Enchantment and Exploitation: The Life and Hard Times of a New Mexico Mountain Range

The Sangre de Cristo Mountains of New Mexico form the backdrop for this environmental and cultural history spanning four centuries. DeBuys chronicles the complex interactions between humans and the mountain landscape from the 1600s through the late 20th century. The narrative follows waves of settlement and change through Spanish colonists, Anglo ranchers, timber companies, and modern-day residents. The text incorporates historical documents, oral histories, and scientific data to document how different groups utilized and impacted the region's natural resources. Through the lens of a single mountain range, deBuys examines universal themes of resource exploitation, cultural conflict, and environmental resilience. The work presents a case study in how human societies both shape and are shaped by their physical environment over generations.

Readers appreciate deBuys' detailed research and his ability to weave environmental, cultural, and economic histories of New Mexico's Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Many note his clear writing style and use of personal stories to illustrate larger historical trends. Readers highlight: - Deep research and documentation - Balance between academic rigor and readability - Integration of Hispanic, Native American, and Anglo perspectives - Connection between historical events and current environmental issues Common criticisms: - Dense academic passages in some sections - Focus sometimes drifts from the mountains to broader New Mexico history - Limited coverage of certain time periods Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (89 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (31 ratings) One reader noted: "deBuys captures the complexity of mountain life without romanticizing or oversimplifying." Another mentioned: "The historical documentation is thorough but can be dry at times."

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🌲 The Sangre de Cristo Mountains featured in the book got their name ("Blood of Christ") from Spanish conquistadors who saw the peaks glowing red at sunset. 🏔️ Author William deBuys lived in a remote mountain village in New Mexico's Sangre de Cristo range for several years while researching and writing the book, immersing himself in the local culture and landscape. 🌿 The book traces 400 years of environmental and cultural history, from Native American settlements through Spanish colonial periods to Anglo-American arrival and modern times. 👥 The mountain communities described in the book developed a unique system of acequia water management—communal irrigation ditches that are still maintained through cooperative labor and governed by traditional Hispanic laws. 🏆 First published in 1985 and regularly updated since, the book won the Western Writers of America Spur Award and is considered a foundational text in environmental history of the American Southwest.