran through the valley. There was the joyous buzz of thousands of hummingbirds who made their happy home among the trees and bushes of the valley floor.
There were also the deer. Quiet, serene and as beautiful a creature as any on the face of the earth, their gentle grazing was a reminder to harried humans that the pace of life does not have to be frenetic. Slow down. Relax. Enjoy life.
Today, there are still trout, hummingbirds and deer. And Red River is still a cool place to give your fried brain a rest. Enjoy your stay.
Fritz Davis, Editor - Red River Miner
