I VISITED CHACO CANYON WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER WHEN I DECIDED TO EXCAVATE AT SALMON RUINS. SOME OF THE CREW TOOK A DAY TO VIEW CHACO CANYON. WE VIEWED THE WAY THE RUINS WERE BUILT AROUND A SEMICIRCLE AND ENJOYED THE KIVAS AS WE COULD ENTER SOME VIA A WOODEN LADDER.
I REMEMBER READING ABOUT SOME OF CHACO CANYONS PETROGLYPHS THAT WERE IN A CAVE AND WERE ALIGNED TO THE SUNRISE DURING THE SUMMER SOLSTICE. ALSO I HAD READ ABOUT THE TRAILS IN THIS PARK THAT LED TO MEXICO.
WE MET SOME ARCHAEOLOGISTS WHO WERE WORKING THERE AND THEY WERE SURVEYING AND MAPPING IN SOME OF THE RUINS DURING THE 70'S. IT WAS A HOT SUMMER BUT WHEN I WAS 20 I DIDN'T MIND THE HEAT.
APPARENTLY THEY HAD SOME VALLEY CROPS IRRIGATED FROM THE HILLTOP CLIFF RUNOFF DURING THE SPRING AND OCCASIONAL SUMMER SHOWER. OTHERWISE THE AREA LOOKED FAIRLY BARREN.
BUT AS I LEARNED FROM MY WORK AT SALMON RUINS THESE NATIVES WERE ADEPT AT USING EVERY NATIVE GRASS AND BUSH AVAILABLE TO THEIR AREA FOR FOOD OR MEDICINE. THERE WAS SATURDAY CLASS DELIVERED TO US DURING OUR VOLUNTEER WORK AT ANOTHER SITE. THE INSTRUCTOR SHOWED US THE VARIOUS NATIVE PLANTS AND GRASSES THAT THE PREHISTORIC PUEBLOANS USED AND PREPARED FOR FOOD.
I DON'T REMEMBER MANY OF THESE AS I HAVEN'T LIVED IN THE DESERT FOR MANY YEARS.
BUT WE DID HAVE FUN EXCAVATING THE SMALL RUIN NEAR SALMON RUINS AND TRAVELING TO NEARBY SITES.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
ZION NATIONAL PARK
OUR FAMILY VISITED THIS PARK DURING A SUMMER WHEN WE TOOK TWO WEEKS OFF AND WENT TO ABOUT SIX NATIONAL PARKS THROUGHOUT THE WEST. IT HAD A PLACE TO PARK YOUR VEHICLE AND THEN THEY REQUIRE YOU TO CATCH A BUS TO GO TO THE TRAILS AND ATTRACTIONS. THE PART OF THE PARK WE VISITED WAS IN A NARROW AND STEEP CANYON OF SANDSTONE WITH RED, PINK, AND BLACK HUES.
I REMEMBER CATCHING THE BUS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS AND HIKING ALONG TRAILS THAT WOVE UP AND AROUND THE THE CANYON LANDS AND THROUGH SOME MAN MADE TUNNELS. WE SAW SOME SNAKES AND SOME DEER HERE. OUR SON WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND TOOK A LOT OF MOVIES OF THE CANYON, NARRATING AS HE SHOT THE FOOTAGE.
THE PARK TRAILS HAD A NUMBER OF BRIDGES OVER THE SMALL DRAINAGE THAT RUNS THROUGH THIS CANYON. THE COLORS OF THE CLIFFS ARE MAGICAL. I DON'T REMEMBER CAMPING HERE, BUT I'M SURE YOU CAN.
I REMEMBER A NEAT TOWN NEARBY THE PARK THAT LOOKED LIKE IT COULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THE TV SHOW CALLED GUNSMOKE. WE TOURED THE TOWN A LITTLE CHECKING OUT SOME OF THE SCENERY.
I REMEMBER CATCHING THE BUS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS AND HIKING ALONG TRAILS THAT WOVE UP AND AROUND THE THE CANYON LANDS AND THROUGH SOME MAN MADE TUNNELS. WE SAW SOME SNAKES AND SOME DEER HERE. OUR SON WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND TOOK A LOT OF MOVIES OF THE CANYON, NARRATING AS HE SHOT THE FOOTAGE.
THE PARK TRAILS HAD A NUMBER OF BRIDGES OVER THE SMALL DRAINAGE THAT RUNS THROUGH THIS CANYON. THE COLORS OF THE CLIFFS ARE MAGICAL. I DON'T REMEMBER CAMPING HERE, BUT I'M SURE YOU CAN.
I REMEMBER A NEAT TOWN NEARBY THE PARK THAT LOOKED LIKE IT COULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THE TV SHOW CALLED GUNSMOKE. WE TOURED THE TOWN A LITTLE CHECKING OUT SOME OF THE SCENERY.
DINOSAUR NATIONAL PARK
AT DINOSAUR NATIONAL PARK WE CAMPED AND HIKED FOR SEVERAL DAYS. WE SPENT TIME GOING THROUGH THE VISITOR CENTER WHICH HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE EXPLAINING HOW THE LARGE DINOSAUR FOSSILS WERE EXCAVATED ONCE THEY WERE FOUND. THEY DEMONSTRATED WITH TOOLS AND PICKS HOW THEY REMOVED SOME OF THE BONES. THEY ALSO HAD DRILLS WHICH WERE USED TO REACH SOME OF THE DINOSAUR BONES AS THEY EXCAVATED. THE PARK IS FILLED WITH HISTORIC SITES AS WELL AS WITH PREHISTORIC SITES, ESPECIALLY PETROGLYPHS.
WE SPENT A DAY HIKING TO ALL THE ATTRACTIONS AND READING ABOUT THE TYPES OF ROCKS ON THE TRAILS. WE ALSO WENT TO AN HISTOPRIC CABIN WHICH HAD A SPRING WITH DRINKABLE WATER. IT WAS IN A VERY NICE WELL SHADED CANYON AND THERE WERE SOME NICE TRAILS THERE. THE VIEWS OF THE DESERT AND INTERESTING BOULDERS AND STRIATED CLIFFS LEAVE A LASTING MEMORY.
OUR OTHER JOURNEY WAS UP TO A TRAIL AGAINST A SANDSTONE CLIFF WHICH HAD MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF PETROGLYPHS AS WELL AS SOME PICTOGRAPHS. WE DID NOT NOTICE OTHER ARTIFACTS THERE. THIS AREA HAD A NICE VIEW OF THE OVERLYING VALLEY. WE TOOKMANY PHOTOS HERE.
FINALLY WE DECIDED TO CAMP IN AN ISOLATED PART OF THE PARK CALLED ECHO PARK. IT IS ACCESSABLE BY ABOUT 18 MILES OF RUGGED AND ROCKY TRAILS. UNFORTUNATELY WE HAD PROBLEMS WITH OUR BIKE CARRIER WHICH BROKE WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THIS ROAD. FINALLY WE REACHED THE CAMPGROUND AND IT IS ALONG A HUGE RIVER WHERE RAFTORS STOP FOR A MEAL. WE RODE OUR BIKES A BIT AROUND THE DESOLATED TRAILS THERE AND ENJOYED THE VIEW OF THE NIGHTIME SUNSET AGAINST THE 1000' CLIFFS SURROUNDING THE CAMPGROUND. THUS THE NAME ECHO CAMPGROUND. THE CLIFFS FORM A SEMICIRCLE AROUND THIS FLAT CAMPGROUND AREA. WE NOTICED A HOUSE BUILT NEARBY HERE THAT WAS PROBABLY USED AT ONE TIME BY THE PARK PERSONNEL.
WE SPENT A DAY HIKING TO ALL THE ATTRACTIONS AND READING ABOUT THE TYPES OF ROCKS ON THE TRAILS. WE ALSO WENT TO AN HISTOPRIC CABIN WHICH HAD A SPRING WITH DRINKABLE WATER. IT WAS IN A VERY NICE WELL SHADED CANYON AND THERE WERE SOME NICE TRAILS THERE. THE VIEWS OF THE DESERT AND INTERESTING BOULDERS AND STRIATED CLIFFS LEAVE A LASTING MEMORY.
OUR OTHER JOURNEY WAS UP TO A TRAIL AGAINST A SANDSTONE CLIFF WHICH HAD MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF PETROGLYPHS AS WELL AS SOME PICTOGRAPHS. WE DID NOT NOTICE OTHER ARTIFACTS THERE. THIS AREA HAD A NICE VIEW OF THE OVERLYING VALLEY. WE TOOKMANY PHOTOS HERE.
FINALLY WE DECIDED TO CAMP IN AN ISOLATED PART OF THE PARK CALLED ECHO PARK. IT IS ACCESSABLE BY ABOUT 18 MILES OF RUGGED AND ROCKY TRAILS. UNFORTUNATELY WE HAD PROBLEMS WITH OUR BIKE CARRIER WHICH BROKE WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THIS ROAD. FINALLY WE REACHED THE CAMPGROUND AND IT IS ALONG A HUGE RIVER WHERE RAFTORS STOP FOR A MEAL. WE RODE OUR BIKES A BIT AROUND THE DESOLATED TRAILS THERE AND ENJOYED THE VIEW OF THE NIGHTIME SUNSET AGAINST THE 1000' CLIFFS SURROUNDING THE CAMPGROUND. THUS THE NAME ECHO CAMPGROUND. THE CLIFFS FORM A SEMICIRCLE AROUND THIS FLAT CAMPGROUND AREA. WE NOTICED A HOUSE BUILT NEARBY HERE THAT WAS PROBABLY USED AT ONE TIME BY THE PARK PERSONNEL.
OREGON CAVES
OREGON CAVES IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARKS AS WE HAVE STAYED OVERNIGHT THERE IN THEIR HISTORIC LODGE. OUR ROOM OVERLOOKED A SMALL FOUNTAIN AND WATERFALL THAT THEY MADE WITH IN THE FRONT OF THE CAVE. IT IS A STRANGE LODGE AS THE HALLWAYS ARE VERY NARROW.
MY SON REALLY LIKES TO GO INTO CAVES. THIS ONE HAS A LONG TOUR OF ABOUT TWO HOURS. THE TOUR LEADER TELLS ABOUT HOW THE CAVE WAS FORMED AND ABOUT HOW THEY FOUND A PIECE OF A MASTODON IN THE CAVE. THEY ALSO EXPLAIN HOW THE CAVE HAS BEN EXPLORED BY COLLEGE STUDENTS AND THEY HAVE FOUND SOME ALBINO FISH IN THE SMALL STREAM IN THE CAVE.
WE HAVE HIKED ABOUT THE TRAILS ABOVE THE CAVE AND AROUND THE LODGE AND IT IS QUITE AN INTERESTING PLACE TO VIEW DEER AND SEE MANY BIRDS. THE LODGE AGAIN IS AN HISTORIC BUILDING ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER AND IN THE BASEMENT THEY HAVE FIXED UP A SMALL BREAKFAST CAFE TO LOOK LIKE ONE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN FROM THE 1960'S OR SO. ACROSS THE STREET IS A VISITOR CENTER WITH SOUVENIERS AND BOOKS.
MY SON REALLY LIKES TO GO INTO CAVES. THIS ONE HAS A LONG TOUR OF ABOUT TWO HOURS. THE TOUR LEADER TELLS ABOUT HOW THE CAVE WAS FORMED AND ABOUT HOW THEY FOUND A PIECE OF A MASTODON IN THE CAVE. THEY ALSO EXPLAIN HOW THE CAVE HAS BEN EXPLORED BY COLLEGE STUDENTS AND THEY HAVE FOUND SOME ALBINO FISH IN THE SMALL STREAM IN THE CAVE.
WE HAVE HIKED ABOUT THE TRAILS ABOVE THE CAVE AND AROUND THE LODGE AND IT IS QUITE AN INTERESTING PLACE TO VIEW DEER AND SEE MANY BIRDS. THE LODGE AGAIN IS AN HISTORIC BUILDING ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER AND IN THE BASEMENT THEY HAVE FIXED UP A SMALL BREAKFAST CAFE TO LOOK LIKE ONE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN FROM THE 1960'S OR SO. ACROSS THE STREET IS A VISITOR CENTER WITH SOUVENIERS AND BOOKS.
CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK
OUR FAMILY HAS BEEN TO CRATER LAKE A NUMBER OF TIMES IN THE CENTER OF OREGON. WE HAVE BROUGHT OUR TENT AND HAVE CAMPED IN SEVERAL CAMPGROUNDS. WE HAVE HIKED THE ENTIRE RIM OF THE CRATER. AND IT IS A VERY STEEP DROP DOWN INTO THE CRATER WHERE THERE IS A BLUEISH-GREEN PURE ICE COLD LAKE. WE HAVE ALSO HIKED DOWN TO THE LAKE WHERE YOU CAN TAKE A SPEED BOAT TRIP ON THE LAKE SEVERAL TIMES. AND THE INTERPRETERS TELL YOU ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE PARK. THE LAKE IS THE DEEPEST IN THE U.S. - 2000 FEET! THEN YOU CAN EXPLORE THE SMALL ISLAND IN THE LAKE AS WELL.
THE SOILS IN THIS PARK ARE PUMICE, ASH AND CINDER AND DO NOT HOLD WATER WELL. THE HIGHEST PEAK IS ABOUT 9000 FEET HIGH. THE MOUNTAIN WHERE THE LAKE IS NOW ERUPTED 8000 YEARS AGO. THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN IN THE PARK IS 9000 FEET HIGH. THERE ARE FIERCE WINDS THERE EVEN DURING THE SUMMER. AND THE NIGHTS ARE VERY COOL. WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEM WITH BEARS WHEN WE HAVE CAMPED HERE. THE TRAILS HAVE A NUMBER OF WATERFALLS THAT ARE RUNNING DURING THE SUMMER AS WELL AS THE WINTER.
THEY HAVE A REALLY NEAT HISTORIC LODGE HERE WITH A BIG FIRE PLACE AND RESTAURANT WHERE YOU CAN GET WARM.
THE SOILS IN THIS PARK ARE PUMICE, ASH AND CINDER AND DO NOT HOLD WATER WELL. THE HIGHEST PEAK IS ABOUT 9000 FEET HIGH. THE MOUNTAIN WHERE THE LAKE IS NOW ERUPTED 8000 YEARS AGO. THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN IN THE PARK IS 9000 FEET HIGH. THERE ARE FIERCE WINDS THERE EVEN DURING THE SUMMER. AND THE NIGHTS ARE VERY COOL. WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEM WITH BEARS WHEN WE HAVE CAMPED HERE. THE TRAILS HAVE A NUMBER OF WATERFALLS THAT ARE RUNNING DURING THE SUMMER AS WELL AS THE WINTER.
THEY HAVE A REALLY NEAT HISTORIC LODGE HERE WITH A BIG FIRE PLACE AND RESTAURANT WHERE YOU CAN GET WARM.
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
OUR FAMILY HAS VISITED THIS PARK DURING THE SUMMER AND MY HUSBAND AND I VISITED IT DURING OUR TIME WHEN WE WORKED AS ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONSULTANTS IN THE DAKOTAS. IT HAS A NUMBER OF GLACIERS AND SEEMS THAT THE PEAKS ALWAYS HAVE SNOW. THERE ARE MANY BEARS IN THE PARK SO IT IS BEST TO MAKE NOISE AS YOU WALK OR HIKE OR BRING A PARTNER.
THE TERRAIN IS RUGGED AND IT IS HOME TO THE BLACKFOOT INDIANS. THEY HUNTED THE BISON WHICH BECAME EXTINCT IN THE 1880'S. SO THEY HAD TO ADAPT TO A COMPLETLY DIFFERENT LIFESTYLE. THE DEVELOPED RANCHES AND FARMS AND GREW CORN, BEANS, SQUASH AND OTHER VEGETABLES, AND LEARNED TO HUNT SMALLER MAMMALS FOR FOOD.
THE ROADS ARE GOOD AND AT THE TOP OF THE ROAD IS A GREAT VISITOR CENTER. WE HAVE ENJOYED HIKING ALONG SOME OF THE RIDGE TRAILS. WE HAVE PHOTOGRAPHED THIS PARK AND I THINK WE CAMPED HERE WITH OUR WINNEBAGO YEARS AGO.
IT IS ONE OF THE MOST RUGGED PARKS IN THE COUNTRY WITH MOUNTAIN PEAKS REACHING OVER 12,000 FEET HIGH. IT WAS DESIGNATED A WORLD HERITAGE SITE IN 1995. BY 1880 PRESIDENT TAFT DESIGNATED IT AS A NATIONAL PARK.
THE TERRAIN IS RUGGED AND IT IS HOME TO THE BLACKFOOT INDIANS. THEY HUNTED THE BISON WHICH BECAME EXTINCT IN THE 1880'S. SO THEY HAD TO ADAPT TO A COMPLETLY DIFFERENT LIFESTYLE. THE DEVELOPED RANCHES AND FARMS AND GREW CORN, BEANS, SQUASH AND OTHER VEGETABLES, AND LEARNED TO HUNT SMALLER MAMMALS FOR FOOD.
THE ROADS ARE GOOD AND AT THE TOP OF THE ROAD IS A GREAT VISITOR CENTER. WE HAVE ENJOYED HIKING ALONG SOME OF THE RIDGE TRAILS. WE HAVE PHOTOGRAPHED THIS PARK AND I THINK WE CAMPED HERE WITH OUR WINNEBAGO YEARS AGO.
IT IS ONE OF THE MOST RUGGED PARKS IN THE COUNTRY WITH MOUNTAIN PEAKS REACHING OVER 12,000 FEET HIGH. IT WAS DESIGNATED A WORLD HERITAGE SITE IN 1995. BY 1880 PRESIDENT TAFT DESIGNATED IT AS A NATIONAL PARK.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK
THIS PARK IS A VALLEY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WHERE THE SHOSHONE NATIVES LIVED SINCE THE LAST ICE AGE. THERE WERE MANY MINING CAMPS AND TOWNS THAT HARVESTED MINERALS AND DEVELOPED THE VALLEY FOR TOURISM.
THE HIGHEST TEMPERATURE WAS 134 DEGREES IN 1913. THE VALLEY WAS KNOWN FOR ITS TWENTY MULE TEAMS IN 1881. THESE MINERS DUG FOR BORAX A MINERAL THAT WAS USED FREQUENTLY IN HISTORIC TIMES FOR MAKING SOAP, KEEPING MILK SWEET, MAKING CERAMICS, AS A WATER SOFTENER, AND FOR CURING EPILEPSY!
THERE IS AN 11,000 FOOT HIGH PEAK. MY FAMILY DROVE THROUGH DEATH VALLEY DURING THE HEAT OF SUMMER AND OUR AIR CONDITIONER OVERHEATED SO WE EXPERIENCED SOME VERY HOT TRAVELS THERE. THE SAND WAS SO HOT THAT YOU COULD HARDLY BREATHE IN ONE SMALL TOWN. LUCKILY WE HAD PLENTY OF WATER. WE WENT ON A SHORT HIKE AND COULD HARDLY BEAR THE HEAT- VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE HEAT IN PHOENIX.
WHEN I WORKED FOR THE FOREST SERVICE OUR GROUP HAD A MEETING IN DEATH VALLEY AND I CAME DOWN WITH MY SON'S ILLNESS. WE EXPLORED THE TOWN OF RHYOLITE WHICH WAS BUILT @ 1902 FOR MINING RHYOLITE AS WELL AS GOLD. AT ONE TIME IT HAD ABOUT 12,000 PEOPLE THERE. THERE WERE TWO RAILROADS BUILT TO THE TOWN AS WELL AND THEY PROBABLY SHIPPED THE MINERALS OUT TO LARGER CITIES.TODAY IT IS JUST A RUINS IN THE DESERT.
THE HIGHEST TEMPERATURE WAS 134 DEGREES IN 1913. THE VALLEY WAS KNOWN FOR ITS TWENTY MULE TEAMS IN 1881. THESE MINERS DUG FOR BORAX A MINERAL THAT WAS USED FREQUENTLY IN HISTORIC TIMES FOR MAKING SOAP, KEEPING MILK SWEET, MAKING CERAMICS, AS A WATER SOFTENER, AND FOR CURING EPILEPSY!
THERE IS AN 11,000 FOOT HIGH PEAK. MY FAMILY DROVE THROUGH DEATH VALLEY DURING THE HEAT OF SUMMER AND OUR AIR CONDITIONER OVERHEATED SO WE EXPERIENCED SOME VERY HOT TRAVELS THERE. THE SAND WAS SO HOT THAT YOU COULD HARDLY BREATHE IN ONE SMALL TOWN. LUCKILY WE HAD PLENTY OF WATER. WE WENT ON A SHORT HIKE AND COULD HARDLY BEAR THE HEAT- VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE HEAT IN PHOENIX.
WHEN I WORKED FOR THE FOREST SERVICE OUR GROUP HAD A MEETING IN DEATH VALLEY AND I CAME DOWN WITH MY SON'S ILLNESS. WE EXPLORED THE TOWN OF RHYOLITE WHICH WAS BUILT @ 1902 FOR MINING RHYOLITE AS WELL AS GOLD. AT ONE TIME IT HAD ABOUT 12,000 PEOPLE THERE. THERE WERE TWO RAILROADS BUILT TO THE TOWN AS WELL AND THEY PROBABLY SHIPPED THE MINERALS OUT TO LARGER CITIES.TODAY IT IS JUST A RUINS IN THE DESERT.
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