Wilderness
It is a place where you are not in the condition of being human, but the condition of being alive.
THE WILD CONNECTION — EL VALLECITOS RANCH
Robin was connected to the natural world and he was connected to the spirit world. It came early in his life or perhaps it was always there. His mother was his first guide to the wilderness. Early on it was Kentucky wilderness they explored, her homeland. I have an image of Robin at about age 10 sitting by a river in Colorado. He is taking it in. Once you see it the image is fixed in your mind. It is so incredibly beautiful and makes absolute his connection to nature so early in his life. He appears as a young buddha in meditation.
Above-Robin by a stream on Colorado / Photo Mildred Doughman
The morning wind moves limbs in the olive trees. The mountain meadow comes to mind again. At Vallecitos I sat at the lodge watching the wind. It's a good place to watch the quality of wind. Grasses in the meadow above the pond and river were touched by wind. Well rooted in black mountain soil, the grass was free to swirl with careless abandon. The grasses are still moving, making ever changing, familiar patterns, shinning like silver and gold. This comes regularly as does the sound of the wind swishing through pine needles. El Rancho Vallecitos is part of my reality forever, just as Robin is. Gratitude.
Robin at El Vallecitos Ranch / Photo Connie Doughman
Beginning in the winter of 1973 Robin began skiing into the Ranch from the small mountain community of Canyon Plaza. Going in the thirteen-mile trek is almost all uphill. Coming out is glorious. These cross-country ski trips were an annual tradition. There were different groups, but Robin was a constant member of the ski team. I knew Robin loved it and that he had food, a good sleeping bag and one-man tent. I knew he could survive even if he didn’t make it to the lodge. They continued these ski trips luring younger men like the Rehorn brothers to break trail for them until the old ones finally decided it was time to quit.
Our practice of mindfulness began in the wilderness. That plays into everything else. Our connection to the natural world is the foundation the rest of our lives are built upon. Our relationship with the natural world was nourished by the time we spent at Vallecitos. My whole family, all three generations residing in New Mexico are forever benefitted by the experiences we had there in the wilderness. We all are grateful for the access to the Ranch so generously given by Harvey Mudd while he owned it
South side of Mudd House completed / L to R- Ron Rehorn, Grove Burnett and Robin Doughman / In front on skis-John Rehorn/Photo Bill Hart
Our business was never separated from our family life. Those we worked with became our friends. Those we worked for did too. In 1981 Robin built the ranch house at Vallecitos for Harvey. We had a crew of teenage boys, recent graduates of Santa Fe Prep. We also had skilled craftsmen: Mark Laine, Frank Burke, and others.
The Mudd House at Vallecitos well under way / Photo Connie Doughman
There’s no electricity at the ranch, so the beams for the post and beam framework were cut, notched, and stained in the Lamy shop and were hauled to the ranch by the boys over the lurching road in the mud that spring. The first job was to harvest the vertical support beams and vigas. We had the use of a new Kabota tractor. The ranch was a resource for landscape material for Harvey’s landscape project I headed in Santa Fe at the same time. A Kabota, Harvey’s truck, young men, and river rocks are a landscaper’s dream come true. Our stewardship of the ranch spanned decades from the beginning until Harvey sold it. Luckily, we knew the new owners.
Robin working on Mudd House at Vallecitos / Photo Connie Doughman
In 2004 and for several years Robin presided over the board of the foundation holding the property and directing meditation retreats. The place is now called Vallecitos Mountain Ranch, a meditation retreat center. We had the opportunity to meet remarkable people. We both led meditation for various retreats. There were stunning horseback rides for Robin and Grove Burnett, once they even ran with a herd of wild mustangs.
Above Photos- Work on El Vallecitos Ranch / Photos Connie Doughman
“The ranch in our case (my wife Connie and myself) is a place of magic, a place of the spirit. In reality it is a 160-acre inholding in the northern New Mexico national forest. A near wilderness situation. A place of unbelievable beauty. A most remarkable mountain meadow at 9,000 feet, surrounded by aspen, ponderosa, spruce, and fir, seven active beaver ponds and, yes of course, a river runs through it. It is not a place that is conducive to making plans for other ideas. It is a place that doesn’t care about other ideas no matter how lofty they may be. It is a place that is always ready to steal your mind. Just try to think about something, anything, and soon the ranch will take over. You will find yourself slipping into another reality, sinking into your chair unable to move your arms and legs, staring out at the waves of grass blowing in the meadow, or the quaking aspen or a hawk on the wing. All the while trying to listen to the quiet, to focus on the sounds of silence. When we are here, we are in a holy place. It is a place where you are not in the condition of being human, but the condition of being alive.”
Robin Doughman
Robin working on screen doors at El Vallecitos Ranch / Photo Connie Doughman