With their dependable burro, Nuevomexicano families venture out together to gather firewood (leña), forage for forest herbs, and visit neighbors for trading goods. The burro has always been an integral part of the familia, as both a versatile tool for carrying supplies and goods and a cherished member of the familia. As the familia travels together, it is important to return home before dark; the Sangre de Cristo mountains are filled with the dangers of rough terrain, frigid mountain air, and wildlife.