M | A | L | E | T | E | A | M | F | U | N | D | S | ||
A | R | I | A | O | S | L | O | O | H | Y | O | U | ||
A | C | E | R | W | A | I | T | A | R | O | U | N | D | |
M | O | U | N | T | A | I | N | H | I | G | H | |||
S | O | W | E | S | M | E | W | S | J | |||||
A | T | F | R | A | F | S | T | P | E | T | E | |||
V | A | L | L | E | Y | L | O | W | S | L | E | E | T | |
A | B | A | R | S | O | B | E | R | O | N | E | S | ||
T | U | T | O | R | R | I | V | E | R | W | I | D | E | |
A | L | L | N | E | W | E | N | E | E | S | T | |||
R | A | Y | F | A | S | T | E | S | P | |||||
G | E | T | T | I | N | G | T | O | Y | O | U | |||
R | O | B | E | R | T | E | L | E | E | L | O | T | S | |
A | R | E | N | T | E | L | M | O | A | K | I | N | ||
M | O | T | T | O | L | Y | O | N | R | O | S | A |
I started this puzzle in college to pass the time working the night shift at the security desk. That was years ago and I've written a lot of puzzles since then, but I'm glad this one will be the first in the NYT. I think it's a pretty straightforward theme and I'd like to thank Will and Frank Longo for their advice on the fill. I hope everyone enjoys the puzzle!