(ABQ) and Farmington, N.M. (FMN) . Durango/Purgatory is located in the Southwest corner of Colorado, near the intersection of Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico. It's six to seven hours by car from DIA, a 340 mile drive via US-285, and three and a half to four and a half hours and 214 miles from ABQ using NM-44 and US-550.
In addition to its popular use for hangovers, prickly pear remedies have been used traditionally in Mexico for a wide variety of disorders. The heated cactus pads have served as poultices for rheumatism, and the fruit of the plant is consumed as treatment for diarrhea, asthma and gonorrhea.
Description: Prickly Pear is a native perennial in the Cactus family (Cactaceae) that spreads along the ground and grows to 0.5 m tall. The pads (stem segments) are glossy green and have areolas (areas where spines are attached) with minute, barbed, deciduous spines called glochids.ids to Identification: Prickly Pear can be observed any time of year, though it is easiest to find in summer when the showy yellow flowers are present. The pads are oblong-obovate, about 5 to 17.5 cm Ã 4 to 12 cm in size, and dark to shiny green with areolas arranged in a diagonal pattern.