The days are getting longer, the sun is stronger. We're glad that we are getting a respite from the cold temperatures we had for much of January. There will no doubt be more cold and snow. The aquifer can use whatever we get and we will rejoice instead of complaining when more snow comes. However, the past few days have been nice, if a bit hazy. We are technically midway through winter, though we often have May snowstorms. If you are planning a "dead of winter" visit, remember to call ahead and check availability.

A lot has changed over the last few years at the Everson Ranch. The hay fields have been restored and improved. A strawbale bathhouse was built for ranch volunteers and interns. New fences put up, old ones taken out and a gated irrigation pipe system installed to keep it all going. Along with these changes, the ranch animals have been brought back! Nancy Roberts, owner of Arrowpoint Beef, runs her Scottish Highland cattle here. We have a variety of chickens, a heritage breed of pigs called Large Blacks, and a llama to watch over them.

The newest addition to our animal family is a small herd of Boer goats that has just expanded by NINE NEW BABIES, "kids". Boer goats were developed in South Africa for their meat, hardiness and brush control abilities. The term "Boer" refers to the descendants of the Dutch immigrants, or Boers, most of them farmers, who settled the country; thus, "Boer" goat simply means "farmer's" goat.

Our intention for having goats on the ranch is mainly for weed control . Technically, goats don't graze; they browse. They'll eat brush, leaves, twigs, and other such food first, only turning to grass when there's nothing else left. Goats also don't munch each plant down to a nub and move on. They'll pick off the flower heads so the plant can't go to seed, and eat the leaves so it can't photosynthesize. But they'll leave the stalk, which holds the soil in place, preventing erosion. With only a bare stem left, the plant has to work overtime just to stay alive, giving native or more desirable plants a chance to grow. Goats also poop a lot, and as they roam, their tough hooves stomp the pellets into the soil, fertilizing and helping to soften the ground. They also irrigate, a pint at a time, with nitrogen-tinged urine that helps balance the minerals in the soil. And, notably, they'll eat just about anything, including plants that are poisonous to other animals.

Hopefully our goats will prove to be a valuable tool in our goal for pasture restoration. Please schedule a ranch tour on your next visit to OLT and visit our cute, curious and cuddly baby goats. You will also learn about their mothers and all of the other amazing things happening at Everson!

By Cherrye O'Donal

The electricity generated by OLT's hydroelectric plant is finite. Grid power is miles away. We can make about 62 kilowatts of continuous power. When people turn up their cabin baseboard heaters, that uses electricity. When people cook on the stoves, that uses electricity. When the dryers in the laundry room are spinning, that uses electricity. Vehicle campers that plug into those sites with electricity use electricity. When the air temperature is in the single digits, the water in the pools loses heat more quickly. The heated pools are heated by the electricity that is left over after all the primary uses. When it's cold and breezy, the pools will not be as warm.

A few years ago we had drought conditions and we couldn't generate as much electricity because there was less volume of water. When we removed the wood stoves in the cabins in an effort to eliminate fire danger, the cabins were then heated exclusively with electric heat. Now the cabins are heated geothermally and the baseboard heaters are used mainly to boost the temperature on cold nights. There are other ideas in the works to more efficiently use the available power. We would like the heated pools to remain a constant temperature. However, there are still trade-offs. The fact remains, when we use electrical power in other places there is less to heat the water in the heated pools.

Plan ahead - be prepared. The night time temperatures are cold. Indoor accommodations are typically reserved in advance. Winter campers have many choices and there is no tent site fee for tent camping October through April. Most winters, for most of the winter, there is snow on the ground. Winter campers should be prepared to clear the snow from their tent site to suit their needs. All visitors should bring good footwear, the trails can be slippery. A nice option is a good terry cloth bathrobe for wrapping up quickly as you get out of the water. The road is usually cleared but good tires make it easier to get around and provide a measure of safety as you travel on the highway. Watch the weather and check the road conditions. Winter days can be sunny and bright.

This December we remodeled the kitchenette and bathroom in the Visitor Center! The kitchenette has a new commercial refrigerator which required a wall being removed and refinished. The new fridge has a glass front and meat freezer which makes shopping more convenient. Cabinets were rehung and the kitchenette looks great! The bathroom walls, ceiling and floor were redone, including a beautiful mural! The remodel work was donated by Volunteer Adam Richards. Thank you so much Adam, we love the improvements!

The next meeting of the OLT Board of Directors is Saturday, January 21, 2016 from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm. All are welcome to attend in-person or online. The meeting will be held onsite and a basic breakfast will be provided. Come and join the meeting and meet the board members!

The Agenda and Information Packet will be available for download.

The year is almost over. The staff of Orient Land Trust would like to take this moment to say, "Thank You!" to everyone that helped make 2016 a memorable year. We are grateful for the support of so many: members, volunteers, visitors, and all those interested in bats, hydroelectricity, geology, and the conservation work for the fish, replenishing the soils, and gardening. Your cheerfulness, generosity, and appreciation makes every day fulfilling. Happy Holidays and all the best for the New Year!

Every day people arrive who have never been here before. Trying to bring first timers up to speed is a large and important task. The days of darkness before electricity are gone. Campfires no longer smolder in the park. Outhouses are a dim memory, except on the bat hike. I met a couple one morning as they were basking on the rocks below Oak House. They first came to the hot springs this summer. They love the place; the freedom, the peace, the primitive natural-ness. We three are approximately the same age. We had a good talk about what is good about the hot springs. The gulf between my experience and theirs shrank as we enjoyed the morning sun and cloudless blue sky. Good things happen here and it's good to be part of something unusual and benevolent.

People create the feeling. Some days, the feeling is exuberant and extroverted. Other days feel more reflective and contemplative. One evening might be full of conversation and interaction. The next night might be still and quiet. It depends on who is here. If everyone was conscientious about contributing, then scraps of paper would be picked-up, people would put their cell phones away, the dishes would be clean and ready in the kitchens, the cabins would be tidy before housekeepers arrive to change sheets and sweep the floor, no one would smoke at the pools, and all day visitors would leave by 10:00 pm. Instead of folks furtively trying to "get away" with something when no one is looking, people would realize that their actions have effects and the feeling of the place would remain cooperative, respectful, and receptive. It's a difficult thing to define and each moment has its own explanation. Those of us who've been here a few years have a responsibility to pay it forward - educate and model the ways that have evolved and are still being refined.

Thank you to all those that accept the mantle of stewardship and recognize that how you are and who you are create and shape the space and the moments we share!

Once again, Valley View Hot Springs will be closed from December 1, 2016 through December 28, 2016. We will be open again on December 29, 2016. We will be available limited hours in the office for those people wanting to make reservations. If you don't get an actual staff member, leave a message and we will call you back. Enjoy the holiday!

The October 1 event at the Everson Ranch was well attended. The weather was great; blue skies, warm temperatures, and golden sunshine. The food was delicious. Many thanks to RustingRam caterers for taking the raw material of our ranch produce and creating a feast. Two musical groups - Sweet Radish getting things warmed up and Sandra Wong and friends keeping things humming - provided the music. Ranch Tours of the animals, community garden, historic buildings and a trip to the Everson Reservoir were well attended. Thanks also to J & J Rentals from Alamosa, Jonathan and Jody, for bringing the tents and setting them up. OLT volunteers and staff helped people get parked, served the wine and beer donated by Crestone Brewery, Elevation Brewery, Vino Salida, and Mountain Spirits Winery, and welcomed folks.