Below is Richard's account of another recent trip.

Angel Falls and the Golden River

By Richard Fisher

The Facts and the Legend:

Angel Falls is located in the Guayana highlands, one of five topographical regions of Venezuela.  It plunges off the edge of a 'tepui', or table-top mountain, and free falls 2,421 feet to the river below, making it the tallest waterfalls on earth.  In total it is 15 times higher than Niagara Falls with a total of 2,937 feet.

The falls are named after Jimmy Angel, a barnstorming bush pilot from Missouri who has become a modern legend.  Jimmy Angel first saw the falls in 1933 while searching for a valuable ore bed or as he described a river of gold that he saw from the air.  He returned in 1937 with his wife, Gustafa Heny and Heny's gardener, and landed on top of the tepui.  His Flamingo monoplane settled down into the marshy ground atop.  Jimmy Angel and his three companions managed to descend the tepui and make their way back to civilization in 11 days on a very arduous survival expedition through the jungle which he and his companions barely survived. 

And now onto modern search for the Lost Golden River. 

Beginning in 2001 I was finishing a complete survey of all the earth's grand canyons.  While it would be impossible, of course, to visit all of the millions of canyons on the planet, I made a comprehensive effort to photo document all of the major canyon areas and unique canyon environments worldwide.  One of the most remote and fascinating canyon systems is on the top of the Venezuelan Tepui.  These are sky islands or sometimes known as "lost worlds" that at an elevation of about 8,000 feet stick out 5,000 vertical feet from the surrounding tropical jungles and savannas.  The sand stone plateaus I know would have slot canyons on top especially at the top of water falls like Angel Falls.  My adventures were a legend at least in my own mind, but I did find a very unique square mile of fantastic arches.  I also found some fantastic slot canyons on my first expedition. 

On my second expedition, however, I did finally find a slot canyon that turns out to be Jimmy Angel's Lost Golden River.  What happened is that after Jimmy crashed his plane into the swamp he gave up the quest for the Golden River.  Over the years that part of Jimmy Angel's quest was forgotten as nothing was ever heard again of this mysterious stream.  Of course, it would have been found long before now if it was actually real gold. 

It is, however, a very unique environmental phenomenon where an algae that is normally dark green growing in the water turns a bright luminescent gold when it is in the sun.  As this is a slot canyon and the weather is often cloudy, no one until recently has been lucky enough to actually see this golden river at mid day with a cloudless sky.  I have been able to find exactly where the Golden River is and have talked with someone who has actually been there.  This person did not know, however, that it was Jimmy Angel's Lost Golden River and they were not photographers.  So to date no photos exists of this unique on earth burnished golden stream in a slot canyon.  It is my goal in the fall or winter of 2004 or early spring in 2005 to find a sponsor for this unique and incredible exploration. 

Lincoln – The Third Annual Natural Fiber Festival will take place in historic Lincoln, inside the Pageant Grounds, on Saturday, May 15 from 9 am to 5 pm and on Sunday, May 16 from 9 am to 4 pm

Exhibitors will be displaying their personally hand made items which use Natural Fibers such as cotton, wool, mohair, leather or metal "animals"

You will see animals such as sheep, goats, llamas and alpacas.  There will be sheep shearing and wool dying both days.

For further information contact Sue Maness toll free 888-586-7698 or by email:  ewelambyone@hotmail.com

This event is sponsored by: REDTT (Rural Economic Development Through Tourism). New Mexico Sheep & Goat Council, Lincoln County Lodgers Tax Lincoln State Monuments, and the New Mexico Wool Growers.

Mountainair – An exhibition called “Images of the Southwest,” will open t the Cibola Arts Gallery on Saturday, May 15 with a reception from 2-4 pm. Featured artists is Gerald McDowell, who currently works at his studio in Edgewood.

Gerald has a degree in fine arts from Bradley University, Peoria, Ill., and worked for a year as a commercial artist before being called to service with the U.S. Air Force.

He served on active duty for 24 years and was a teacher in the Albuquerque Public Schools the next 16 years before retiring to devote his time to what he really loves most: painting.

An outdoorsman by nature, Gerald paints animals and scenes of the Southwest. Working in both watercolors and oils, Gerald uses whichever medium more closely suits his subject. “A particular subject might be enhanced by a transparent watercolor wash or the more carefully blended opaque oils. Regardless of the medium, my style stays the same,” he says. “I’m very concerned that my drawings of animals are accurate. If I take liberties, it just doesn’t look right. Every painting that I do will have some part of it in carefully drawn detail. I will then balance the realistic portion with an impressionistic background using vibrant colors and translucent washes.

“I feel that a painting is complete when a proper balance of realism and impressionism is achieved.”

Subjects for his paintings vary from horse and cowboys to elk, deer, antelope, cougars, turkeys, chickens and birds.

“I even painted parrots once and I was surprised how enthusiastically they were accepted. I simply enjoy painting animals in their natural settings,” he said.

Carrizozo – The Carrizozo Heritage Museum will recognize its first anniversary with a new exhibit examining American fashion styles and trends from the 1860s to the 1960s.  To introduce the new exhibit, the museum's staff of volunteers has combined efforts with the Carrizozo Woman's Club and the Carrizozo Yacht Club, to produce a gala fashion event.  On Friday, April 30^th, this alliance of organizations will be Celebrating 100 Years of Fashion with a delectable dinner and fashion show.  The show features authentic vintage fashions, some from more than 140 years ago.  Bonnets to bustles and capes to corsets, the fashion show and opening exhibit will dazzle the admirers of Victoria's influence on American fashion, coax those nostalgic pangs for poodle skirts, and cause some of us to more deeply appreciate the fashions of today.  The fashion collection includes men's attire and some military styles from days gone by, as well as a bit of Hispanic and Native American tradition.  Each fashion era will be presented with historical commentary regarding the styles, trends and important events of the times.  Tickets for the dinner and show, which will take place in the Carrizozo Schools' old gymnasium, are $15 and seating is limited.  On the following day, Saturday, May 1, Celebrating 100 Years of Fashion will open at the Carrizozo Heritage Museum, admission free.

            On Saturday, April 17, Sandra Smith, of Lincoln, will present an update on her ongoing quest to accurately define the face of Billy the Kid.  Sandra's forensic approach is based on her research of first-hand descriptions and historical accounts, an extensive understanding of the tintype process, human anatomy and human skeletal structure.  Her extraordinary skill in digital photographic restoration and reconstruction applies perfectly to this endeavor.  Smith's presentation is sponsored by the Carrizozo Heritage Museum, the Lincoln County Historical Society and New Mexico State Monuments.  The event will be hosted by The Lincoln Schoolhouse Gallery, one of the region's most beautiful contemporary art galleries.  Admission is free of charge.

            On Saturday, May 8, Carrizozo folk artist, Gay Speirbhain will delight and entertain the youngsters with a tea party and greeting card workshop at the Heritage Museum.  Speirbhain has been an art instructor with Challenge New Mexico's after school and summer programs and the organization's Community Art Studio for disabled adults.  This workshop is made possible by contributors to the Carrizozo Heritage Museum's Arts and Education program, and is offered free of charge.  To help fund future projects, noted abstract painter, James Mack, of Carrizozo, will offer an original oil painting, El Pueblo del Rio Seco, to be raffled off this summer.  Raffle tickets are now on sale and priced at one dollar.

            Since it opened its doors to the public one year ago, the Carrizozo Heritage Museum has sponsored several exhibits, workshops and book-signings, and has entertained guests from around the globe.  The gift shop has become a prime source for historical and cultural literature, offering books by local and regional authors, children's books, cookbooks, historical accounts of life in Lincoln County, and titles addressing Native American and Hispanic tradition and folklore.  The museum has served as a model for volunteerism, community action and economic development in New Mexico's rural areas…. and they are just getting started.  Museum Director, Ray Dean, expresses his vision of the museum as "a place full of energy and enthusiasm, dynamic, inclusive, representing the whole community; a place that embraces diversity and celebrates the everyday. .. a special place with a passion for the past, a heart in the present, and an eye on the future."

            The Carrizozo Heritage Museum, located at 103 12^th Street in Carrizozo, New Mexico, is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 10:00AM to 2:00PM.   For information about up-coming events, ticket purchases, or to pledge your support, call 648-1105.  The Carrizozo Heritage Museum is a non-profit entity and donations are tax-deductible.

Silver City – The 9^th annual Silver City Blues Festival will feature Sonny Landreth and Rory Block with a multitude of other talented acts in dances and concerts from Friday, May 28 through Sunday, May 30.

Sponsored by the Mimbres Region Arts Council, this annual event in one of the top Best Small Art Towns in America, is chock full of music and art to guarantee a great time. Admission is free on Saturday and Sunday at Gough Park with kickoff dances in various venues on Friday night.

Sonny Landreth is known as the king of slydeco –a master slide guitarist, a blues guitarist with a zydeco sound . “Perhaps what's most amazing is that so much of Landreth's sound -- which integrates rhythm and lead lines as well as a wide palette of instrumental colors -- comes primarily from the action of his hands on the strings, long before the signal even sees the sweating tubes of an amp's power section. Through fingerpicking and a combination of palm and thumbpick techniques, Landreth alternately coaxes ghostly overtones and roaring, full-throated harmonies from his instrument,” says reviewer Todd Mouton.

Rory Block is an award winning Mississippi Delta Country Blues artist and has been called “one of the greatest living acoustic blues artists.” He won the traditional Blues Female Arts of the year in 1997 and was a 1998 WC Handy Award winner. She is nominated for two more W.C. Handy Awards: acoustic artist of the year and acoustic blues album of the year.

Other acts booked for the event are: The Campbell Brothers, Mr. Boogie Woogie, The Todd Tijerina Band, Steve Reynolds, Richard Johnston and the Foothill Stompers, John Crippen, Te Mudcats, Pat Dutton and the Pheromones, Tony Furtado and Springfield Shaky.

For more information, call 1-888-758-7289 or visit www.mimbresarts.org.