tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65975127638617033892024-03-14T03:56:18.080-07:00Toad Haul Manor JournalRV Travels Of A Nature and Technology GeekUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597512763861703389.post-10046824745110027092018-08-30T11:17:00.003-07:002021-02-03T18:38:34.631-07:00Our Canadian Honeymoon - August 2018<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canada: Climatically a little worse for wear.</td></tr>
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<i>[Note: Click the Pics to enlarge] </i></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">C</span>limate disruption has come with a vengence to Canada. Cathie and I spent our two week honeymoon in four of Alberta's National Parks and one nearby provincial park.<br />
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We experienced the beauty of Canada and the impacts of dry forest conditions that spawned over <a href="http://cwfis.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/interactive-map" target="_blank"><b>57</b> major fires</a> in British Columbia. B.C. is dealing with back-to-back record wildfire seasons with more than 945,000 hectares (~ 2.4 million acres) burned. In the U.S. 68 large wildland fires have burning more than 684,000 acres on National Forest System lands. As of August this year 4,256 wildland fires have burned 1,176,458 acres of NFS land.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from the Banff Gondola <br />
ride top on a moderate smoke day.</td></tr>
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We drove through some of the fire impacted area in <a href="https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/bc/kootenay" target="_blank"><b>Kootenay National Park</b></a> that caused nearly all of the forest roads and sites to be closed.<br />
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Most of our time in Alberta there were serious health advisory warnings due to the smoke conditions. This contributed to less than spectacular photography of distant views, but the trip was still great with Cathie sharing the beauty of the Canadian Rockies in August.<br />
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Our start and end of the trip were in Calgary, Alberta. After two nights in Calgary we drove to Banff for four nights, then five in Jasper, a night in Lake Louise and the last night again in Calgary before flying home.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Historic Cosmic Ray Station</td></tr>
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On top of Sulphur Mountain outside Banff is the historic <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulphur_Mountain_Cosmic_Ray_Station" target="_blank">Cosmic Ray Monitoring Station</a>.<br />
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Banff is in the <a href="http://www.thebowriver.com/bow_river_basin_waterscape.htm" target="_blank">Bow River</a> valley where the melt water flows from the Athabasca <span style="font-family: inherit;">Glacier and</span> others. The glacial dust suspended in the waters create varying shades of green and blue. Jasper has a couple of canoe and raft rental companies offering variable length floats down the river that leads to Hudson Bay.<br />
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Just outside the town is the <a href="https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/ab/caveandbasin/info" target="_blank">Cave and Basin Site</a>. <a href="https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/banff/visit" target="_blank">Banff National Park</a> is Canada's oldest national park and was established in 1885. The impetus for the park was the preservation of naturally flowing sulfuric hot springs that private entrepreneurs sought exclusive use.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Bow River Watershed</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bow River kayak rentals outside our motel room.</td></tr>
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<td>The Government of Canada saw Banff as the perfect location for creating a national park system.</td>
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<td>The hot springs and 16 square kilometres surrounding the Cave and Basin site were deemed off-limits for sale or settlement. Soon the park boundaries were widened. A town, a bridge over the Bow River and a hotel were constructed so the public could access the <a href="https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/ab/caveandbasin/info" target="_blank">Cave and Basin</a>. Not too far from the cave is this hot spring with algae thriving in the very hot water. <span style="font-weight: normal;">The hot springs cool as they </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">drain into a local marsh with </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">a boardwalked wildlife viewing area.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Cave and Basin Hot Pool inside the cave</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">Cave and Basin Wildlife Viewing Area<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Cave and Basin Boardwalk</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cathie in her purple hiking uniform</td></tr>
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Hiking trails abound in the vicinity. A hike up to the Hoodoos along the Bow River reveals the wildness of the park immediately outside the city of Banff.<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Cathie loved it all, except for the smoke. After too few days in Banff we travelled north 120 km to </span><a href="https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/jasper" target="_blank">Jasper National Park</a>. One can drive to Jasper on either the <a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_931309363"></span>Trans Canada Highway<span id="goog_931309364"></span></a> (a freeway) or the original route on the two-lane <a href="http://banffandbeyond.com/the-bow-valley-parkway-the-alternate-scenic-route-between-banff-and-lake-louise/" target="_blank">Bow Valley Parkway</a>. </div>
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After passing Lake Louise, the drive continues on the <a href="https://icefieldsparkway.com/" target="_blank">Icefields Parkway</a>.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">Along the Bow Valley Parkway is a </span><span style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">monument commemorating the </span><span style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">memories of the World War I </span><a href="http://www.friendsofbanff.com/maps/bow-valley-parkway/internmentcamp/" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;" target="_blank">Castle Internment Camp</a><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">built in 1915 at </span><span style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">the base of Castle Mountain. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="text-align: left;">The camp held immigrant prisoners </span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Ukrain, Austria, and Hungary. The </span><a href="http://www.jaspermuseum.org/gallery-showcase.html" style="font-weight: normal;" target="_blank">Jasper Historical Society</a><span style="font-weight: normal;"> has a special exhibit regarding the experiences of the </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">prisoners</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Internment Camp Roadside Monument</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Black Bear along the Icefields Parkway</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Horn Sheep along Highway 16</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4O9ehy_yzxkIG0fiDjTSYUs-Vpe2gj3qx3hBdF7hwB2DrWN5roY9z6GKkjNG550LBJTNS-a2FazvSzmZtZcSMT5wDm2H3xj0m0dO-w41QyCyniszGn3XdZn3a8YgzQxLDcVgAIHmm7TU/s1600/P8190267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4O9ehy_yzxkIG0fiDjTSYUs-Vpe2gj3qx3hBdF7hwB2DrWN5roY9z6GKkjNG550LBJTNS-a2FazvSzmZtZcSMT5wDm2H3xj0m0dO-w41QyCyniszGn3XdZn3a8YgzQxLDcVgAIHmm7TU/s320/P8190267.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rocky Mountain Goats at the same location in the afternoon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While in Jasper we took a side trip east out of the park to the town of Hinton and visited a provincial park and visited a city park in Hinton containing a raised boardwalk through a huge beaver pond.<br />
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<table><tbody>
<tr id="row2"><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDmLxm59ABuSfgS890ipRLi9i3k5mbCXTL1FzRl0PfVgcGab-odA47Cc6CxwYd-XiI7iPWpRthdN4xCKAlEjq9f0jl1nSuqvpVy14aoxOrWpfOx_lku4TxstD7AgxqC5VvXF65_X6hzg/s1600/P8190240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDmLxm59ABuSfgS890ipRLi9i3k5mbCXTL1FzRl0PfVgcGab-odA47Cc6CxwYd-XiI7iPWpRthdN4xCKAlEjq9f0jl1nSuqvpVy14aoxOrWpfOx_lku4TxstD7AgxqC5VvXF65_X6hzg/s320/P8190240.JPG" width="320" /></a></td><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQ7hbtNqd4hyphenhyphenkBOeLo9qPdyvWE5hjuY7l9Dl7bAJ4sPmRWIe8U8KkVZDKhRMRbKKqg79qs3xG_bdcuwFcwivW6-4BF4pRLQq1mcqLX7z5E9AulT7XQvZ1vYAVlE9KYMkhlVmnafQBXOg/s1600/P8190253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQ7hbtNqd4hyphenhyphenkBOeLo9qPdyvWE5hjuY7l9Dl7bAJ4sPmRWIe8U8KkVZDKhRMRbKKqg79qs3xG_bdcuwFcwivW6-4BF4pRLQq1mcqLX7z5E9AulT7XQvZ1vYAVlE9KYMkhlVmnafQBXOg/s320/P8190253.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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On the road to the beautiful Emerald Lake near Lake Louise is the so-called <a href="https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/bc/yoho/activ/places#emerald" target="_blank">Natural Bridge</a> created by the undercutting force of glacial waters of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kicking_Horse_River" target="_blank">Kicking Horse River</a>. In the area can also be found the Spiral Train Tunnels, Wapta Falls, Takakkaw Falls and other points of interest.<br />
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<tr id="row2"><th><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_yg_J4c3arYLDtD0jJZW7XHrHxdTsA1QFi8KYIf7QLsWOaXLak6xvbeehuNjWFahpRAQdFGLANHuIu0BH71EJ7dAa5R1TKoIjrZkjdypT5Wpu2NEVY4QXWa9VA1Kdojkeom92AY92BM/s1600/P8160129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 400; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_yg_J4c3arYLDtD0jJZW7XHrHxdTsA1QFi8KYIf7QLsWOaXLak6xvbeehuNjWFahpRAQdFGLANHuIu0BH71EJ7dAa5R1TKoIjrZkjdypT5Wpu2NEVY4QXWa9VA1Kdojkeom92AY92BM/s200/P8160129.JPG" width="200" /></a> </th><td><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN08UyuCGdahaQiAK8X-8PWzbbLm0nQiUm-Lbv2dd7rOlRHzw__VP9A7kM3BykJ4ELYL8IPxLJwC5XWko42l6UH6_WEW6QtXA2YcqnddvQDQSorrScLDCo-RAd1eZF06V-VRtpsxBUfPo/s1600/P8160138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN08UyuCGdahaQiAK8X-8PWzbbLm0nQiUm-Lbv2dd7rOlRHzw__VP9A7kM3BykJ4ELYL8IPxLJwC5XWko42l6UH6_WEW6QtXA2YcqnddvQDQSorrScLDCo-RAd1eZF06V-VRtpsxBUfPo/s200/P8160138.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Natural Bridge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td><td><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WmHVY8RnnTnCpMbgp4-nVoQWlsYZ3ghgbi1kUiq2VkTLREeLElkRpTrRb9c1mKUA3il7oexuqaluRvdrqS1MPWDDnEGo1PiilQb3P2Iql9bYoddDHIknp0_xR-Nmxj-pNhoVakPLER4/s1600/P8160160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WmHVY8RnnTnCpMbgp4-nVoQWlsYZ3ghgbi1kUiq2VkTLREeLElkRpTrRb9c1mKUA3il7oexuqaluRvdrqS1MPWDDnEGo1PiilQb3P2Iql9bYoddDHIknp0_xR-Nmxj-pNhoVakPLER4/s200/P8160160.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Takakkaw Falls</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
We were able to see about a dozen glaciers within the four national parks we visited. Peyto Glacier, named for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Peyto">Bill Peyto</a>, an early trail guide and trapper in the Banff area, and the lake were most picturesque from on high. The much higher glacier along the continental divide created a delta prior to the emerald blue lake. These wonders are the source of the Mistaya River. <i>Mistaya</i> in the Cree language translates to grizzly bear.</div>
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<tr id="row2"><th><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlv2Kjr2jcWC46lLNhkMe7o5D6NtSAA5eeTduNNq0nMYTZRa-yi76nNl6cC4ZuOFS94WOZm5xBVCCxXr8lHM5QmdivTe6K-9ZGnNrOrQZ_V6tC59PieuP8pJAZcTiz1tp7nxY8zyeRK_E/s1600/P8160174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 12.8px; font-weight: 400; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlv2Kjr2jcWC46lLNhkMe7o5D6NtSAA5eeTduNNq0nMYTZRa-yi76nNl6cC4ZuOFS94WOZm5xBVCCxXr8lHM5QmdivTe6K-9ZGnNrOrQZ_V6tC59PieuP8pJAZcTiz1tp7nxY8zyeRK_E/s200/P8160174.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peyto Glacier</td></tr>
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</th><td><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2yWlwjBIfhslwnE5YnDVpkR38KAoAyDTYQg2yDnISE2Av3YYGT3DBXmVq7t24FIpMk3qN4ut3_TmvdSD2jfKLkeSQk9tNbGiUcq0e4R7xTKs1irOqg2SNJ7TVKxdWsj3Rg0Ea30RfHg/s1600/P8160178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2yWlwjBIfhslwnE5YnDVpkR38KAoAyDTYQg2yDnISE2Av3YYGT3DBXmVq7t24FIpMk3qN4ut3_TmvdSD2jfKLkeSQk9tNbGiUcq0e4R7xTKs1irOqg2SNJ7TVKxdWsj3Rg0Ea30RfHg/s200/P8160178.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peyto Glacier Delta<br />
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</td><td><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BmhK9u-q5LJ1nQCUr0VKP3df4sXcns_eG8UitGDc8nqCxWL-UEkz6FZUz5L06pxbuHFeMj4zFKKjfP5mfXVodKBcBL_c7BTctC0XJaQTjNugvlDMrutL3vSMxFGc8n-B3wUfoIoOS5M/s1600/P8160175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BmhK9u-q5LJ1nQCUr0VKP3df4sXcns_eG8UitGDc8nqCxWL-UEkz6FZUz5L06pxbuHFeMj4zFKKjfP5mfXVodKBcBL_c7BTctC0XJaQTjNugvlDMrutL3vSMxFGc8n-B3wUfoIoOS5M/s200/P8160175.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peyto Lake</td></tr>
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</td></tr>
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One of the most visited locations in Alberta is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maligne_Lake" target="_blank">Maligne Lake</a>. This fact stems from a famous photograph of Spirit Island used by the Canadian Pacific Railway at the turn of the century to promote recreational tourism in the region. Reachable best by chartered motorboat or canoe/kayak, the island still does not disappoint visitors.<br />
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<tr id="row2"><td><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij6kYf4aKPB_A1og2Hy1xhxx7Ti4SpgNJ9TMMNWEavHo0Ke8kA_C8rslhQzJ94RNyjIYw55BtDm10-onPZsz2cizRT86W35qX8lK_HgS5gM_LB_EfmKjKa0NLSaxMW9T8uVruWC0b8G9o/s1600/P8190290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij6kYf4aKPB_A1og2Hy1xhxx7Ti4SpgNJ9TMMNWEavHo0Ke8kA_C8rslhQzJ94RNyjIYw55BtDm10-onPZsz2cizRT86W35qX8lK_HgS5gM_LB_EfmKjKa0NLSaxMW9T8uVruWC0b8G9o/s320/P8190290.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spirit Island on Maligne Lake</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAimqbRxEh4LO2tkEfMeCLxJJrsmjGuI4rMCIoogNXFfDOX8Wh62KwpRDr8TnPHEl3LjdErVkl09mbR2dbLkXbVg1cTAOQpV0MhQifySKr3fnxIMsTFHxvad5nETN7Vg61zz8U_XEG9io/s1600/P8190272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAimqbRxEh4LO2tkEfMeCLxJJrsmjGuI4rMCIoogNXFfDOX8Wh62KwpRDr8TnPHEl3LjdErVkl09mbR2dbLkXbVg1cTAOQpV0MhQifySKr3fnxIMsTFHxvad5nETN7Vg61zz8U_XEG9io/s320/P8190272.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Maligne Lake Charter Cruise Boats.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Swiss mountaineers lived at Lake Louise where they originally led wealthy visitors to the nearby peaks and glaciers. Once the railway came near, tourism from the general population soared.</div>
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<table><tbody>
<tr id="row2"><th><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUf43bX4U08v2JMz2VOFTqV0a5raC-7SRFt9QxUuCinaSFr7vCfhNdIbdrsqnfQBlinadxA9lh7_QxFeFHCB7m6Q26yIPnCK3wVmhfEvkaRYbG38nt17P6QlC8tLNAsVHy-4Hb_Wn2efY/s1600/P8220509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 400; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUf43bX4U08v2JMz2VOFTqV0a5raC-7SRFt9QxUuCinaSFr7vCfhNdIbdrsqnfQBlinadxA9lh7_QxFeFHCB7m6Q26yIPnCK3wVmhfEvkaRYbG38nt17P6QlC8tLNAsVHy-4Hb_Wn2efY/s320/P8220509.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and memorial to mountain guides</td></tr>
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</th><td><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13onoAZLylW4cq3v6cd-G2HG9hFqfzH9TlN7WVv7dKCdY-hbD7ChnbAuD30SWHfE59byxOs9XgfOPMA18UGu-YdDnXla1xNSwhcrp1-Ovea-g7gcOphuD_1Z3fPHmzDCjdAF12XWvr4A/s1600/P8220639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13onoAZLylW4cq3v6cd-G2HG9hFqfzH9TlN7WVv7dKCdY-hbD7ChnbAuD30SWHfE59byxOs9XgfOPMA18UGu-YdDnXla1xNSwhcrp1-Ovea-g7gcOphuD_1Z3fPHmzDCjdAF12XWvr4A/s320/P8220639.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flowers abound the Lake Louise lakeshore</td></tr>
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</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHC0av7Z24CzECaA8UAYJ62sNCcYHER1l6-Lq1cXlEgSJS6KcziY5eB6vkoqpB9q9GxdmWQ0B5PNhXnSAShENazfoG8C7nhvJpum-msyC4oIj8KkmOS9q_N1x2KoQJn9R5tuwdrvVf9i4/s1600/P8200311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHC0av7Z24CzECaA8UAYJ62sNCcYHER1l6-Lq1cXlEgSJS6KcziY5eB6vkoqpB9q9GxdmWQ0B5PNhXnSAShENazfoG8C7nhvJpum-msyC4oIj8KkmOS9q_N1x2KoQJn9R5tuwdrvVf9i4/s640/P8200311.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">A Cow Moose at Moose Lake 1/2 mile from Lake Louise</td></tr>
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One of the most interesting sites to me near Jasper was the <a href="https://www.banffjaspercollection.com/attractions/maligne-canyon/" target="_blank">Maligne Canyon</a>. There are six pedestrian bridges across that are up to 50 meters deep in the very narrow canyon. They bridges provide great views of the force of nature cutting through the rock.<br />
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<tr id="row2"><th><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2UgFLucpvan_IzZv78SMyQ4eRpx-nG9IWCHu8rptNjD7lm_z3rn3TXTJ66mhyXpRrTmZDRD21A-LXkUFR9fy26or5ZIz2vdqDzMeN-vk7nLjxzZwrSaXhzIHnnUx7RuxOqWlMug9Vow/s1600/P8210422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: 400; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2UgFLucpvan_IzZv78SMyQ4eRpx-nG9IWCHu8rptNjD7lm_z3rn3TXTJ66mhyXpRrTmZDRD21A-LXkUFR9fy26or5ZIz2vdqDzMeN-vk7nLjxzZwrSaXhzIHnnUx7RuxOqWlMug9Vow/s200/P8210422.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maligne Canyon 1</td></tr>
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</th><td><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKwAGIUN7EpIcvVo2HdYxeA-ZGCauagLWp_8malw3SVXg0tJd-U7QXvez8rbYCxpbeFCZjcffN_Cg3-o2ZYtbsZhCD-VTn-kmtQF8hlwe5PalYalzedOqQ86dS-v2mccHxrE_IOTbA6Q/s1600/P8210425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKwAGIUN7EpIcvVo2HdYxeA-ZGCauagLWp_8malw3SVXg0tJd-U7QXvez8rbYCxpbeFCZjcffN_Cg3-o2ZYtbsZhCD-VTn-kmtQF8hlwe5PalYalzedOqQ86dS-v2mccHxrE_IOTbA6Q/s200/P8210425.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maligne Canyon 2</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEQN-foLes4vr0bW8ydo1YZ1LzxrryMAnh0YDXn9kI6avhHCVUmrHY0K5GRPIkJUbL1PHRktwdYDDOU_AbHTqoCW1cu2RA6Er6YR94XF6All6v4B2Yr59Dd_SwkGeOmnP0l-lMOB1Yuc/s1600/P8210431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEQN-foLes4vr0bW8ydo1YZ1LzxrryMAnh0YDXn9kI6avhHCVUmrHY0K5GRPIkJUbL1PHRktwdYDDOU_AbHTqoCW1cu2RA6Er6YR94XF6All6v4B2Yr59Dd_SwkGeOmnP0l-lMOB1Yuc/s200/P8210431.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maligne Canyon 3</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitu9uYud5m_01HqqD-ESSsFsnpOdeKYiTnYwNcU2DA9YaNRTYAkPMF8al7euXf4G7-dxXpji3lr3jA696F5lPIQXI8fvHvRNf0c9ZUyDsj-NOz8rCQSNmxVUZp_9AG1_Wc0613AcMEx_k/s1600/P8210466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitu9uYud5m_01HqqD-ESSsFsnpOdeKYiTnYwNcU2DA9YaNRTYAkPMF8al7euXf4G7-dxXpji3lr3jA696F5lPIQXI8fvHvRNf0c9ZUyDsj-NOz8rCQSNmxVUZp_9AG1_Wc0613AcMEx_k/s640/P8210466.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Maligne Canyon 4 (Bridge #2)</td></tr>
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Rated as one of the 25 best waterfalls in Canada is Athabasca Falls ("Athabasca translates from Cree to 'grass or reeds here and there'. "As the upper Athabasca River flows from the Columbia Icefield through the Jasper National Park in Alberta, it chips away at the rock, forming a canyon until it drops 80 feet over a thin layer of hard quartzite through soft limestone, carving first the short gorge and many potholes as well. What makes Athabasca Falls so picturesque is not the height but the force the huge volume of water creates as it drops into the gorge. The water formed many natural viewing platforms and trails that are still being chipped away, one millimeter every year. There are stairs that lead to the base of the falls that will allow you to closely view small plants, mosses, and lichens that managed to cling to the rock. You can cross the concrete bridge to the other side of the gorge. The falls are popular among white-water rafters, who start at the falls’ base and head all the way to Jasper."</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Athabasca Falls 1</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSIKG8sPd767O8iIMeknRZovBTWLzlA2qJnZ2PS1urYs3uR5lkmS0YdnMSKZhf6xOSfItG9VAYz9n0DRWTWCCuZTLaQkfkySyzNsncAWmdzWeh-EzsDQWumpMBFjo7ADyPfmPqKuy7e_A/s1600/P8210446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSIKG8sPd767O8iIMeknRZovBTWLzlA2qJnZ2PS1urYs3uR5lkmS0YdnMSKZhf6xOSfItG9VAYz9n0DRWTWCCuZTLaQkfkySyzNsncAWmdzWeh-EzsDQWumpMBFjo7ADyPfmPqKuy7e_A/s200/P8210446.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Athabasca Falls 2</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg68MS8VUy5fON11DkoSFtcOGvJnjjaA2RKz_0qcqEEv8zL3x7V5taM2_WscqeG1k6A1evr-258iThDTpz_F-3irPii_As5H6cQAl99MYZWMduy7cx0DsfOcvWw9EXlP0g0zP8LEAawPS4/s1600/P8210458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg68MS8VUy5fON11DkoSFtcOGvJnjjaA2RKz_0qcqEEv8zL3x7V5taM2_WscqeG1k6A1evr-258iThDTpz_F-3irPii_As5H6cQAl99MYZWMduy7cx0DsfOcvWw9EXlP0g0zP8LEAawPS4/s200/P8210458.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Athabasca Falls 3</td></tr>
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It is hard to pick out my favorite location from this trip to Alberta. That distinction probably falls upon the Athabasca Glacier that flows over Athabasca Falls. It the heads across the continent and empties into the Arctic Ocean. I've longed for decades to stand on or adjacent to such a glacier. This one is disappearing fast.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Athabasca Glacier Retreating Quickly</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaylviDoHRCIc0jXG-GEGwu4ojOjnq_L194lPA87QSGjWpbLvz1XJSjI4XRa0UqrraOWSewGTOn3aKveYg84m8RnG7l-uPYovxwIknNfGnvP2czvrGaj9BjPQjljLQrKs6Ikxi4BPVrk0/s1600/P8220491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaylviDoHRCIc0jXG-GEGwu4ojOjnq_L194lPA87QSGjWpbLvz1XJSjI4XRa0UqrraOWSewGTOn3aKveYg84m8RnG7l-uPYovxwIknNfGnvP2czvrGaj9BjPQjljLQrKs6Ikxi4BPVrk0/s320/P8220491.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cathie watching people far up on the Athabasca Glacier</td></tr>
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There was far more beauty that we experienced on this trip besides these views. We leave those mental images to you to find on your own adventures in life. Get out there!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Alberta, Canada53.9332706 -116.576503534.7664286 -157.8850975 73.1001126 -75.2679095tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597512763861703389.post-62143329293726929552016-09-25T22:07:00.002-07:002022-06-12T10:02:05.597-07:00A Hike to Aviation Tragedy on Mt. Humphreys<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN1AGxeH7Lx123deCU9qZpW4awALt66v95uxCgmDWYc3xjBqqLMLokoP_HVjsCzbTZfMLFngm1lw9bZZHNR4gfvkx6-tYdeMD4oG6vjb_98CZt947_DeyLN5QlBRuRFLidbKc6kjWsHqU/s1600/San+francisco+peaks+aerial+view.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN1AGxeH7Lx123deCU9qZpW4awALt66v95uxCgmDWYc3xjBqqLMLokoP_HVjsCzbTZfMLFngm1lw9bZZHNR4gfvkx6-tYdeMD4oG6vjb_98CZt947_DeyLN5QlBRuRFLidbKc6kjWsHqU/s640/San+francisco+peaks+aerial+view.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The San Francisco Peaks Near Flagstaff, Arizona<br /><br /></td></tr>
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It was in the early hours of September 15th, 1944 when Second Lieutenant Warren E. Crowther was piloting his TB-24J aircraft (aka a B-24 bomber) with seven other personnel aboard: 4 student pilots, 2 engineers and a radio operator. The plane had taken off from <a href="http://www.kirtland.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/825962/kirtland-air-force-base-history" target="_blank">Kirtland Field</a> in New Mexico and headed out for a nighttime training flight scheduled to return later to Albuquerque. This was the plane’s and occupants’ last flight. All men aboard died when pilot error caused the plane to fly directly into the side of Arizona's highest peak, Mt. Humphreys.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3d0ibhW_SiVb3JpcLgLtD0jhjRndlwcXnwI0JqmXYf5xtvn9Wjh0RFBunCEeepRN0sBIwHJXoVNzho9EdWue6t0OtxHdpmqHvamN_aZZRB_ZJKxCbq3U3aIldE78H9_sooEDRvQ12Ss/s1600/B-24+underside.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3d0ibhW_SiVb3JpcLgLtD0jhjRndlwcXnwI0JqmXYf5xtvn9Wjh0RFBunCEeepRN0sBIwHJXoVNzho9EdWue6t0OtxHdpmqHvamN_aZZRB_ZJKxCbq3U3aIldE78H9_sooEDRvQ12Ss/s400/B-24+underside.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">B-24 Bomber</td></tr>
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The remains of the B-24 airship have resided on the western side of the Mt. Humphreys for over seventy years. But the plane is not alone. Amazingly, a second plane crash occurred just a few days after this crash on Sept. 18, 1944. A <a href="http://www.aviation-history.com/boeing/b17.html" target="_blank">B-17 Flying Fortress </a>crashed on the opposite side of the mountain near Bear Jaw Canyon, killing four soldiers. Only a year earlier on March 5, 1943, another B-17 crashed into the northeast side of nearby Mt. Elden. An <a href="http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/the-beloved-gooney-bird-turns-75/" target="_blank">R4D-8 Gooneybird plane</a>, crashed on Mt. Humphreys on Jan. 21, 1943. Finally, <a href="http://www.aviation-history.com/douglas/b18.html" target="_blank">B-18 Bolo plane</a> crashed in these volcanic mountains on Oct. 2, 1941. Truly, the 1940s were not good years for aviation in the <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino/about-forest/about-area/?cid=stelprdb5340115" target="_blank">San Francisco Peaks</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cNWdFsN9aA7Cdhk8X_soOz2fMOfkb3WkGhCKJkhAez2px0zKeYMOgr46IJUBO5fJNOHRqcS2NluChisJ7WWiUqd-UlxSGDHT4GY-MSsoTgtLskZWBXcqwn0k9PYGhhqNN8Qp-kD13vQ/s1600/Mt+Elden.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cNWdFsN9aA7Cdhk8X_soOz2fMOfkb3WkGhCKJkhAez2px0zKeYMOgr46IJUBO5fJNOHRqcS2NluChisJ7WWiUqd-UlxSGDHT4GY-MSsoTgtLskZWBXcqwn0k9PYGhhqNN8Qp-kD13vQ/s200/Mt+Elden.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt. Elden</td></tr>
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I have lived at the southern base of Mt. Elden all summer and will have spent over sixty working days this summer (nearly every weekend) hiking and driving around Mt. Humphreys and the other San Francisco peaks. Yet, in that time I haven't had the success in visiting the crash site. I finally succeeded on September 25th when I spent six hours hiking to the elusive B-24 crash site. I was its solitary visitor this day.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjI1IkOgeZY4msOgXnmwQgTBX8m7L-NTb6WZRYj5tlv08mhw5g2CMLFAPFNGNUZNe0SBgu6exQtrKgatsSJGQ0ZyNkTep6p5aGBfnmRstMXw-YsFUg6BMIWF5Hc2G1qh6nKhADaPuFiQ/s1600/IMG_20160925_132844295.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjI1IkOgeZY4msOgXnmwQgTBX8m7L-NTb6WZRYj5tlv08mhw5g2CMLFAPFNGNUZNe0SBgu6exQtrKgatsSJGQ0ZyNkTep6p5aGBfnmRstMXw-YsFUg6BMIWF5Hc2G1qh6nKhADaPuFiQ/s400/IMG_20160925_132844295.jpg" width="225" /></a>
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As a federally protected historical site, any unmanaged visitation to it the site can result in the loss of historical integrity. People have built badly designed social trails to the site, stolen historical artifacts, and otherwise altered the location and appearance of objects found there. I’m posting the GPS coordinates to the closest plane artifacts below with the sincere wish that visitors respect this historical military site and show some sensitivity to the fact that our military personnel lost their lives here during their service to country.<br />
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Hiking to the crash site is very dangerous. The one incomplete social trail to the site is steep, barely able to be followed, and very difficult to traverse. Only a few hard-to-locate rock cairns mark the route. Once one get to the GPS coordinate provided, more crash debris can probably be found easiest by just proceeding north, perpendicular the volcanic scree field fall line. <br />
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While the site is than a third of a mile from the main Humphreys Trail, it takes about an hour to safely get there. It should not be attempted alone and it is inadvisable to ever take children to the location. One must pass over seemingly endless lava scree fields. It is just far too easy to trip, fall on sharp and tipsy volcanic boulders, drop into deep holes between rocks, and sprain or break ankles.<br />
I fell several times.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">Fuselage and Instrumentation Strewn Down the Lava Scree Field</td></tr>
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From the Humphreys Peak trailhead the hike to the crash site is about 7.2 miles long, round trip, has a rated difficulty of 4.3 out of 5, and requires an ascent a of more than 2,100 feet to an elevation of over 11,000 feet. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRD6xrrEYMJ4bTcfWLpk8SWOrrM0e8wxGbHDLIoXlBt5icc5R1erO-srQAzelIMNNgBd8IOskG4pCC44Lih0iUbW2U2cy8P-T-0xbRRN5Bv4ejMBFclEjeBIqeG-OMgEvjLSAYKGwQlXU/s1600/IMG_20160925_132605111.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRD6xrrEYMJ4bTcfWLpk8SWOrrM0e8wxGbHDLIoXlBt5icc5R1erO-srQAzelIMNNgBd8IOskG4pCC44Lih0iUbW2U2cy8P-T-0xbRRN5Bv4ejMBFclEjeBIqeG-OMgEvjLSAYKGwQlXU/s640/IMG_20160925_132605111.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">Looking West, Tattered US Flag on Log Inserted Into Upside Down B-24 Landing Gear</td></tr>
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The views from the site to the west are magnificent. Over 20 miles away can be seen Williams Peak. Kendrick Mountain is seen to the right, and numerous volcanic cinder cones and ancient volcanoes are viewable across the verdant valley. Off to the north nearly 100 miles away can be seen the north rim of the Grand Canyon. During the fall changing of the aspen leaves color, nature’s complexity, danger, and majesty are on full display.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6NFPevoqp9nDmLWJo65PhKYfZIHK23Nzqa2je3OoCBJybzmg-wdoOURTp5uuEoT_29MXbqxGkcnQQVjTZ8FBVAgo7q8r2kNmuQKerosVyWXdVlXUDC148HrqOkNOjthc8XjzcYhiGqYs/s1600/IMG_20160925_130656057_HDR.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6NFPevoqp9nDmLWJo65PhKYfZIHK23Nzqa2je3OoCBJybzmg-wdoOURTp5uuEoT_29MXbqxGkcnQQVjTZ8FBVAgo7q8r2kNmuQKerosVyWXdVlXUDC148HrqOkNOjthc8XjzcYhiGqYs/s640/IMG_20160925_130656057_HDR.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remains of Bomber Gun Turret</td></tr>
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GPS Coordinates:<br />
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<li>N 35° 20.455 W 111° 41.389</li>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0San Francisco Peaks, Arizona 86001, USA35.3467091 -111.678084799999979.824674599999998 -152.98667879999996 60.8687436 -70.369490799999966tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597512763861703389.post-85963259541933870082016-09-24T20:38:00.000-07:002016-09-24T20:45:01.718-07:00Hopi Reservation Petroglyph Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnLTyq2WsJRdYY6bx7A5djPirjTDFn9OaGQ9enxULt-0-aiHZBdyAAZHmyW0lpaJtCctekiLuqcUxyMAgkSGh5EgaLyK2y4PxnQnxI6jnjKnq-6NRWIDqnNmlyqhNN8eQ6xPJelktvaUU/s1600/DawaCanyonPartnership.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnLTyq2WsJRdYY6bx7A5djPirjTDFn9OaGQ9enxULt-0-aiHZBdyAAZHmyW0lpaJtCctekiLuqcUxyMAgkSGh5EgaLyK2y4PxnQnxI6jnjKnq-6NRWIDqnNmlyqhNN8eQ6xPJelktvaUU/s320/DawaCanyonPartnership.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
At the end of August I accompanied the Interpretive Partnership volunteers from the Flagstaff, AZ area National Monuments on a day trip to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopi_Reservation">Hopi Reservation</a>. At its center is Kykotsmovi Village (K-Town), home to the Hopi Cultural Center and the sovereign nation’s government complex.<br />
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We received an extensive tour of the Dawa Park site consisting of a cliff face more than a half-mile long filled with 15,000 images. You need a permit or guide to visit sites such as this. Dawa is believed to be the second-largest concentration of petroglyphs in the country. It may possibly contain 15,000 sandstone carvings. Sensory overload was the meme of the day.<br />
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The images provide a complex overview of the lives of ancestral Pueblo Indians who carved the petroglyphs as far back as 2,000 years ago. Not all the carvings are that well understood even by natives or academicians that study the images and their many possible interpretations. Readers might want to consult this <a href="http://www.johnpratt.com/items/docs/lds/meridian/2006/petroglyphs.html" target="_blank">interpretation of Hopi petroglyph writing/art.</a><br />
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Below are some of the photographs I took of the carvings. For a better sense of the topography and scope of the site, you should visit this <a href="http://archive.cyark.org/projects/TUT/misc/dawaparkvirtualtour/">virtual tour</a> of the Dawa site.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZK7VgFadc65k2Oa7lXzPeQTY_isq40SRGjEDKzY5bymHeLxz65qN7KbTCbXaxNKlQv9T87eF6GbmttseiGljt_gp1aWPA06ZGM7LnuDtou8rl2dWKi9weHh1e5pAGrxeEhT0aHbYgQg/s1600/IMG_20160830_112324746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZK7VgFadc65k2Oa7lXzPeQTY_isq40SRGjEDKzY5bymHeLxz65qN7KbTCbXaxNKlQv9T87eF6GbmttseiGljt_gp1aWPA06ZGM7LnuDtou8rl2dWKi9weHh1e5pAGrxeEhT0aHbYgQg/s640/IMG_20160830_112324746.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4l6dgfh0yvXAgw7BmO2ho20Yq6eNRNGoj17rYJDaW4c5_-POFeqSjsQEnomSGcefqWRN9tu8MW03IXdXAYePl5eV2MsOSN07Bd9hPQlVB5E4GwU74gA9qIgO-y1L3jMwHtrtmK6JepLE/s1600/IMG_20160830_120528426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4l6dgfh0yvXAgw7BmO2ho20Yq6eNRNGoj17rYJDaW4c5_-POFeqSjsQEnomSGcefqWRN9tu8MW03IXdXAYePl5eV2MsOSN07Bd9hPQlVB5E4GwU74gA9qIgO-y1L3jMwHtrtmK6JepLE/s320/IMG_20160830_120528426.jpg" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UZSh5JjmXFfHizEFlFsMy-b6fAaT5BXIbUZzcUtQrL1n8oRzJ9e7KbrEBuRHgHJnLAU5HQfGFLNeS0IikfMmZlTASSWFZjclF7Zz0Z2nwzndvd8-ytLIOhJ_LE-FYWVLxjm0y7ClHvM/s1600/IMG_20160830_112929532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UZSh5JjmXFfHizEFlFsMy-b6fAaT5BXIbUZzcUtQrL1n8oRzJ9e7KbrEBuRHgHJnLAU5HQfGFLNeS0IikfMmZlTASSWFZjclF7Zz0Z2nwzndvd8-ytLIOhJ_LE-FYWVLxjm0y7ClHvM/s200/IMG_20160830_112929532.jpg" width="200" /></a>Everywhere you walk in the site a fragments of ancient pottery from the time of habitation. Natives collect some of the shards and place them on display on one of the large display boulders. These cultural artifacts are not to ever be removed.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijJEJ0YmXr8qCoJkAhLKTFQLj5Zc3XEGKOhoZrz8OCpoac0ocpA_KlikcvSw74jJWD0ZvGVNvS5cRt_IPTg_POjpXaKooswNCyx1xEbRBm-iK18UCdt38AeZHIzKl5RygznwGkp4qRqoM/s1600/IMG_20160830_111456453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijJEJ0YmXr8qCoJkAhLKTFQLj5Zc3XEGKOhoZrz8OCpoac0ocpA_KlikcvSw74jJWD0ZvGVNvS5cRt_IPTg_POjpXaKooswNCyx1xEbRBm-iK18UCdt38AeZHIzKl5RygznwGkp4qRqoM/s320/IMG_20160830_111456453.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tALmuLX3imnOnhzqUXAZz_oT4kwPQoTlo8j4WYLk3AMXPIHHPFlP69coefbdn41yiRbgTbm65sBMhQpTUqrgWCdBxJhIufTy8PvdykmN2h66PFNQxg5nLqcAMC-lvDI1cB3CaISsjRg/s1600/IMG_20160830_111421057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tALmuLX3imnOnhzqUXAZz_oT4kwPQoTlo8j4WYLk3AMXPIHHPFlP69coefbdn41yiRbgTbm65sBMhQpTUqrgWCdBxJhIufTy8PvdykmN2h66PFNQxg5nLqcAMC-lvDI1cB3CaISsjRg/s640/IMG_20160830_111421057.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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After the cliff tour we visited the Hopi cultural center, had an authentic Hopi family meal, and looked over the many exquisite Hopi crafts on sale, in particular the <a href="http://americanindianoriginals.com/kachina-dolls.html">Kachina dolls</a>. </div>
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For more information about Hopi cultural center and government operations I suggest visiting the <a href="http://www.hopi-nsn.gov/">official website of Hopi Nation</a>.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Kykotsmovi Village, AZ, USA35.8741701 -110.6234701000000235.6682416 -110.94619360000002 36.0800986 -110.30074660000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597512763861703389.post-10576311579566042362016-09-23T11:58:00.002-07:002016-09-23T18:49:25.417-07:00The Kachina Trail<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Pw1zT1me_JzSfIRCI-wtKnbFfUN-AZZJdqvUMvj02i3tRpJD21WTR8MqEaYhASWdJYlnuPd1-NuOXqXdR9Rok4QW6W8NlJzizWcOUNqN0rc_PPYkW_u0DgOtWiXe8w4Dv6N5C_H7WJM/s1600/IMG_20160918_100338419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Pw1zT1me_JzSfIRCI-wtKnbFfUN-AZZJdqvUMvj02i3tRpJD21WTR8MqEaYhASWdJYlnuPd1-NuOXqXdR9Rok4QW6W8NlJzizWcOUNqN0rc_PPYkW_u0DgOtWiXe8w4Dv6N5C_H7WJM/s400/IMG_20160918_100338419.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
The Kachina Peaks Wilderness near Flagstaff, Arizona affords the outdoor enthusiast ample opportunities to explore nature by car, bicycle, horse, foot and snowshoe. One of the nicest trails in the wilderness near where I’ve been volunteering this summer at <a href="http://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/humphreys-peak-arizona-highpoint?ref=search">Mt. Humphreys</a> is the <a href="http://bit.ly/2dpSH3L" target="_blank">Kachina Trail</a>. The moderately strenuous trail is a 5.2 mile segment passing around the south side of Agassiz Peak at an elevation of about 9,000 feet. <br />
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I hiked the Kachina Trail in mid-September out from the western trailhead for a distance of about three miles to where there is a great view southward to the city of Flagstaff resting at about 7,000 feet. The aspen tree leaves were only just starting to yellow due to the first hard frost on the mountain. The bracket ferns had all started to brown and the annual cycle of life was present everywhere.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnu7mMW_RK_lDnZXhG6paWNLTsMbDQfDRqLQENXJvE0ggb2U6AmlPCtYEATqOCDMIBiT51A8pwq6clh1ccFzwg3i_6KWxULlTVE4fgCThPW7oCsyTwKGfTaA3viPQeoxgDS1rqzjcW68s/s1600/IMG_20160918_115757861.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnu7mMW_RK_lDnZXhG6paWNLTsMbDQfDRqLQENXJvE0ggb2U6AmlPCtYEATqOCDMIBiT51A8pwq6clh1ccFzwg3i_6KWxULlTVE4fgCThPW7oCsyTwKGfTaA3viPQeoxgDS1rqzjcW68s/s200/IMG_20160918_115757861.jpg" width="112" /></a>The trail gradually descends with a few welcome grade changes to keep things interesting and your knees from experiencing the constant impact of stepping downward. </div>
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The violence of the mountains creation is present in the form of occasional cliffs formed by volcanic action when these San Francisco Peaks were forged as a stratovolcano nearly 400,000 years ago. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtOuWE4jnDP1o6mtyaQW2PR863NmNj4s89VRdYQSJdQjbMhEsgPgK0v3hy7RXchjqD-VvF77iyVzTDSSg6xlTG4Zayj9rmYUzVfu1uRgO3MDI7eyfzq_nZG9g6dmrXP8cbydELGVSInrs/s1600/IMG_20160918_110119513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtOuWE4jnDP1o6mtyaQW2PR863NmNj4s89VRdYQSJdQjbMhEsgPgK0v3hy7RXchjqD-VvF77iyVzTDSSg6xlTG4Zayj9rmYUzVfu1uRgO3MDI7eyfzq_nZG9g6dmrXP8cbydELGVSInrs/s400/IMG_20160918_110119513.jpg" width="223" /></a>If you study the rock face one can readily descent the various strata of lava flows. Lower on the mountain there exist lava tube caves created by rapidly cooling surface crusts of fast flowing magma.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBoNWvj0V-B1uKdwsM5rDT_l3-siXaiiprmR0rrcA5aWrj6OxnPazmtutrKCE8xH_QVt9Kbxv_vjIYSxWFcrxjkGJaF7G8ImaN5kwj8Vz-Tj2Js2d-Bt0Qgv8ODVo8lzP7Gskgn6hgzhM/s1600/IMG_20160918_110204458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBoNWvj0V-B1uKdwsM5rDT_l3-siXaiiprmR0rrcA5aWrj6OxnPazmtutrKCE8xH_QVt9Kbxv_vjIYSxWFcrxjkGJaF7G8ImaN5kwj8Vz-Tj2Js2d-Bt0Qgv8ODVo8lzP7Gskgn6hgzhM/s320/IMG_20160918_110204458.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The trail resides in the largest <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinus_ponderosa" target="_blank">Ponderosa Pine</a> (Pinus ponderosa subsp. brachyptera) forest in the nation. It is interspersed with the Aspen trees that have difficulty establishing significantly sized stands due to the high canopy of the Ponderosas. Only through lightning caused fires would the aspen find the opportunity to reestablish themselves in this environment. Through the use of prescribed forest fire burns or timber thinning projects by the US Forest Service have the aspen a chance to prosper. Evidence of nature's fire is evident along the trail where openings have been created for natural plant succession to occur.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4t4L8_o0CUzPdPD2KBxaWM6-Rg3wzKsxlvG3tnj4pTY3BwCLeC7kgTK1sVFSwxmjZJCBrg3vGNawa-6XEE4UXvzicyCA6hFedEX90aVgKLGjOufN82DGGnv4gIyWMKLXWL-T7_iIc35I/s1600/IMG_20160918_112805680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4t4L8_o0CUzPdPD2KBxaWM6-Rg3wzKsxlvG3tnj4pTY3BwCLeC7kgTK1sVFSwxmjZJCBrg3vGNawa-6XEE4UXvzicyCA6hFedEX90aVgKLGjOufN82DGGnv4gIyWMKLXWL-T7_iIc35I/s400/IMG_20160918_112805680.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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Fire exposes the rocky and volcanic pumice strewn surface where new plants have difficulty taking a root hold on a very porous surface,</div>
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Where trees have died and allowed to slowly decompose they build moisture retaining moisture to allow grasses, flowers, and fungi to prosper. Big plants give birth to new life.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlme87c7QmtEd9tBpaIwUEI75L6_06Pbk90ri2FNJEwUjxUMHk0hIDFOOLbNir6lj9EPxOIg6-CgZ0KvOJWJ4GSARS7QmFKtdmH_7tG-5_5DUkdSnqqgPeJJNnn3FGCYdIjYLI4U-_BPI/s1600/IMG_20160918_093726879.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlme87c7QmtEd9tBpaIwUEI75L6_06Pbk90ri2FNJEwUjxUMHk0hIDFOOLbNir6lj9EPxOIg6-CgZ0KvOJWJ4GSARS7QmFKtdmH_7tG-5_5DUkdSnqqgPeJJNnn3FGCYdIjYLI4U-_BPI/s400/IMG_20160918_093726879.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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The rock, themselves often speed the tree decomposition by cleaving the trunks as they strike the ground with enormous force.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUBA_7AMRW2gRaTIQglFbpUw9b6osA_FUkdMpZlJaXAQqenzMNElg3ntqPyadv-yEqXHssY2cB2W_KnF24dqFBglnQ9kxVl04SYOurDLDzStAH4rTGAC0ZwlbMrw4Z_gfSJtvoSO6I78/s1600/14389725_1234592949906131_170315744_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUBA_7AMRW2gRaTIQglFbpUw9b6osA_FUkdMpZlJaXAQqenzMNElg3ntqPyadv-yEqXHssY2cB2W_KnF24dqFBglnQ9kxVl04SYOurDLDzStAH4rTGAC0ZwlbMrw4Z_gfSJtvoSO6I78/s400/14389725_1234592949906131_170315744_n.jpg" width="242" /></a></div>
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The trees do fight back by tenaciously clinging to rock outcroppings for many hundreds of years and dropping their seeds into the rock crevices to encourage the next generation of growth.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBvafw_0SfCPWzB6NoPZXQSF2jzx5rKCF1fa7UjQXZT2-whXPeMh5K6jzwiDlpXIHhQ1O2nPtRc4AdfCF7bjXWlmWJtBaGeFTgQZ01Xea37_36JGBk0AdzvXI88iWFSHoamVrICBuiiU/s1600/IMG_20160918_101531165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBvafw_0SfCPWzB6NoPZXQSF2jzx5rKCF1fa7UjQXZT2-whXPeMh5K6jzwiDlpXIHhQ1O2nPtRc4AdfCF7bjXWlmWJtBaGeFTgQZ01Xea37_36JGBk0AdzvXI88iWFSHoamVrICBuiiU/s640/IMG_20160918_101531165.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0San Francisco Peaks, Arizona 86001, USA35.3467091 -111.678084799999979.824674599999998 -152.98667879999996 60.8687436 -70.369490799999966tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597512763861703389.post-54769078523423537302016-09-22T23:32:00.002-07:002016-09-22T23:35:30.850-07:00My Summer of PSAR Draws To A Close, 2016<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuaIHXA4VpqZhkR1aw12DADodbcxD01hBasbu0S_Wk2ZQGFuILVA-wWjZ5FKASj4k7_CicEsqgOy6QuMuJ0UNcKRFYS9nIIjI6PH1gDAo5K8F54cacTvcG1iQHb_cSZJ78R_grXbbYAQ/s1600/IMG_20160828_131042129%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuaIHXA4VpqZhkR1aw12DADodbcxD01hBasbu0S_Wk2ZQGFuILVA-wWjZ5FKASj4k7_CicEsqgOy6QuMuJ0UNcKRFYS9nIIjI6PH1gDAo5K8F54cacTvcG1iQHb_cSZJ78R_grXbbYAQ/s320/IMG_20160828_131042129%255B1%255D.jpg" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bob and Mt. Humphreys<br />
in the Distance</td></tr>
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My summer stint with the US Forest Service as a volunteer "<a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/coconino/home/?cid=STELPRD3836865" target="_blank">Roving Ranger</a>"is soon coming to an end and I will be transitioning to new volunteer duties in the Flagstaff, AZ area. (Itinerary below)<br />
<br />
Since I've written extensively lately about Search and Rescue, I won't dwell on the summer's activities again other than to say its been fun, educational, and rewarding. For the most part all the volunteers and NPS and Forest Service staff I've had the privilege of working with have been great. The more I explore and volunteer, the more opportunities that seem to present themselves.<br />
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Every year the names of the Forest Service seasonal volunteers are carved into wood signs for posterity to revere with awe and gratitude <g>. Nearly twenty years of these panels hang in the wood shop. Somehow the sign makers managed to remember my name this year. Some volunteers are long-time, repeat offenders returning for more than a decade of service.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FB64vJlFNymWzGOPL97MWSXdrWeJki8s2FJQGYzNIl86yoXobP7igada1KrM5k9-hQqAFVdToDWkAOKXnypfjPoykW38ewuj1RV4xupUe4-8Fl_H2JikVgZYcs8UzUENogvUshmsLHY/s1600/IMG_20160821_074746661%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FB64vJlFNymWzGOPL97MWSXdrWeJki8s2FJQGYzNIl86yoXobP7igada1KrM5k9-hQqAFVdToDWkAOKXnypfjPoykW38ewuj1RV4xupUe4-8Fl_H2JikVgZYcs8UzUENogvUshmsLHY/s320/IMG_20160821_074746661%255B1%255D.jpg" width="179" /></a></div>
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One sideline activity of my PSAR work this season is that I have been giving weekly talks to sixth graders at the Flagstaff Unified School District's summer facility: Camp Colton. The SAR team is seeking to modify the PSAR curriculum based on <i>Hug A Tree and Survive</i> that us normally geared to 10-14 year old students. The goal is to modify it for both kindergarten level students (never too early to learn survival tactics) and high school students. We hope to produce and distribute nationally a new video on the revised curriculum. </div>
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Besides the PSAR work, I've also been involved with the <u>Interpretive Partnership</u>, a joint project of the Forest Service, National Park Service, and other local agencies dedicated to providing educational and recreational services to the public<br />
Every week the 20+ volunteer members in the partnership provide guided walking tours of cultural and natural resources in the three Flagstaff area national monuments (Walnut Canyon, Wupatki, and Sunset Crater Volcano) and at other regional trails of significance; campground talks, stargazing sessions, nature walks, and more. We also serve as roving rangers on Mount Agassiz at the top of <a href="http://www.arizonasnowbowl.com/" target="_blank">Arizona Snowbowl</a> where we describe the landmarks and history of 100 mile+ viewable area.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5djnEttfu2GXG077rUcctJ_0sL3CWNcsY5R1-4MIXKfcVtLfx8tBXgJrtC_m5HU0JELpLIdnGayqRyV50fE7OVix1o6OYkArNQh4bb-lb8pwW0y50I_y3JQBkVpi2NqCqIKtk3pQjiw/s1600/Walnut+Canyon+Island+Trail+Pueblo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5djnEttfu2GXG077rUcctJ_0sL3CWNcsY5R1-4MIXKfcVtLfx8tBXgJrtC_m5HU0JELpLIdnGayqRyV50fE7OVix1o6OYkArNQh4bb-lb8pwW0y50I_y3JQBkVpi2NqCqIKtk3pQjiw/s320/Walnut+Canyon+Island+Trail+Pueblo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walnut Canyon Trail Cliff Dwellings</td></tr>
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In exchange for volunteering the partnership agencies provide RV sites and extensive continuing professional education opportunities. Nearly every week we benefited from some scientist or other expert providing us custom talks or field trips to historical or scientifically important sites in the region.<br />
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For example, we visited rarely accessible petroglyph sites in the Zuni Nation, saw hidden, ancient pueblo ruins, were lectured about ongoing archaeological investigations, shown photo collections from Flagstaff's <a href="https://lowell.edu/" target="_blank">Lowell Observatory</a> about recent satellite flybys of <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/newhorizons/overview/index.html" target="_blank">Pluto System and the Keuper Belt using NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft</a>, and much more, The Pluto images we saw were trypically only accessible by project scientists for their research work.<br />
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Due to my work with both the Preventative Search and Rescue Program (PSAR) and Coconino County SAR team I'm now serving as an adviser to a Northern Arizona University Wilderness Studies program. The class is charged with developing several research products this semester. The two I'm working with address designing:<br />
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<ol>
<li>Better delivery methods of PSAR training for a target audience of high school students.</li>
<li>A digital communication package (web portal of smartphone application) to prepare visitors for hiking in the Kachina Wilderness using Humphreys Trail. The trail leads to the highest summit in Arizona. </li>
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Yes, it's been a busy summer, but the seasons change.</div>
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In less than a month, on or about October 18th 2016, if circumstances don't change, my core PSAR duties on Mt. Humphreys will end and I will transition to a new volunteer opportunity at nearby <a href="https://www.nps.gov/waca/index.htm" target="_blank">Walnut Canyon National Monument</a>. I will trade in my green US Forest Service uniform for the grey, green, and brown of a National Park Service Ranger (Smokey Bear hat and all. Woohoo!)</div>
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I will move Toad Haul Manor to the monument compound and attempt to survive a Flagstaff winter's snow at 7,000 feet. I will work out of the visitor center providing interpretive services: giving talks and guided tours of the ancient pueblo dwellings last occupied in the 1200's, explaining the special ecological and archaeological features of the canyon, and staffing the visitor center answering questions and selling monument related publications and other educational products.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2blR53sKBmL32q4xpv6Dd7wNa8peKI-zW0R-xv5yyHstI0MD9pRERYT8cRTpe1zBhVMXbrSfk3gMdy_FNOitskzGuXJsIopUaknuGSdjpD1l3kIx9eWRW4IrJH5k-wKN07iBgknmmg4/s1600/Walnut+Canyon+Winter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2blR53sKBmL32q4xpv6Dd7wNa8peKI-zW0R-xv5yyHstI0MD9pRERYT8cRTpe1zBhVMXbrSfk3gMdy_FNOitskzGuXJsIopUaknuGSdjpD1l3kIx9eWRW4IrJH5k-wKN07iBgknmmg4/s640/Walnut+Canyon+Winter.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walnut Canyon In Winter After a Heavy Snowfall</td></tr>
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I'm not done with SAR work. SAR missions will continue this winter when the emphasis will shift to avalanche safety concerns in the mountains. </div>
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In February, I will transition to yet a different location that I will describe to you'all later this winter. </div>
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Until then, please stay tuned. The Toad Haul Manor adventures will continue.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597512763861703389.post-15827693615596368652016-08-31T22:03:00.001-07:002016-09-23T10:14:42.596-07:00Training For Disaster (Part Three)<h3>
Preventative Search and Rescue (PSAR)</h3>
In this summer of 2016 I’ve been volunteering with the US Forest Service (USFS) as an Assistant Coordinator for <a href="https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/photosmultimedia/hike_smart-01.htm" target="_blank">Preventative Search and Rescue</a>. I'm in a program of the USFS Recreation Office in Flagstaff, Arizona. The program is modeled after similar programs pioneered at <a href="https://www.nps.gov/yose/getinvolved/sar_jobs.htm" target="_blank">Yellowstone National Park</a> and <a href="https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/photosmultimedia/hike_smart-01.htm" target="_blank">Grand Canyon National Park</a>. The program was piloted in 2015, so this is the first year of regular operation. It operates for 63 days, on weekends during the summer and fall seasons. The report on the pilot year of the PSAR operation is available <a href="http://www.friendsofnazforests.org/resources/Documents/Coconino%20NF%20-%20PSAR%202015%20Summary%20ver%201%20(7).pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDY7I0sjJw_lhY3rfMmm2oPlVPnNM4ryJSrSFcBtmUD7nrIfGK2JlyXruexN-ookl4e6Zi_BPbjlVes2YWcgQhGfgAFVZSjg_o4_KBPtkYnPYZygegDCjTumSk9uuVu169eNFnTaz6u8E/s1600/Logo+for+FoNAF.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDY7I0sjJw_lhY3rfMmm2oPlVPnNM4ryJSrSFcBtmUD7nrIfGK2JlyXruexN-ookl4e6Zi_BPbjlVes2YWcgQhGfgAFVZSjg_o4_KBPtkYnPYZygegDCjTumSk9uuVu169eNFnTaz6u8E/s1600/Logo+for+FoNAF.gif"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMzs2b_qwJNfGWpXCE9cWdgW042Q1ZBs2F3de9WBn-6NVfAV9KrsBHo4D4gmt1a6BXbzzXN4O9OPYFSfPU_dJR09wAvJnuzwNr3NYUGJU4oh4CIDeOv0Ge90rflUhllL3WbyTy9D9ohlc/s1600/aspen+grove.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMzs2b_qwJNfGWpXCE9cWdgW042Q1ZBs2F3de9WBn-6NVfAV9KrsBHo4D4gmt1a6BXbzzXN4O9OPYFSfPU_dJR09wAvJnuzwNr3NYUGJU4oh4CIDeOv0Ge90rflUhllL3WbyTy9D9ohlc/s1600/aspen+grove.png"></a>Our Flagstaff program is conducted in cooperation with the <a href="http://www.friendsofnazforests.org/" target="_blank">Friends of Northern Arizona Forests </a>(FONAF), a 100% volunteer-based non-profit that works to preserve and protect the environment of the region. FONAF volunteers assist the Forest Service conduct PSAR duties plus. In addition FONAF conducts service projects such as trail building and other maintenance tasks throughout the Coconino National Forest. They are notable for building <i>exclosures</i> to fence out non-native elk from sensitive <a href="http://www.friendsofnorthernarizonaforests.org/page-1504701" target="_blank">aspen tree grove</a>s until the trees grow to sufficient size and height to survive elk feeding on their tasty leaves and branches. In the winter FONAF also serves as the Forest Service’s representative for issuing wilderness back country travel permits. These permits are typically used most often by skiers and snow boarders that want to ski outside the boundary of the <a href="http://www.arizonasnowbowl.com/" target="_blank">Arizona Snow Bowl</a>.<br>
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So, what is <i>Preventative Search and Rescue</i> and ‘How does one prevent a search and rescue? The answer is more difficult than one might imagine. The answer goes well beyond simple preparedness for travel emergencies. To answer the elusive question I need offer a quick review of the long history of search and rescue.<br>
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The concept of <b>preventative</b> search and rescue (PSAR) is relatively new to modern government. <br>
On the other hand, SAR has a long history dating back to biblical times. My observation from being a student of political science is that government is by its very nature reactionary, seldom proactive unless it wants to serve a member of the so-called 1%. PSAR has come into existence because of increased costs to government to save lives.<br>
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Look to history. In urban environments we’ve seen the evolution of fire and ambulance services. Citizens no longer run to the well with buckets to douse a burning building. The local barber no longer does tooth extractions and surgery. While still in existence in some rural areas, homeowners don’t pay a private subscription fee for firefighting companies to respond to emergencies because in the first world police, fire and ambulance services are seen as a core function of local government.<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjetaNSccRL4x8lySL8giD-4ugu_SH30cNADvpIxUua3cdQaeSMtD7wYCSe7M_Bq0Of7c-GG7c-3Ptfx81Zf_1-Q723JpbAtnDzTLwNeX-m_xTSE6iMSdNgxW2liPi0NgTTcxUi8rUYg/s1600/Halftrack+SAR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjetaNSccRL4x8lySL8giD-4ugu_SH30cNADvpIxUua3cdQaeSMtD7wYCSe7M_Bq0Of7c-GG7c-3Ptfx81Zf_1-Q723JpbAtnDzTLwNeX-m_xTSE6iMSdNgxW2liPi0NgTTcxUi8rUYg/s200/Halftrack+SAR.jpg" width="200"></a></div>
Nowadays, search and rescue units are no longer the exclusive operational domain of police and fire departments. Yes, they typically have training as Urban <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_responder" target="_blank">First Responders</a>, but they are seldom involved in long-duration or remote/<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilderness_First_Responder" target="_blank">wilderness first responder </a>operations. Frankly, government couldn’t afford to do so! The real cost to victims and government would bankrupt both. First of all, there are not enough d<span style="font-family: inherit;">eput</span>ies and EMS personnel available to be called out in mass to the wide variety of search and rescue incidents that occur. For example, a recent search I went on involved over 70 personnel from multiple counties and it lasted about two weeks.The diverted time of police and fire personnel from regular duties and cost of salaries for extended operations would be exorbitant. Imagine the cost of a just one 24-hour mission day for twelve personnel and related equipment and transportation. It would cost close to $10,000. Add in helicopter support costs and the cost could easily triple. As such, most SAR units are all volunteer teams except for the highest level of the SAR incident command structure.<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUb_IcaLtzjdFBOyBOVvPD5sxtZN0nltJShlZt7sxHGdBRMppVglCWIogZHO2Ufu6zWHbwP4weONmnZxqSgkRzuxvWFyImurNpN0IizAw3OM28YPq_FYx_rdjl5WocnKaOvCUsh_3Dbw/s1600/SAR+Shorthaul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUb_IcaLtzjdFBOyBOVvPD5sxtZN0nltJShlZt7sxHGdBRMppVglCWIogZHO2Ufu6zWHbwP4weONmnZxqSgkRzuxvWFyImurNpN0IizAw3OM28YPq_FYx_rdjl5WocnKaOvCUsh_3Dbw/s320/SAR+Shorthaul.jpg" width="240"></a></div>
Even at a wage of $25/hour the 18,434 hours donated by SAR volunteers in Coconino County in 2015 would otherwise cost the taxpayers $460,850. Given this potential expense of responding, just preventing one SAR incident can could save a lot of money, pain and suffering.<br>
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The role of search and rescue was once the sole purview of individuals, their families, and local villages. Historically, when a disaster of any size struck resources were thrown at the problem. When the crisis ended, response resources usually disappeared into the background. That all began to change in the 1950s when national coordination of SAR activities began. Then during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, medical advances such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_army_surgical_hospital_(US)" target="_blank">MASH units</a>, provided rapid deployment, extraction and wartime medical treatment for injuries that only years earlier were fatal conditions. By 1970 when the MAST (Military Assistance to Safety and Traffic) program was created, and Army and Air Force helicopters became available to rural communities. The programs great success led in 1971 to expansion of the program to mountain rescue operations. Intergovernmental cooperation then proliferated with mutual aid agreements and coordination among state and county SAR offices, the <a href="http://www.gocoastguard.com/about-the-coast-guard/discover-our-roles-missions/search-and-rescue">Coast Guard</a>, Air Force, and county and private SAR groups.<br>
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Simultaneously,<a href="http://www.humankinetics.com/excerpts/excerpts/impacts-of-technology-in-outdoor-recreation-and-adventure" target="_blank"> technical advances</a> were occurring in climbing, rafting, camping, hiking, and skiing gear and techniques.<br>
<br>
The improvement of SAR capabilities paralleled the growth in the outdoor recreation industry zand demand for use of open lands owned by all units of government. Visitation to national parks increased quickly after WWII. For example, the Grand Canyon has seen over 200 million visitors since 1950. Annual visitation is up 830% since 1950. Even the lesser known national monuments near me such as <a href="https://www.nps.gov/wupa/index.htm" target="_blank">Wupatki National Monument</a> outside Flagstaff, AZ has seen a 2,117% annual visitation increase in the same time period. If you are interested in US forest visitation rate history from 1881 to the end of WWI, <a href="http://www.foresthistory.org/ASPNET/policy/Recreation/documents/USFS_Recreation_1891_1942.pdf" target="_blank">read this</a>.<br>
<h4>
The Ten Essentials</h4>
Accustomed to urban living and parks visitors to parks, monuments and national forests, visitors frequently come for their outdoor experience way under prepared . Most peoples's eyes glaze over when they are asked if they have brought with them the "Ten Essentials" for their adventures:<br>
<ol>
<li><b>Navigation.</b> Topographic map and assorted maps in a waterproof container plus a magnetic compass, optional altimeter or GPS receiver.</li>
<li><b>Sun protection.</b> Sunglasses, sunscreen for lips and skin, hat, clothing for sun protection.</li>
<li><b>Insulation.</b> Hat, gloves, jacket, extra clothing for coldest possible weather during current season.</li>
<li><b>Illumination.</b> Headlamp, flashlight, batteries.</li>
<li><b>First-aid supplies, plus insect repellent.</b></li>
<li><b>Fire.</b> Butane lighter, or matches in waterproof container.</li>
<li><b>Repair kit and tools.</b> Knives, multi-tool, scissors, pliers, screwdriver, trowel/shovel, duct tape, and cable ties.</li>
<li><b>Nutrition. </b>Add extra food for one additional day (for emergency).</li>
<li><b>Hydration. </b>Add extra 2 liters of water for one additional day (for emergency).</li>
<li><b>Emergency shelter.</b> Tarp, bivouac sack, space blanket, plastic tube tent, jumbo trash bags, and insulated sleeping pad.</li>
</ol>
When visitors do know about the ten essentials, but often don't have them all with them that day, they often minimize their importance with questionable statements such as:<br>
<ul>
<li>"Oh, it's OK, I am not going that far today."</li>
<li>"I've climbed peaks higher than this one with even less preparation."</li>
<li>"Why? Isn't the trail well marked with signs everywhere?"</li>
<li>"I thought my buddy was bringing that gear."</li>
<li>"I know, but this is the only day I have left on my trip to do this."</li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCeVM4Ka08BBW5D_a7jwGFGJaJNOCzUU4RZ8CsTbfM1DUPvVD7A2c0fuSfcKNZflu5pvQoY4kqW3I2V4czvs8VQgurjycgCCHLyACay8RqNU_y_JvhgwDEIZkJIsvB9A5sEhaUnYGPJGQ/s1600/Garmin-eTrex-Touch-35t-Topo-US-100K-Handheld-GPS_250x220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Portable GPS Unit" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCeVM4Ka08BBW5D_a7jwGFGJaJNOCzUU4RZ8CsTbfM1DUPvVD7A2c0fuSfcKNZflu5pvQoY4kqW3I2V4czvs8VQgurjycgCCHLyACay8RqNU_y_JvhgwDEIZkJIsvB9A5sEhaUnYGPJGQ/s200/Garmin-eTrex-Touch-35t-Topo-US-100K-Handheld-GPS_250x220.jpg" title="" width="200"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GPS</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
In regards to some experienced hikers, they often approach their adventure with a false sense of security trusting their lives too readily to technological advanced gear such as cell/satellite phones, GPS units, 36-mile radios, PLBs and EPIRBs (personal locator beacons and emergency position indicating radio beacons), smart phone apps, and increased cellular coverage,<br>
<br>
I applaud the technical progress made and I use a fair amount of tech myself, but basic survival skills may prove far more important, especially when all the batteries die or radio signals can't be found.<br>
<br>
<br>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Ravines, canyons, mountains, steep slopes, avalanche areas, and severe weather may all conspire to make sure you don’t get where you want to go. </span></i>~ <a href="http://www.humankinetics.com/products/all-products/Outdoor-Adventure-Education"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;">Outdoor Adventure Education</span></a></blockquote>
In 2014 Grand Canyon National Park saw 324 SAR incidents and Yosemite National Park had 181. The Grand Canyon began its PSAR program in 1997."<br>
<br>
A report, published by the <a href="http://www.wms.org/" target="_blank">Wilderness Medical Society</a>, has a catchy title: "Dead Men Walking: Search and Rescue in U.S. National Parks." Its authors looked at the NPS' annual search-and-rescue reports from 1992 to 2007 and SAR statistics from all NPS units in 2005. Some key findings: From 1992 to 2007 there were 78,488 people involved in 65,439 SAR incidents. These included 2,659 fatalities, 24,288 injured or sick people, and 13,212 "saves," or saved lives." <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/outposts/2009/10/searchandrescue-operations-in-national-parks-numerous-costly-but-effective.html" target="_blank">Source</a><br>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzEnoKCWnTkIClKRCGBQSQrFgqD3D6HUEoe-F7UMmGiYDFevY2bbuXTx0wXjzrJTB6hpTqTkeSewFh4XoaKT4mFZEMfpuu8joUY-J_f2Xxob2FfkcCJmIqcEPFznIzFvqqfxSSjjX_Uk/s1600/San_Francisco_Peaks.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzEnoKCWnTkIClKRCGBQSQrFgqD3D6HUEoe-F7UMmGiYDFevY2bbuXTx0wXjzrJTB6hpTqTkeSewFh4XoaKT4mFZEMfpuu8joUY-J_f2Xxob2FfkcCJmIqcEPFznIzFvqqfxSSjjX_Uk/s640/San_Francisco_Peaks.gif" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Francisco Peaks (Mt, Humphreys is on the left)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
</h4>
<h4>
The Forests Service's Challenge</h4>
The Forest Service is trying to improve safety on its trails. The Flagstaff Branch began its pilot PSAR program in 2015. Program volunteers have two primary sets of responsibilities at the Mt. Humphreys Peak location because it is Coconino National Forest’s most used trail:<br>
<br>
1. PSAR volunteers observe every hiker starting up the trail and:<br>
<br>
a. Try to determine every hiker’s physical ability, equipment and hydration preparedness.<br>
b. Provide mountain weather forecasts plus safety and self-rescue tips such as what to do <br>
during lightning and other foul weather conditions.<br>
c. Offer maps, direction, trail condition, and campsite information.<br>
d. Suggest alternative trails better suited to a person’s or group’s ability and preparedness.<br>
e. Encourage <a href="https://lnt.org/learn/7-principles" target="_blank">Leave No Trace</a> behavior.<br>
<br>
2. PSAR volunteers also hike the trail as <i>roving rangers</i> to continue providing supplemental information to hikers and render first aid to ill or injured hikers and their pets.<br>
<br>
Approximately 6,000 people will hike some portion of the Humphreys Trail this summer. On our highest use day so far this summer we had over 635 hikers starting up the 4.9 mile trail. It ascends roughly 3,300 feet to the summit at 12,633 feet. In addition, we have had up to 70 dogs a day of all breeds accompanying hikers. All too frequently we witness dog-on-dog problems despite the requirement for dogs to always be on a leash.<br>
<br>
A large majority of our hikers are visiting from the Phoenix metro area. Before they even begin their hike they are experiencing an altitude gain at the trailhead of nearly 8,000 feet. Thus, when attempting the summit climb, the altitude difference without acclimatizing can lead to difficulty breathing, headaches, early fatigue, dehydration, <a href="http://patient.info/health/preventing-acute-mountain-sickness" target="_blank">Altitude Mountain Sickness</a> (AMS), and other more serious medical symptoms such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-altitude_pulmonary_edema" target="_blank">HAPE</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-altitude_cerebral_edema" target="_blank">HACE</a>.<br>
<br>
<i>Immediate recognition of symptoms and prompt descent are the most life-saving interventions for HAPE and HACE, according to the <a href="http://www.wemjournal.org/article/S1080-6032(14)00257-9/fulltext">WMS Consensus Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Acute Altitude Illness</a>. In dire cases supplemental oxygen and hyperbaric therapy can be beneficial. Medications such as acetazolamide and dexamethasone for HACE are temporizing measures while organizing descent. Nifedipine is a temporizing measure for HAPE while organizing descent. (<a href="http://www.wms.org/magazine/1108/Breaking-Wilderness-Medicine-News">Source</a>)</i><br>
<i><br></i>
Roving PSAR ranger volunteers carry a Forest Service radio when they are on the trail, as well as, a cell phone to call for more medical or SAR assistance when needed. In addition, I carry a separate County SAR Team radio for direct communication with the SAR Commander so that I might be able to expedite operations and advise early on as to the need for specialized personnel, equipment, or other rescue or recovery assistance.<br>
<br>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiX7YNU2yOlbPeWv2q7R7Ffj1ItZ8iO6p6iWgwz-VPcDRDkiIfn3I2GRsaXdjjrSPE3_hXmi-BxmR3MlF-MBu7l23R7QrhkjtLUWuL61jD_8KojtIJfjDvspmZyIpkrALSwQq5nrhLZjo/s1600/Mount-Washington-hiker-rescued.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiX7YNU2yOlbPeWv2q7R7Ffj1ItZ8iO6p6iWgwz-VPcDRDkiIfn3I2GRsaXdjjrSPE3_hXmi-BxmR3MlF-MBu7l23R7QrhkjtLUWuL61jD_8KojtIJfjDvspmZyIpkrALSwQq5nrhLZjo/s320/Mount-Washington-hiker-rescued.jpg" width="320"></a><br>
<h4>
Who Pays For All this?</h4>
To end this three part series, I want to address one of the biggest misconceptions most people have about the cost to victims of being rescued should SAR prevention messages prove inadequate. Some people do not seek SAR help in an emergency because they fear being billed for the cost of any rescue. In most states, including Arizona where I volunteer, the patient/victim is <b>NOT</b> billed for the cost of the rescue efforts. I hope that isn't surprising. Patients <u>will</u> likely be billed for any ambulance services, but that expense is often covered by personal health insurance policies. This <a href="http://archive.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/11/21/20091121rescue1121.html" target="_blank">newspaper story</a> describes the situation well and the problems SAR teams face when they try to offer assistance, but that offer of care is rejected by the injured person.<br>
<br>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpm_Fgyoan5NeFJNNSbnFmYfGKK5u4R8Vig_dNkef_oipDBs-LTFAzaoCc1uSXuztzRp2TXvZLxVJlDkN_zfEjrvtGN83KAjxqgvVmAnV_K2TogXs4rxiuuavkwmc3aVDTN11bQcaaDQ/s1600/Cold-Weather-Camping-Extreme+Sports.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpm_Fgyoan5NeFJNNSbnFmYfGKK5u4R8Vig_dNkef_oipDBs-LTFAzaoCc1uSXuztzRp2TXvZLxVJlDkN_zfEjrvtGN83KAjxqgvVmAnV_K2TogXs4rxiuuavkwmc3aVDTN11bQcaaDQ/s320/Cold-Weather-Camping-Extreme+Sports.jpg" width="320"></a>Now that you've seen how expensive it can be too operate a SAR program, understand that some critics argue that we actually should charge for search and rescue. There are several reasons for not charging.<br>
<br>
If the victim hesitates to call for help and WHEN (usually, not IF) the decision is made later to accept help (usually after sunset) several things can happen.<br>
<ol>
<li>Locating the victim may be more difficult and be complicated by temperature and visibility changes.</li>
<li>Rescue may have to be delayed until another day when conditions are safer for access and extraction, and rescuers may need to bivouac overnight and care for the patient in more arduous conditions.</li>
<li>The victim may increase the danger to other people's lives, including their own desperate friends, families and rescuers.</li>
<li>By delaying a call for help the victim's condition will likely worsen requiring even more drastic measures to deliver medical care and affect a rescue. It's cheaper to carry someone down in a litter basket than to call out a helicopter for an emergency transport.</li>
<li>The SAR team expenses and time requirements for rescuing usually go up after dark because of the greater need for more gear, fuel, and supplies.</li>
</ol>
<div>
There are numerous published examples of this problem. <a href="http://www.nsnews.com/news/american-tourist-delays-rescue-call-for-fear-of-fee-1.2326288" target="_blank">Here is but one</a>. The position of the National Association For Search and Rescue is shown below the fold.</div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
Please, if you cannot perform a self-rescue without major pain or further risk to yourself and others, seek professional help from a SAR group as soon as possible. Call 911 and/or send messengers to contact help. There are many volunteers itching to render assistance. </div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
Play hard, be safe!<br>
_____________________________<br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.toadhaulmanor.com/2016/08/life-is-what-happens-to-you-while.html" target="_blank">Training For Disaster (Part One)</a> (aka Life Is What Happens While Making Other Plans)<br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.toadhaulmanor.com/2016/08/training-for-disaster-part-two.html" target="_blank">Training For Disaster (Part Two)</a><br>
<br>
</div><a href="http://www.toadhaulmanor.com/2016/09/training-for-disaster-part-three.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Flagstaff, AZ, USA35.1982836 -111.6513019999999935.094458100000004 -111.81266349999999 35.3021091 -111.48994049999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597512763861703389.post-79730096584663550222016-08-31T13:25:00.002-07:002016-09-01T21:16:25.733-07:00 Training For Disaster (Part Two)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2Rxo0hHyr8nSY-IcB_MpoGCFBF8lPszHmKFz8Zxqs4yjUJBaiAuZGNll13KHC6LwwtiOvuZNpHmcMejin0Hhf1nnZH5OwVr26HisgxX4XaKg0RSZhGSi_fcvsNTK5kDI69raii1X8Fw/s1600/Coco+SAR+Logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2Rxo0hHyr8nSY-IcB_MpoGCFBF8lPszHmKFz8Zxqs4yjUJBaiAuZGNll13KHC6LwwtiOvuZNpHmcMejin0Hhf1nnZH5OwVr26HisgxX4XaKg0RSZhGSi_fcvsNTK5kDI69raii1X8Fw/s200/Coco+SAR+Logo.png" width="200"></a></div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">As I described in my last blog entry, Coconino County, Arizona </span>Search And Rescue (SAR) team <span style="font-weight: normal;">averages about 80 missions </span>(incidents) per year. In 2015 the team conducted 87 missions utilizing a total of 4,978 person hours,and 401 training sessions utilizing 8,812 person hours. Overall, people volunteered 18,434 person hours.<br>
<br>
I’ve only volunteered on ten incidents in the last four months of living in Flagstaff. In that period I participated in one rescue simulation for a crashed commercial airliner at Grand Canyon Airport, and the following real-life SAR team call-outs for:<br>
<div>
<br>
</div><a href="http://www.toadhaulmanor.com/2016/08/training-for-disaster-part-two.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597512763861703389.post-22457999775908597042016-08-29T20:48:00.001-07:002016-09-01T21:41:03.975-07:00Life is What Happens To You While Making Other Plans<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqDeWH1NJ_wcT0OwKym-v1MgptEyo87bdJWiUnVZ_1mQaQnGImFsBjkOfxjm9oMTDfsvZVu2HRpC2UvZxmHYJEFDoRhh4eBdQ135608CBge9aQG5pndUxVTjMAkh_fb4jI-u0U9VV_vU/s1600/taos_new_mexico_by_elljaye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="http://elljaye.deviantart.com/art/Taos-New-Mexico-56212449" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqDeWH1NJ_wcT0OwKym-v1MgptEyo87bdJWiUnVZ_1mQaQnGImFsBjkOfxjm9oMTDfsvZVu2HRpC2UvZxmHYJEFDoRhh4eBdQ135608CBge9aQG5pndUxVTjMAkh_fb4jI-u0U9VV_vU/s200/taos_new_mexico_by_elljaye.jpg" title="http://elljaye.deviantart.com/art/Taos-New-Mexico-56212449" width="200"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">elljaye.deviantart.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When I blogged last in March I summarized my first year on the road in the RV affectionately known as Toad Haul Manor. I have been remiss about not consistently documenting my adventures. For the last five months I have been so busy that I just didn’t have the motivation each evening to describe what all transpired. I aim now to correct that by retracing my steps and highlighting both plans and subsequent alterations in what happened. Eerily I last quoted John Lennon who allegedly said:<br>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"Life is what happens to you while making other plans."</i></span></blockquote>
How prophetic that quote turned out to be for me in the summer of 2016. In March I was ending my winter time home building of nine new homes in three states, the last of which was for <a href="http://www.taoshabitat.org/" target="_blank">Habitat for Humanity in Taos</a>, New Mexico. I had previously driven all the way back to Arkansas to attend training sponsored by the <a href="http://nasar.org/" target="_blank">National Association For Search and Rescue </a>(NASAR). After Taos, I headed southwest to Phoenix for EMT school before volunteering for my next unimaginable adventures in northern Arizona.<br>
<br>
So please join me for a three part series entitled “Training For Disaster” as I describe what happened to my plans to get me where I am today.<br>
<br>
<b>Part One</b> about my path to Arizona begins below.<br>
<div>
<br>
<div>
</div></div><a href="http://www.toadhaulmanor.com/2016/08/life-is-what-happens-to-you-while.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Arizona, USA34.0489281 -111.0937311000000127.330691099999996 -121.4208796 40.7671651 -100.76658260000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597512763861703389.post-71279924565622880392016-03-23T14:25:00.001-07:002016-05-09T17:04:20.809-07:00On the Road AgainSince I left Texas on March 10th I’ve experienced poor internet access and have been pretty busy driving and working, I simply haven’t had a lot of time or energy to stroke the keyboard with any memories.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58zcigripgk_fNPXkHF6tStfToaPPsaLkVBvdCS-AurS_0HJmB_EOprYl3zDgFSwuSFPBjDarTk9kAe-IZvpfEPGDtgCGNOIZ4ewyHxZo1JynjC2VXcMAkCyWWii8OaENNblqk8kxEQk/s1600/NASAR_CYMK_LOGO_BlackType.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58zcigripgk_fNPXkHF6tStfToaPPsaLkVBvdCS-AurS_0HJmB_EOprYl3zDgFSwuSFPBjDarTk9kAe-IZvpfEPGDtgCGNOIZ4ewyHxZo1JynjC2VXcMAkCyWWii8OaENNblqk8kxEQk/s200/NASAR_CYMK_LOGO_BlackType.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NASAR Logo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When I last wrote I was about to spend two and a half days completing my Search and Rescue (SAR) training and certification in Arkansas. On the first day of my second year full-timing in my RV I joined the largest ever class of graduates of the National Association For Search and Rescue (NASAR) SARTECH II program. Twenty-nine fellow students spent a tiring weekend proving our searching, tracking, and orienteering skills to become certified as qualified SAR technicians on future missions.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj83wKMUxU0eNOtTObu91Ur38a-31LICJOFsJRK4nGaRVeGVWMHOTl8rIHwircYhyphenhyphenzvRvBIYdwdZOipH0He5p5GSa7wq2LICfWaw-ortDe_z1LH4m0jcmMMrglSdfgoeFT4krXoqfEnVZg/s1600/Group+photo+2+Hobbs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj83wKMUxU0eNOtTObu91Ur38a-31LICJOFsJRK4nGaRVeGVWMHOTl8rIHwircYhyphenhyphenzvRvBIYdwdZOipH0He5p5GSa7wq2LICfWaw-ortDe_z1LH4m0jcmMMrglSdfgoeFT4krXoqfEnVZg/s200/Group+photo+2+Hobbs.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Habitat Volunteers </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The SAR program concluded on a Sunday evening and on Monday I drove two days from Arkadelphia, AR back to Hobbs, NM and the Habitat For Humanity affiliate there. I did so for the express purpose of attending the “key ceremony” for the twenty-ninth completed Habitat home in Hobbs. I had worked there in 2015 in two builds with the people shown in the accompanying pictures.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7IO72tdk-o0vL8v9P39nrq7M0CNvahVDQAqKJVCx2yBE-mxw1vbPdKLUKnqPOmvlbdZJnniTECgkIv0FqBZCHznVB-PvaRWNDhtZsJwa32qo42GsRc1t4O1mNJ89JJT65rkU6lsjZhc/s1600/Group+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7IO72tdk-o0vL8v9P39nrq7M0CNvahVDQAqKJVCx2yBE-mxw1vbPdKLUKnqPOmvlbdZJnniTECgkIv0FqBZCHznVB-PvaRWNDhtZsJwa32qo42GsRc1t4O1mNJ89JJT65rkU6lsjZhc/s200/Group+photo.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More Habitat Volunteers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was a unique pleasure to witness the gratitude of a young family as they accepted the keys to their new home. After contributing hundreds of hours of sweat equity towards her home Thais Mackey received keys to her beautiful new, 3 BR home and zero interest mortgage. <br />
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She and her children with help from family began that very evening to excitedly move into the home.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKPw53wMjwrmvkavwVDfKsxgRCpT2YkqVhl7Us2W8CrBV0oTK42fPJ0KusftdBR0FTQJmrL0hxsHPsvnJ7xeY4cs1yJHboIsCp3SitOft9onQVmRSkVaszJRiBAFWpzkf80Ug6Rg_pqOg/s1600/Thais+Mackey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKPw53wMjwrmvkavwVDfKsxgRCpT2YkqVhl7Us2W8CrBV0oTK42fPJ0KusftdBR0FTQJmrL0hxsHPsvnJ7xeY4cs1yJHboIsCp3SitOft9onQVmRSkVaszJRiBAFWpzkf80Ug6Rg_pqOg/s400/Thais+Mackey.jpg" width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Key Ceremony Flyer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Can you recall how you felt moving into your first home?<br />
<br />
As an added surprise to the Mackey family I assembled the Habitat gift of a refurbished computer system to help the kids with their school work and personal development.<br />
<br />
I had planned on the following morning to drive north to Taos, NM for another Habitat For Humanity Collegiate Challenge build, but was delayed 24 hrs because I was having engine trouble with the RV. After driving through a dust storm in west Texas it wouldn’t start on at least three occasions. I didn’t want to risk being stranded in the New Mexico mountains far from any RV service center.<br />
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The local Habitat board chairman, Paul Campbell, pulled a few community strings and got me into a repair facility first thing the next morning. I was expecting a very expensive fuel pump replacement job, but I not only squeaked through with just a fuel filter replacement, but <a href="http://watsonhopper.com/" target="_blank">Watson Truck & Supply</a> provided the parts and service for free because of my Habitat affiliation. In appreciation I stayed the day in Hobbs and helped further build the 30th Hobbs Habitat home for the next deserving family.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMhAt92J49gGtIjG5T1V4yZVfFexWL7Tg1sD-wXMgf7OLwQFqsdXTUydbo3p0yqEGDPJpr0bJX7csK7F0vnPbRj1nqjjvMsbb9txFL0ILd07RPw1S6AYtZtV7W-u8RN6OhlAHuf6AgyM/s1600/Taos47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMhAt92J49gGtIjG5T1V4yZVfFexWL7Tg1sD-wXMgf7OLwQFqsdXTUydbo3p0yqEGDPJpr0bJX7csK7F0vnPbRj1nqjjvMsbb9txFL0ILd07RPw1S6AYtZtV7W-u8RN6OhlAHuf6AgyM/s320/Taos47.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Convenient Parking For Habitat For Hunabity Build !</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Thursday morning I drove north to Taos, NM and set-up my RV directly in front of the adobe construction Habitat home under construction there.<br />
<br />
On Friday I worked with about ten high school students as they built an adobe brick fence wall between two Habitat homes. Also on site for my first day working in Taos were students from University of Texas that were applying lathe on the house walls onto which a cement coating would be applied.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kUnnMGBDIjDv9y7MIrYBGyGXidMrVsS-m-poJRG7HEl7BEedvAfZTDRfkBIjx2qUoUCkx-3FJ1Iqk95whxVSCG7oMS6T3Mcfv0b_5tyuV3YtSoZz-xwhcFja95jlMLQF5oO75qLVXrM/s1600/Taos65stucco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kUnnMGBDIjDv9y7MIrYBGyGXidMrVsS-m-poJRG7HEl7BEedvAfZTDRfkBIjx2qUoUCkx-3FJ1Iqk95whxVSCG7oMS6T3Mcfv0b_5tyuV3YtSoZz-xwhcFja95jlMLQF5oO75qLVXrM/s640/Taos65stucco.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">College Students Apply Lathe to Insulated Adobe Brick Walls</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On the weekend I had a marvelous day off from travel and work to ski at <a href="http://www.skitaos.org/" target="_blank">Taos Ski Resort</a>. I last skied there in about 1970. I recall it being a much more formidable ski challenge then.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBXLRIhvVI5T1FR8JoChaQt7d6rwCMIRn4UgEC4qvtDW9Fnbe8RzCzn7U5p5ntkAd7gv94NmnmqObuumZ_tJeVG0YhfcsDM2JiGtrNnYjNnM5SNR_4Y-VGJpW1P7EzcWG5eoIbVE0oqvg/s1600/TAOS_2015_TrailMap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBXLRIhvVI5T1FR8JoChaQt7d6rwCMIRn4UgEC4qvtDW9Fnbe8RzCzn7U5p5ntkAd7gv94NmnmqObuumZ_tJeVG0YhfcsDM2JiGtrNnYjNnM5SNR_4Y-VGJpW1P7EzcWG5eoIbVE0oqvg/s640/TAOS_2015_TrailMap.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taos Ski Area Trail Map</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The weather was just perfect and I encountered great spring skiing snow conditions. I felt better than the 20 year old I was when I last cruised the Taos slopes. Biggest difference between then and now: I now wear a helmet, have markedly improved ski equipment, and drink fewer beers between ski runs.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilC91hl1PG5ogOguzaiGEW0OllbntsaT1CmBvJv2709-jq2AYxhDlRWsRgaz-bidtYD2yDlRLCSDCeq2cypJaGReKJSafYKl3B0rNdUYL2GI2E_mphfGj0PKlIYNSpX4ijlMrFL5VHytQ/s1600/Taos69adobefence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilC91hl1PG5ogOguzaiGEW0OllbntsaT1CmBvJv2709-jq2AYxhDlRWsRgaz-bidtYD2yDlRLCSDCeq2cypJaGReKJSafYKl3B0rNdUYL2GI2E_mphfGj0PKlIYNSpX4ijlMrFL5VHytQ/s320/Taos69adobefence.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adobe Wall Under Construction</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilC91hl1PG5ogOguzaiGEW0OllbntsaT1CmBvJv2709-jq2AYxhDlRWsRgaz-bidtYD2yDlRLCSDCeq2cypJaGReKJSafYKl3B0rNdUYL2GI2E_mphfGj0PKlIYNSpX4ijlMrFL5VHytQ/s1600/Taos69adobefence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a>This week I’m working with another Care-A-Vanner, local retired volunteers and 13 newly arrived students from Georgia Tech.<br />
<br />
They are building recessed book shelves, dry-walling interior stud walls and applying the interior adobe wall plaster coating.<br />
<br />
I hope to get one more blue sky ski day in this coming weekend before heading to the Phoenix area where I will attend a month long Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course. I have a lot of studying to do.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRGHHV_eg_GyKoKljbd63k5H0dT2ceN9Njjsj5bGSy_5dyypJZ3YiKxLxPf5V1B8v8G_CWATk9H9MLAkEdec6Mk2dmT8gmIQdVye9e3L_B_qeW6-JJAsUSsEA-ZjHYQzLLYB1FPXBaads/s1600/Taos97.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRGHHV_eg_GyKoKljbd63k5H0dT2ceN9Njjsj5bGSy_5dyypJZ3YiKxLxPf5V1B8v8G_CWATk9H9MLAkEdec6Mk2dmT8gmIQdVye9e3L_B_qeW6-JJAsUSsEA-ZjHYQzLLYB1FPXBaads/s640/Taos97.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View From Ski Patrol Headquarters at Taos</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kUnnMGBDIjDv9y7MIrYBGyGXidMrVsS-m-poJRG7HEl7BEedvAfZTDRfkBIjx2qUoUCkx-3FJ1Iqk95whxVSCG7oMS6T3Mcfv0b_5tyuV3YtSoZz-xwhcFja95jlMLQF5oO75qLVXrM/s1600/Taos65stucco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1Taos, NM, USA36.4072485 -105.5730664999999836.304989500000005 -105.73442799999998 36.5095075 -105.41170499999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597512763861703389.post-55108513465243746862016-03-09T17:38:00.000-07:002016-03-09T21:48:19.664-07:00My First Year On The Road<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
A year ago Friday on March 11, 2015, I left my 'stick-and-brick' home in Des Moines, IA and hit the road in my RV full-time with my two Yorkshire Terrier buddies, Whiskers and Roger Dodger.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgT2Etry3IbdAQU504FcNTsdjC3y3nOv7KGLl8rk98gJ9fXkC5ET2DXFkBlOxMTAM2n7ZKciZBEAPrwYYzKiXQPqOkM3YMwKJ10X41iUdPePt_9lV1yct5FAycLjdl12eYqEy1VYqWlGI/s1600/Jan+Robertson+%2540+Jim+%2526+Lee+Anns+%2528273x384%2529+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgT2Etry3IbdAQU504FcNTsdjC3y3nOv7KGLl8rk98gJ9fXkC5ET2DXFkBlOxMTAM2n7ZKciZBEAPrwYYzKiXQPqOkM3YMwKJ10X41iUdPePt_9lV1yct5FAycLjdl12eYqEy1VYqWlGI/s200/Jan+Robertson+%2540+Jim+%2526+Lee+Anns+%2528273x384%2529+%25282%2529.jpg" width="141" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Best Friend, <br />
Jan Robertson</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnWw5oPYD_F59-kUyOfe_3IvAf_Q67GHxti-K1Pej-Isj6ViT7Xgqcl-ziHIhLDjuqslRGDk8WVywSJqQ_RrMD4eNyY9yjOHzMPMyeNXAsUzojXxiMMax6VGGnKSXIrKTc5neWPQzPUk/s1600/The+Boys+w+Jan%2527s+Ashes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnWw5oPYD_F59-kUyOfe_3IvAf_Q67GHxti-K1Pej-Isj6ViT7Xgqcl-ziHIhLDjuqslRGDk8WVywSJqQ_RrMD4eNyY9yjOHzMPMyeNXAsUzojXxiMMax6VGGnKSXIrKTc5neWPQzPUk/s200/The+Boys+w+Jan%2527s+Ashes.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whiskers | Roger Dodger</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My first stop was in Southern Illinois for a private memorial service for my recently deceased wife, Jan Robertson. Would that she could have joined me on this adventure!<br />
<br />
But my life’s journey goes on. In the last year I’ve visited sixteen national parks or monuments - staying at some for extended periods.<br />
<br />
I volunteered over 1,000 hours with the National Park Service at<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrLqWh27Pv7zrF7XajYHVknYuBDWbza2jBX1dtCLUztCV22mBszF5FqJuHstobpJms8_Gq6mLJjjMAaB7CRVENXyQCDCQaICRmIfjHqyGJTzqkIUjuH60B1IT_zkQFKEsFrqPQDD61fU/s1600/Gates-of-Lodore-Map-Large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrLqWh27Pv7zrF7XajYHVknYuBDWbza2jBX1dtCLUztCV22mBszF5FqJuHstobpJms8_Gq6mLJjjMAaB7CRVENXyQCDCQaICRmIfjHqyGJTzqkIUjuH60B1IT_zkQFKEsFrqPQDD61fU/s320/Gates-of-Lodore-Map-Large.jpg" width="153" /></a>Gates of Lodore and 400+ hours of labor to build new homes on seven Habitat For Humanity projects in three states. I enjoyed nine days whitewater rafting down the Green River in Colorado, snow skied at five resorts, and camped in a wide variety of federal, state, county, city, tribal, and private campgrounds, as well as, the de rigueur overnight in Walmart and casino parking lots.</div>
</span></h4>
<span style="color: red;"><b>What have I appreciated the most from the journey so far? </b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Meeting people in campgrounds and at Habitat For Humanity builds. Some of the finest people I’ve ever met spend their free
time building safe and secure homes for communities in need. I’m also been discovering the subtle regional
differences in the cultures of the southwestern states, the heritage of our National Parks, and the widely varied and beautiful landscapes of
America. Through it all I’ve rediscovered old friends online with whom I can share some of the mysteries and emotions of
solo travel, and have crossed off a few of the items on <a href="http://www.toadhaulmanor.com/p/my-ever-evolving-bucket-list.html" target="_blank">My Constantly Evolving Bucket List.</a></span><br />
<div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="color: red; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>What have been the negatives of the last year on the road?</b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Oh, the usual: unexpected and expensive breakdowns of the RV and bearing
witness to the increasing amount of land lost in our “<a href="http://www.hcn.org/issues/48.3/the-poisoned-landscapes-we-leave-behind?utm_source=wcn1&utm_medium=email">national
sacrifice zones</a>” through reckless oil and gas development, mining, urban sprawl
and five lane highways to nowhere. Actually the breakdowns have been minor
considering the age of my RV (19 years). Owners of new RVs often have far more
complaints and downtime. </span>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Since departing Iowa I’ve traveled about 6,000 miles
through eleven states, but I’ve stayed every single night on the road in my
fully-paid-for RV with my forever buddies, Roger and Whiskers. I thought I’d
drive more miles than 6,000 since that number is only 44% of what the average US citizen traveled
in </span><a href="https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ohim/onh00/bar8.htm" style="font-weight: normal;">2015</a><span style="font-weight: normal;">. Connect the orange dots on this map yo understand where I've spent my time on the road in 2015.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9paCetMB2jtSq9mfsx_PwfCLXqFBzyzV7jLG6RUnHR8fyKPYo6H78D82IG7PQFkgjTPVq0hn0C46L3Ro0A6kmEG5NKs43Of-dtfmHXZJc_VNYJ3sOmETtlXbNwaryIO0YklUv4hWdaM/s1600/2015+Timeline+Map.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Map of places visited in 2015" border="0" height="483" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9paCetMB2jtSq9mfsx_PwfCLXqFBzyzV7jLG6RUnHR8fyKPYo6H78D82IG7PQFkgjTPVq0hn0C46L3Ro0A6kmEG5NKs43Of-dtfmHXZJc_VNYJ3sOmETtlXbNwaryIO0YklUv4hWdaM/s640/2015+Timeline+Map.png" title="Map of places visited in 2015" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stops Along My Journey in 2015</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span>
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<ul style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLzXlSqJyALMeFsqufR28Gp6fFe5pYnQwO9IjMbPT0EFNt3zX7OnEb8i1J8-r6voymW2YIoqNQ-PHpFHSsm68lAhxSqnm9JaAxOKbclluvieYeb3Qhq5wPcJkg8hv2CfTnmCqbUr5fcc/s1600/Escapee+RV+Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLzXlSqJyALMeFsqufR28Gp6fFe5pYnQwO9IjMbPT0EFNt3zX7OnEb8i1J8-r6voymW2YIoqNQ-PHpFHSsm68lAhxSqnm9JaAxOKbclluvieYeb3Qhq5wPcJkg8hv2CfTnmCqbUr5fcc/s1600/Escapee+RV+Logo.jpg" /></a>
</span></ul>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">What’s remarkable is that I only had to pay out-of-pocket for a camping
site on 77 out of the 365 nights (21%). On those paid nights I used memberships in
RV clubs to reduce the nightly fees 10-50% off the normal rate.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">My informal education to prepare for the journey consisted of reading a lot of books and articles on RV travel and RV
mechanical systems: how to plan a journey, locate affordable campgrounds, repair things that break, and most importantly, embrace the unpredictable. That knowledge has proved handy more than once. </span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">My formal education during the year consisted of three days at
a Sierra Club Outings leader conference and 80 hours in an online <a href="http://www.aarp.org/home-garden/transportation/driver_safety/" target="_blank">AARP’s defensive driver training course.</a> In addition, I completed four <a href="https://training.fema.gov/emi.aspx" target="_blank">FEMA disaster incident management courses</a> and a 40 hour "Search And Rescue (SAR) Fundamentals" course from </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">in </span><a href="http://www.nasar.org/" style="font-weight: normal;" target="_blank">NASAR</a><span style="font-weight: normal;">. I’m scheduled
to take the SARTECH II national certification test tomorrow in Arkadelphia, AR and attend eight more SAR presentations.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhidTrIeaRpMqh_s9JhAPWxK_CY5IhgqSjclP20bLMY1wTykuCqPLeDycVHkvuy9_7cCa5O2xd007vN3u24lHhg4tvtxIHBvb2FMlgtU7s0EATAYqfu9YDkQPyvHaum-4KGLZRRkXIUjoc/s1600/Wilderness+EMT+Badge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhidTrIeaRpMqh_s9JhAPWxK_CY5IhgqSjclP20bLMY1wTykuCqPLeDycVHkvuy9_7cCa5O2xd007vN3u24lHhg4tvtxIHBvb2FMlgtU7s0EATAYqfu9YDkQPyvHaum-4KGLZRRkXIUjoc/s200/Wilderness+EMT+Badge.jpg" width="198" /></a><span style="font-weight: normal;">I’ve also been studying emergency medical books
leading to an anticipated certification later this year as a Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician {WEMT}.Granted that I’ve
renewed my Wilderness First Aid certification for many years, and previously qualified
as an Urban <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Certified_first%20responder" target="_blank">First Responder</a> when I lived in Carbondale, IL. but I really have wanted to be better prepared to deal with medical emergencies on the road, along remote wilderness trails, and down America's wild and scenic rivers. To that end I
will need to complete a month long EMT course in April and then complete the
wilderness EMT component in October.</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmh0xu_V6edBJk75cqzOw3UeWTlOpxZXW6Rzwt0jyxQTyMaphDjf773EngwRs04QsDXPfVD1e3al2gEOVZTX6lawbOC4p1X2lOqjbqzm9t-tJHOkR6UudvOlGEPTT4x0a0hiIJsRVY4w/s1600/NPS+Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmh0xu_V6edBJk75cqzOw3UeWTlOpxZXW6Rzwt0jyxQTyMaphDjf773EngwRs04QsDXPfVD1e3al2gEOVZTX6lawbOC4p1X2lOqjbqzm9t-tJHOkR6UudvOlGEPTT4x0a0hiIJsRVY4w/s200/NPS+Logo.jpg" width="153" /></a></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red;">What luxuries did I have to give up on my RV journey?</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Very little. Well, I did
effectively lose cell phone access for about five months while I was a National
Park Service campground host in rural Colorado, but got it back temporarily whenever I drove into
town on errands. This week I’m installing a <a href="http://bit.ly/1RyCjZM" target="_blank">cellular signal booster</a> to improve signal
availability and quality, but there are still large parts of the country that
do not have cell phone access on <i>any</i>
phone carrier. </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Other than that and perfect Internet access my RV contains all the creature comforts of home without the need to mow grass and shovel snow.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">During my first year on the road I did not have much access
to broad-cast television, but that was by choice. Although I have an automatic satellite dish and tuner I've I opted instead for watching classic DVD movie
collections and reading books. They keep me </span>occupied whenever volunteer work, social media, nature, and my dogs haven't been adequate entertainment</span></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: normal;"><b>Is the RV experience what I imagined it would be before I began this
journey? </b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Pretty much so. There have been no major surprises or disappointments. I don’t travel
with a lot of the “stuff” that once filled my large home. I downsized from a 3,500
square feet home to less than 300 square feet inside the RV and 75 cubic feet of storage
space in the “basement” storage lockers. The downsizing was challenging and
rewarding. I no longer feel so owned by my possessions.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">But you can be owned by old loves and passions. I've owned and helped restore several old homes. On the 364 day of living full-time in an RV </span>I toured the historic old <a href="http://www.seaquist.org/" target="_blank">Seaquist</a> Mansion in Mason, TX that sadly needs of lots of TLC. I quickly realized how very much I still really love old buildings. I just wanted to make that building MINE and bring it back to its once elegant self. Not gonna happen with me. Too many items on that constantly evolving bucket list.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="color: red;"><b>Isn't it lonely traveling by yourself on the road?</b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Yea sometimes.</span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> I miss my late wife, Jan, who was so at the center of my former life. B</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">eing able to share travel with someone special makes an enormous difference in the quality of your life. But w</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">orking with some really amazing Habitat volunteers and discovering new friends helps compensate. I've come to greatly value the value my friends that stay connected with me, especially those that read and comment on my blog. Thanks to the Internet which I helped grow in the 90's I now can chat daily with old and new friends.</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>What has been the most interesting phenomena of my travels so far?</b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">My answer </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">centers around my experiences when
meeting new people. They frequently ask “Where are you from?” It's an icebreaker kind of question, but I always hesitate when answering because I’m not quite sure what to honestly say. I could indicate that I've came from one of the eleven states where I’ve lived in the last year, or perhaps the place of my
birth; or where I lived last, most often or most frequently; or where I last owned a home, or where I’ve declared
a domicile, or where my heart feels most at home. Many full-time RV travelers simply the question with “</span><a href="http://bit.ly/1RyDb0o" style="font-weight: normal;" target="_blank">Home is where I park my RV</a><span style="font-weight: normal;">.” I’m increasingly more inclined to simply say my home is a
</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">fragile blue orb in space</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">. That response is usually not what people are looking for in an answer.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheIBUbnK-1R0hgvTnB9rOvKNAuK1ofuJpwbIp32vP2XoJNcFR-3YkFco__N9PpMwBNcBqYRtUAvfUPtf5x1P-pnoNvJeRgXhlTnI9KFH4ePf3Xhy4qV43Hww5j7qBIpmG8x0oUQ-kgaKk/s1600/Casimi+view+of+earth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheIBUbnK-1R0hgvTnB9rOvKNAuK1ofuJpwbIp32vP2XoJNcFR-3YkFco__N9PpMwBNcBqYRtUAvfUPtf5x1P-pnoNvJeRgXhlTnI9KFH4ePf3Xhy4qV43Hww5j7qBIpmG8x0oUQ-kgaKk/s640/Casimi+view+of+earth.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Cassini Spacecraft View of Earth Taken Within the Shadow of Saturn on July 19, 2013<br />
See the tiny blue orb in the bottom right quadrant? That's where I live.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;"><b>What what do I have planned for year number two on the road?</b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> I'm still excited at the uncertain prospects of the next year. </span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Here is my <u>planned</u> </span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.toadhaulmanor.com/p/my.html" target="_blank">itinerary</a></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> from February of this year through October. I spent all of January in Livingston, TX ("B" on the map). The destination details are listed in the <a href="http://www.toadhaulmanor.com/p/my.html" target="_blank">Itinerary Section</a> of the blog and <a href="http://www.toadhaulmanor.com/2016/01/2016-new-year-of-adventure.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </span>Beyond October my future is quite uncertain, but I'm getting better at<a href="http://zenhabits.net/uncertainty/" style="font-weight: normal;" target="_blank"> living with uncertainty</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeVVvPRVwMGpsPavsaLkaacWWH5X_pD33-SEFDNVJpsvW82E3ZC2XG9jFx5jp-przJSRUdvgJSoMcTRF1V2oOLqboCCbs-zHNgrMDsBauCsWbF6D2N69qGdUj76t1cd1Xi7kr4h4HrzpM/s1600/Itinerary+map+16.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeVVvPRVwMGpsPavsaLkaacWWH5X_pD33-SEFDNVJpsvW82E3ZC2XG9jFx5jp-przJSRUdvgJSoMcTRF1V2oOLqboCCbs-zHNgrMDsBauCsWbF6D2N69qGdUj76t1cd1Xi7kr4h4HrzpM/s640/Itinerary+map+16.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">My Itinerary Map: February Through October, 2016</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSF1tVMIIzRqXZtQsiDV_0iMmb1-7zbhpWd02Jz0ru75f71BUCAtuEaori3UsfAkxFhOMLle51sZijaj3yls6LvAkS2AGmZ_7ErEntAo6Zv42e5LeQ63W2QtZ6LSHGMbQ2ROPYVOBmvmI/s1600/peace-symbol.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSF1tVMIIzRqXZtQsiDV_0iMmb1-7zbhpWd02Jz0ru75f71BUCAtuEaori3UsfAkxFhOMLle51sZijaj3yls6LvAkS2AGmZ_7ErEntAo6Zv42e5LeQ63W2QtZ6LSHGMbQ2ROPYVOBmvmI/s200/peace-symbol.gif" width="200" /></a> </span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><b><i>Before you cross the street take my hand.<br />Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans</i></b>. ~ John Lennon </span></blockquote>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"> <a href="http://before%20you%20cross%20the%20street%20take%20my%20hand.%20life%20is%20what%20happens%20to%20you%20while%20you%E2%80%99re%20busy%20making%20other%20plans./" style="text-align: right;">Note</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">~ ~ ~</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Please post your comments below.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Arkadelphia, AR, USA34.1209292 -93.05378389999998534.0157837 -93.215145399999983 34.2260747 -92.892422399999987tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597512763861703389.post-19238545053372565732016-02-28T13:50:00.004-07:002016-02-28T18:52:54.190-07:00A Rural Gem - Mason, Texas<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyarPsDXRPcO4CNubZP-SJCFizrfmGxfN8wbsG7WIbl1a8ATZPZhhXJBrh4vKUwJEyjXkCljhE1RXzHTeQGYsUTxnaBO_GJVaG1f-SWUNfRuhPSO6hicDICVDB98kHLo6wCT3Tzr1ykRI/s1600/20160227_142053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyarPsDXRPcO4CNubZP-SJCFizrfmGxfN8wbsG7WIbl1a8ATZPZhhXJBrh4vKUwJEyjXkCljhE1RXzHTeQGYsUTxnaBO_GJVaG1f-SWUNfRuhPSO6hicDICVDB98kHLo6wCT3Tzr1ykRI/s320/20160227_142053.jpg" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Texas Sized Topaz</td></tr>
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I'm staying in Mason, TX now for a Habitat For Humanity build and will be here for another 12 days. The city of 2,186 people makes a claim to the title of <i>"The Gem of the Hill Country."</i> It has good reason for being called that as I learned at the free admittance Mason Square Museum located on the picturesque downtown square.<br />
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On display in the museum is the largest light blue <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topaz" target="_blank">topaz </a>gem discovered in North America. Topaz is the State Gem of Texas and is only found in Mason.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_0qyakpv_7d0VzoO8McszPEggrqK2Q6j7Q0RjM-eX1D8wadEu-BE-We5Y12S5n3jxeOvZIleEtoxrVJhKH3DhaKb8RPSvFfvO-Zgghh4t1-03Eu7oa1RSUiwoo_Wa9rAvy5cpO1ftUg/s1600/20160227_133844.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_0qyakpv_7d0VzoO8McszPEggrqK2Q6j7Q0RjM-eX1D8wadEu-BE-We5Y12S5n3jxeOvZIleEtoxrVJhKH3DhaKb8RPSvFfvO-Zgghh4t1-03Eu7oa1RSUiwoo_Wa9rAvy5cpO1ftUg/s400/20160227_133844.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mason County Courthouse</td></tr>
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I complimented the museum docent for the quality of the museum design. It contains far than the typical hodgepodge of local historical artifacts as is so common in underfunded, rural community museums. It does an excellent job portraying local history, both the good and bad. Some of the topics covered include:<br />
<ol>
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Mason_(Texas)" target="_blank">Fort Mason</a> (1851-1869) where so many Confederate and Union Generals were trained including <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_E._Lee" target="_blank">Robert E. Lee</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Sidney_Johnston" target="_blank">Albert Sydney Johnson</a>. Johnson was the highest ranking General on either side killed in battle during what southern partisans called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_the_American_Civil_War#War_of_Northern_Aggression" target="_blank">The War of Northern Aggression.</a></li>
<li>The migration of <a href="https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fme33" target="_blank">German immigrants</a> such as <a href="http://utpress.utexas.edu/index.php/books/kinjoh" target="_blank">John O. Muesebach</a> that settled much of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Hill_Country" target="_blank">Hill Country of Texas</a> starting in the 1940's.</li>
<li>Cattle rustling during the Mason County War, sometimes called the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mason_County_War" target="_blank">Hoodoo War</a>.</li>
<li><span style="text-align: right;">The </span><a href="http://www.theodeontheater.com/" style="text-align: right;" target="_blank">Odeon Theater</a><span style="text-align: right;">, longest running theater of west Texas built in 1928. On Saturday night </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/HarpethRisingBand" style="text-align: right;" target="_blank">Harpeth Rising</a> gave a concert.<span style="text-align: right;"><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Gmp8aoK3xTg/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gmp8aoK3xTg?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></span></li>
</ol>
Mason County abounds in other attractions.<br />
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<li>A golf course/baseball field/municipal park where I'm staying in my RV</li>
<li>Three other RV parks</li>
<li>Over 40 bed & breakfast inns and guest ranches</li>
<li>Two wineries</li>
<li>Six antique stores</li>
<li>Six artisan/craftsmen stores</li>
<li>The <a href="http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/texas/placesweprotect/eckert-james-river-bat-cave-preserve.xml" target="_blank">Eckert James River Bat Cave Preserve</a></li>
<li>And a full complement of traditional goods and services sans Starbucks and McDonalds.</li>
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I have especially enjoyed the local Hill Country architecture. I love the use of natural brown limestone in classic farmstead construction. Every old farmstead and many city tracts had these elevated water storage tanks to no doubt combat drought conditions.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">County Jail</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Farm Outbuildings</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Farm Barn</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>Reconstruction of Part of Fort Mason That Sits On A Hill Overlooking Mason, Texas</u></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.6px; text-align: center;">Old Yeller Statue</td></tr>
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Lastly, if you are a child of the 60's you are probably familiar with the sad tale of Old Yeller. The <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050798/" target="_blank">Disney movie</a> of the same name is based on the book by local author <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Gipson" target="_blank">Fred Gipson</a>. A Mason statue at the public library commemorates the story.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Mason, TX 76856, USA30.7487884 -99.2306110000000130.7214954 -99.27095150000001 30.7760814 -99.190270500000011tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597512763861703389.post-78402776149380848342016-02-23T06:52:00.000-07:002016-02-23T06:52:07.434-07:00Solar Home Building in Mason, Texas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLu8As2DHFGEK-XZAz_l17LnI7PMoG0WqBGo6YRla9dvp0g-urn1OoOffxbmadVCst0mBSCgQFrnkkO3lS-jo2AHjk1Om4uYcJDNRSOzHgJpPGPyel0RT2RxMaEU4lV1YgcPCWnB0mlts/s1600/20160222_145057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLu8As2DHFGEK-XZAz_l17LnI7PMoG0WqBGo6YRla9dvp0g-urn1OoOffxbmadVCst0mBSCgQFrnkkO3lS-jo2AHjk1Om4uYcJDNRSOzHgJpPGPyel0RT2RxMaEU4lV1YgcPCWnB0mlts/s640/20160222_145057.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I'm on the road again. After ending an enjoyable week in the Austin/Georgetown, TX area I drove 100 miles west in the quaint, rural county seat of Mason, TX where I'll spend two and one half weeks before returning briefly to Arkansas..<br />
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I'm here for my seventh Habitat For Humanity build in the last twelve months. There are about twenty volunteers helping the homeowner family build a single story, high efficiency, solar heated house on the outskirts of Mason.<br />
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We're on what's referred to locally as the Second Phase of construction. The first phase entailed laying the underground plumbing, pouring and custom finishing the concrete slab floor, cutting ALL the wall and roof structural components, assembling the roof trusses, and pre-painting exterior sheathing.<br />
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On our first day on Phase Two, we began with a comprehensive safety talk and commenced with assembling three exterior wall sections. With the celebratory participation of the soon to be homeowners, we raised the back side, gable end wall plus one side wall into position. Today, we'll put up as many more wall sections as the weather permits.<br />
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Lunch is being catered to us by the homeowners as we make new friends among the homeowners and volunteers, many of which travel all around the country as I am trying to do to build affordable homes for families. With Texas hospitality we are staying in our RVs in Mason City's park that hosts a 20 site RV park, a golf course, baseball fields, and rodeo facilities.<br />
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Note: A change in my itinerary come March. Instead of going to a Habitat build in Santa Fe, NM. I'm going to head 80 miles further north of there to Taos, NM and supervise students from the University of Texas that have volunteered to build family homes during their Spring Break rather than vacation somewhere else. It's part of Habitat For Humanity's <a href="http://www.habitat.org/youthprograms/collegiate-challenge" target="_blank">Collegiate Challenge Program</a> where we all can "Give people a Hand-up, not a Hand Out."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Mason, TX 76856, USA30.7487884 -99.2306110000000130.7214954 -99.27095150000001 30.7760814 -99.190270500000011tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597512763861703389.post-75397904514720707332016-02-20T00:08:00.002-07:002021-02-03T18:55:26.750-07:00I Believe I Can Fly<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKMKI4fU0U9v6SRA7qRbFbXa8V0UOaLMHP-LhsWA84pQDHVCKcJ96y19E7EDrN0J-oeFOe9OCJfWxa0yhWPnDKRq4kudZdQIegfkbJw72ogNWn7Lo8DHHbeE4ek0GoQEadRt-xn0oLuBA/s1600/20160219_155657.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKMKI4fU0U9v6SRA7qRbFbXa8V0UOaLMHP-LhsWA84pQDHVCKcJ96y19E7EDrN0J-oeFOe9OCJfWxa0yhWPnDKRq4kudZdQIegfkbJw72ogNWn7Lo8DHHbeE4ek0GoQEadRt-xn0oLuBA/s640/20160219_155657.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bob Pauls Learning to Skydive<br />
[Photo by Paula Sanders]</td></tr>
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I believe I can fly <br />
I believe I can touch the sky <br />
I think about it every night and day <br />
Spread my wings and fly away <br />
I believe I can soar <br />
I see me running through that open door <br />
I believe I can fly<br />
I believe I can fly <br />
I believe I can fly <br />
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~ Lyrics by R Kelly </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4wdLUt1tEMUvJpmzgBfgBuO-2OWMwdIVrrik215OFC8Lr_GZcemSMDhymAw94ebXkp3AkxGoELmQUaCnJSYnXJWssqIRj_4Cw1FBZCfPvh7VhldL8z1WNg_pqKJUvWTEnK6PPAzPvbo/s1600/threesome.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4wdLUt1tEMUvJpmzgBfgBuO-2OWMwdIVrrik215OFC8Lr_GZcemSMDhymAw94ebXkp3AkxGoELmQUaCnJSYnXJWssqIRj_4Cw1FBZCfPvh7VhldL8z1WNg_pqKJUvWTEnK6PPAzPvbo/s320/threesome.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paula, Frank and Kay Sanders</td></tr>
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While visiting Austin, TX this week I took advantage of the presence of one of the over 37 operations of <a href="http://iflyworld.com/">iFly</a>. Never heard of it? According to their website iFLY is an "experiential entertainment company that created modern indoor skydiving…we make the dream of flight a reality by giving our customers “wings” in a safe and reliable environment."<br />
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I was joined by three members of the Sanders family. We each took two, one minute instructional flights in the free-fall simulator under the guidance of a trainer. A separate operator controlled the wind speed (rate of fall) and could keep you at ground level or shoot you fifty feet up to the chamber ceiling with stabilizing support from the trainer.</div>
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It was a lot of fun, but very expensive for the value received. It works out to about $25 a minute. It's slightly cheaper with bulk purchase of instructional time. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCukxRgC1dd2wi4xOfRCt7RlF1CZRZDZ6ANJ9SAV4iGxRjz5fW_vhicKQnuJHSJO2pdAh1Z6rydhTgJGZ1yz2z7TexcwossC6EnUfkuGZTjl1u3myVMPIfq4ALZZIfFdoKgd_-4swHSE/s1600/Frank.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCukxRgC1dd2wi4xOfRCt7RlF1CZRZDZ6ANJ9SAV4iGxRjz5fW_vhicKQnuJHSJO2pdAh1Z6rydhTgJGZ1yz2z7TexcwossC6EnUfkuGZTjl1u3myVMPIfq4ALZZIfFdoKgd_-4swHSE/s320/Frank.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frank Sanders</td></tr>
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Aspiring flyers are provided about fifteen minutes of basic instruction, a helmet, goggles, and a flight suit to wear during the flights.<br />
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While those accompanying you can take somewhat distorted pictures through the flight chamber tube glass, the company dings you hard for photographs or videos that they produce.</div>
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I was part of a group of about ten other students for my session. We each took turns flying and high-fiving each other upon completion.<br />
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The flying has few restrictions on flight eligibility. I saw six year olds mastering the technique immediately and 78 year olds doing nearly as well.<br />
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Unless you have shoulder or mobility issues, you should be able to enjoy the full experience.</div>
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Would I go skydiving again? Maybe. For the admission price of a three minute free-fall I can spend nearly a seven hours playing on the steep slopes of a first class mountain ski resort. Flying down the slope I can approach the sensation of terminal velocity, jump off moguls and cliffs to be airborne under my own control, and execute maneuvers against high G-forces that rival the reward gained from falling against the pressure of rushing wind.<br />
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If you correctly thought downhill skiing was an expensive sport, skydiving is far more expensive.<br />
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And as for the comparative risks of extreme sports, I prefer skiing. Surprisingly, the risk is more than hang gliding, a sport which I intend to take up again this summer of 2016. I prefer to fly like a bird than fall like a rock. To each his or her own.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.tetongravity.com/story/adventure/your-chances-of-dying-ranked-by-sport-and-activity" target="_blank">Comparative Risks of Sports</a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHMN5VH-U6__WtRH_jZCZ8q2V7iou5RDCRhzJdKuriZtNXCQhxebikZI3zmdwGfTHwkwqyaHfRpME7nQ6AZ8WymWMI9YQ8hoGhLEv9v3ULk5RmC4XoIPnFBZu0DuB1FiA9dYKWThgXxXs/s1600/Up+high.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHMN5VH-U6__WtRH_jZCZ8q2V7iou5RDCRhzJdKuriZtNXCQhxebikZI3zmdwGfTHwkwqyaHfRpME7nQ6AZ8WymWMI9YQ8hoGhLEv9v3ULk5RmC4XoIPnFBZu0DuB1FiA9dYKWThgXxXs/s640/Up+high.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paula Sanders Flying High</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kay Sanders</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Austin, TX, USA30.267153 -97.74306079999996730.267153 -97.743060799999967 30.267153 -97.743060799999967tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597512763861703389.post-82519375915237765422016-02-19T21:47:00.002-07:002016-02-19T23:39:09.998-07:00Throwback Thursday - LBJI am leaving in two days for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mason,_Texas" target="_blank">Mason, TX</a> to commence another <a href="http://habitat.org/" target="_blank">Habitat For Humanity</a> build. This will be my sixth project in the last year. Most builds are two weeks long. Mason will be three weeks long, but the one after that in Santa Fe, NM is only a week long.<br />
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During the last week I've been visiting friends (Frank, Kay, Paula, and Toya Sanders) that previously lived two doors west in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbondale,_Illinois" target="_blank">Carbondale, IL</a>. We haven't seen each other for 13 1/2 years, but the experience has been as if we only said goodbye last week when they migrated to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgetown,_Texas" target="_blank">Georgetown, TX</a>.<br />
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We've been way too busy this week with food (too much), reminiscing, and assorted adventures. We've gone hiking along the North Fork of the San Gabriel River that flows through Austin, TX. And yesterday for <i><a href="http://webtrends.about.com/od/Instagram/g/Throwback-Thursday-Definition.htm" target="_blank">Throwback Thursday</a></i> (x 45 years) we visited the Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ) Presidential Library in Austin.<br />
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Today, we four all went flying for the first time without an airplane. More on that in my next blog entry.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/65/Kent_State_massacre.jpg/220px-Kent_State_massacre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/65/Kent_State_massacre.jpg/220px-Kent_State_massacre.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Miller" style="background: none rgb(249, 249, 249); color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.09px; line-height: 19.635px; text-decoration: none;" title="Jeffrey Miller">Jeffrey Miller</a> <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.09px; line-height: 19.635px;">shot by the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_Army_National_Guard" style="background: none rgb(249, 249, 249); color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.09px; line-height: 19.635px; text-decoration: none;" title="Ohio Army National Guard">Ohio National Guard</a><br />
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Filo" style="background: none rgb(249, 249, 249); color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.09px; line-height: 19.635px;" title="John Filo">John Filo</a><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.09px; line-height: 19.635px;">'s </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulitzer_Prize" style="background: none rgb(249, 249, 249); color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.09px; line-height: 19.635px; text-decoration: none;" title="Pulitzer Prize">Pulitzer Prize</a><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.09px; line-height: 19.635px;">-winning photograph</span></td></tr>
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My world view was enormously shaped by the events of the 1960s and 70s. I was in high school and college during the turbulent times of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War" target="_blank">Vietnam War</a>, the domestic assassinations of three revered leaders (John and Bobby Kennedy plus Martin Luther King), the massacre of my peers at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_State_shootings" target="_blank">Kent State</a>, civil rights protests, urban riots, the six day Israeli war, and the forging of the hoped for Great Society under the guidance of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyndon_B._Johnson" target="_blank">President Lyndon Baines Johnson</a> (LBJ).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0iiHqVMxxDJTZTwkkP5Qtgblt3x9uNbQoe-ImBmDOHesPHPZmx-AqXGOAKBaRKyI_dgQxeEvYD9mRs-YbyXq7iO4HASeqoNSEsJMXhF3rqAjWXtC45J1xL00nikcy0APkfj8ICQb3P0/s1600/Bob+frpm+Sarah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0iiHqVMxxDJTZTwkkP5Qtgblt3x9uNbQoe-ImBmDOHesPHPZmx-AqXGOAKBaRKyI_dgQxeEvYD9mRs-YbyXq7iO4HASeqoNSEsJMXhF3rqAjWXtC45J1xL00nikcy0APkfj8ICQb3P0/s400/Bob+frpm+Sarah.jpg" width="273" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bob Pauls<br />
Photo by Sarah Maas (~ 1976)</td></tr>
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Visiting the LBJ library brought back the vivid memories of my involvement in many social and political events on the period, It was also the time of my first marriage with all the joys and struggles of a young couple trying to find their way in that tumultuous world.<br />
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The library is filled with sights and sounds of the period. Particularly poignant were recordings from the Oval Office wherein LBJ worked through his frustrations with trying the put an end to the fruitless war, eliminate poverty in America, end segregation, and protect the environment with the passage of numerous laws. The two most noticeable pieces of environmental law were the<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clean_Air_Act_(United_States)" title="Clean Air Act (United States)">Clean Air Act of 1963</a></span> and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilderness_Act" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" title="Wilderness Act">Wilderness Act of 1964</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv69FIJSp5fnu6lo1qMwvjPeydTO5D5QtttLirk5JQDWoSLyDUQPODHAUxFc0jyXy8gasp5FJ3NE8Wrtappcmr_F7LGcUkk_HB1DXBSbvumGaZX6YFC_gSUoMITIE37IC4QQsiDtQPfTk/s1600/1-Bob+%2526+LBJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv69FIJSp5fnu6lo1qMwvjPeydTO5D5QtttLirk5JQDWoSLyDUQPODHAUxFc0jyXy8gasp5FJ3NE8Wrtappcmr_F7LGcUkk_HB1DXBSbvumGaZX6YFC_gSUoMITIE37IC4QQsiDtQPfTk/s400/1-Bob+%2526+LBJ.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You will support this legislation, won't you Bob?</td></tr>
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LBJ also used his power of persuasion to see passage of a twenty-two other <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Society" target="_blank">Great Society</a> laws. Below in bold are the laws that I personally am most proud to have seen passed by a far more compassionate and apparently, educated, Congress than what we have today.<br />
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<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14.875px;">1963: </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="new" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Higher_Education_Facilities_Act_of_1963&action=edit&redlink=1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #a55858; text-decoration: none;" title="Higher Education Facilities Act of 1963 (page does not exist)">Higher Education Facilities Act of 1963</a><span style="line-height: 1;"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-262" style="line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate;"></sup></span></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1963: <a class="new" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vocational_Education_Act_of_1963&action=edit&redlink=1" style="background: none; color: #a55858; text-decoration: none;" title="Vocational Education Act of 1963 (page does not exist)">Vocational Education Act of 1963</a></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1964: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Rights_Act_of_1964" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Civil Rights Act of 1964"><b>Civil Rights Act of 1964</b></a></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1964: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_Mass_Transportation_Act_of_1964" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964">Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964</a></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1964: <a class="new" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nurse_Training_Act_of_1964&action=edit&redlink=1" style="background: none; color: #a55858; text-decoration: none;" title="Nurse Training Act of 1964 (page does not exist)">Nurse Training Act of 1964</a></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1964:<b> <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_Stamp_Program" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Food Stamp Program">Food Stamp Act of 1964</a></b></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1964: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_Opportunity_Act_of_1964" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Economic Opportunity Act of 1964">Economic Opportunity Act</a></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1964: <a class="new" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Housing_Act_of_1964&action=edit&redlink=1" style="background: none; color: #a55858; text-decoration: none;" title="Housing Act of 1964 (page does not exist)"><b>Housing Act of 1964</b></a></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1965: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Higher_Education_Act_of_1965" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Higher Education Act of 1965">Higher Education Act of 1965</a></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1965: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Older_Americans_Act" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Older Americans Act">Older Americans Act</a></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1965: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coinage_Act_of_1965" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Coinage Act of 1965">Coinage Act of 1965</a></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1965: <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Security_Act_of_1965" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Social Security Act of 1965"><b>Social Security Act of 1965</b></a></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1965: <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voting_Rights_Act" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Voting Rights Act"><b>Voting Rights Act</b></a></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1965: <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_and_Nationality_Services_Act_of_1965" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Immigration and Nationality Services Act of 1965">Immigration and Nationality Services Act of 1965</a></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1966: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Welfare_Act_of_1966" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Animal Welfare Act of 1966">Animal Welfare Act of 1966</a></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1966: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_Information_Act_(United_States)" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Freedom of Information Act (United States)"><b>Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)</b></a></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1967: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_Discrimination_in_Employment_Act" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Age Discrimination in Employment Act">Age Discrimination in Employment Act</a></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1967: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Broadcasting_Act_of_1967" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Public Broadcasting Act of 1967">Public Broadcasting Act of 1967</a></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1968: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architectural_Barriers_Act_of_1968" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Architectural Barriers Act of 1968">Architectural Barriers Act of 1968</a></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1968: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilingual_Education_Act" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Bilingual Education Act">Bilingual Education Act</a></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1968: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Rights_Act_of_1968" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Civil Rights Act of 1968"><b>Civil Rights Act of 1968</b></a></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1968: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_Control_Act_of_1968" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Gun Control Act of 1968"><b>Gun Control Act of 1968</b></a></span></li>
<br />
The library also gives recognition of LBJ's wife, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Bird_Johnson" target="_blank">Lady Bird Johnson</a>. Johnson died only two days after the swearing-in of his successor, President Richard Nixon, a man we learned to hate for his disastrous policies that prolonged the war in Vietnam.<br />
<br />
I highly recommend a visit the the presidential library on the University of Texas campus.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Austin, TX, USA30.267153 -97.74306079999996729.828484 -98.388507799999971 30.705822 -97.097613799999962tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597512763861703389.post-8011027795429413152016-02-09T15:47:00.000-07:002016-02-10T09:29:38.080-07:00Search and Rescue Fundamentals<br />
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<img alt="National Association For Search and Rescue" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCQ9vfYuA9_LbTSahLTMMY_IpzL7t48TR_0MHscpfYJREzwfjp1wGpYXKTjETbDblKnK2wjPvAmNGOPs2e-r8bF7YnSIVK0DMls_AdfenBCuoFSbFJhpeUr3ENXUBQquqF8NRHsC1O6w/s1600/NASAR_CYMK_LOGO_BlackType.png" title="National Association For Search and Rescue Logo" /></div>
Over the last two weekends I participated with eleven other students in the 30 hour National Association of Search and Rescue (NASAR) <a href="http://www.nasar.org/sartech_ii">SARTECH II</a> Fundamentals class in Arkadelphia and Hope, Arkansas.<br />
<br />
The first weekend of training consisted of classroom instruction on wilderness survival, as well as, search and rescue organization, theory and practice.<br />
<br />
The second weekend was almost entirely in the field practicing theory and skills searching for a theoretical lost person in the thorny woods of central Arkansas. We were "called-out" to a deer hunting camp to look for lost female hunter that failed to return to camp. Looking for possible footprints we searched the base, performed a probability assessment of where the lost person might be and then formed "hasty search teams" to hunt for clues and signs. After finding footprints belonging to the person we tracked her trail step-by-step and found other clues down a dirt road on the way to a four way trail intersection. Since it was midnight when we arrived at the intersection and most of us were spent from a long day, we pitched camp to rest and resume the search at daybreak.<br />
<br />
After a wet, sub-freezing night we resumed the search following more clues suggesting that the possibly confused, disoriented, or ill person changed directions, doubled back on the trails. She was initially unresponsive to our auditory calls using her name. As we following her trail eventually getting closer to where she pulled off the trail for the night she responded to our signals. She was found just off the trail in the woods.<br />
<br />
After treatment for her deteriorated medical condition, she was carried out on a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Litter_(rescue_basket)" target="_blank">Stokes wire litter</a> for transfer to a medical facility.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2QWGMM3Ogb0Z-ir5N-aSXr4te9pzSolvwRi_oIN8Nxdf3RlbiDYzknTE9147qYy-Il5HJcxNBpZ3RHJlOIVhxY6H8CWFus7jKHOHicpHlRsAulSMVNBenpto71jfDx276uBokxrglvI/s1600/Bob+with+Stokes+Basket+with+Rose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2QWGMM3Ogb0Z-ir5N-aSXr4te9pzSolvwRi_oIN8Nxdf3RlbiDYzknTE9147qYy-Il5HJcxNBpZ3RHJlOIVhxY6H8CWFus7jKHOHicpHlRsAulSMVNBenpto71jfDx276uBokxrglvI/s640/Bob+with+Stokes+Basket+with+Rose.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's Me Wearing The Rescue Pack Carrying My Portion of the Rescue Litter<br />
(Photo by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/frost.lora?fref=nf" target="_blank">Lora Frost</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Rescues typically take about 72 hours to resolve themselves. What we learned from the exercise was how to apply resources on most land-based search and rescues, how to organize a search and assume specific roles as leaders, searchers, and record keepers. Then to round out our appreciation for the subject the instructors added knowledge components about incident command structures, environmental hazards and first aid, land navigation & orienteering; ropes, knots and & standardized rescue equipment; and legal obligations of search and rescue personnel.<br />
<br />
At the end of the sessions we took a 145 question subject matter and orienteering exam that, if passed, certified us as SARTECH III level SAR techs. When we return to Arkadelphia in a month's time to pass the field exam, we will gain certification as SARTECH II level techs. The field exam on March 13 consists of six sections:<br />
<ul>
<li>Station #1: Land Navigation: Use of topographic maps and compass. Candidates complete a course over terrain commonly encountered in the operations area in a specified time frame, not to exceed 600 meters.</li>
<li>Station #2: Tracking: Candidates identify and mark a footprint track left by the evaluator and follow the track to its end.</li>
<li>Station #3: 24-hour Pack: Candidates should carry the basic survival and safety supplies for their environment and the items to complete the stations.</li>
<li>Station #4: Rope Skills: Candidates demonstrate the ability to tie four basic knots and a harness with supplied rope and webbing.</li>
<li>Station #5: Route Search: This station entails locating and labeling clues in a given area demonstrating the ability to detect 50% of the clues using a route search tactic.</li>
<li>Station #6: Area Search: This station entails locating and labeling clues in a given area demonstrating the ability to detect 50% of the clues using an area search tactic.</li>
</ul>
<div>
Training beyond these fundamentals is highly encouraged. Specializations include man tracking, K-9, mountain/technical rope, whitewater, avalanche, and underwater search and recovery. When I lived in southern Illinois I served briefly on the Williamson County Dive Recovery Team. I'll probably take further classes in the years ahead as the SAR subject is interesting to me on several levels.</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Navigation is becoming a lost art. As a right of passage in the 1950-60s I was a Webloe, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cub_Scouting_(Boy_Scouts_of_America)" target="_blank">Cub Scout</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scout_(Scouting)" target="_blank">Boy Scout</a>, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venturing_(Boy_Scouts_of_America)" target="_blank">Explorer Scout</a> (now called Venturing). I earned a lot of merit badges in outdoor skills. Technical and natural orienteering were two of them and we needed those skills to take solo trips in the lakes and woods of northern Minnesota where I spent much of my youth. Navigation is seemingly no longer relevant to most outdoor experiences. Cell phones, satellite phones, GPS, emergency locator beacons, and modern camping technologies have substantially reduced the fear of perishing in the wilderness for all but the unprepared and unfit. </li>
<li>Even if we have technological tools to survive, the average modern human has lost its connection to the full outdoor experience. Few people can navigate by the wind, stars, moon, sun, or tides. Even fewer know how to use their five senses to learn from and understand the stories nature has to tell. Deep ecology is little understood by voters, let alone politicians and lawmakers.</li>
<li>SAR is about saving lives or returning the remains of loved ones that perished in some unfortunate experience. Skills in providing shelter, providing nourishment and rendering medical care, plus transporting someone home to safety are the hallmarks of caring culture. </li>
</ul>
<div>
You too could become a member of a rural or urban search and rescue team. There are lots of duties that can be performed at headquarters if you are not able or inclined to go into the field on a physical search.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Recommended Reading: </div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://amzn.to/1V1Rprz" target="_blank">The Natural Navigator: The Rediscovered Art of Letting Nature Be You Guide</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Last-Child-Woods-Children-Nature-Deficit/dp/156512605X" target="_blank">Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder</a></li>
<li><a href="http://amzn.to/1V1SiAv" target="_blank">Bushcraft 101: A Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.nasar.org/page/37/NASAR-Tracker" target="_blank">NASAR Tracking</a></li>
</ul>
<div>
PLUS:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://content.sierraclub.org/outings/national" target="_blank">Sierra Club Outings</a></li>
</ul>
<div>
<div>
<b>Students:</b></div>
<div>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Bob Pauls</li>
<li>Caleb Darnell</li>
<li>Justin Allen</li>
<li>Heather Schafstall</li>
<li>Holly Nichole Ballard</li>
<li>Jennifer Lefevre</li>
<li>Lora Frost</li>
<li>Nishant Mathure</li>
<li>Piper Scholfield</li>
<li>Shame Seaton</li>
<li>+ 2 more</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<b>Instructors:</b></div>
<div>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Mikki Lee Hastings</li>
<li>Bill Rogers</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Hope, AR 71801, USA33.6670615 -93.591566533.561332500000006 -93.752928 33.7727905 -93.430205tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597512763861703389.post-64229245440292195852016-02-09T13:44:00.000-07:002016-02-09T17:24:23.065-07:00Take the Waters ... Please<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPm62085ExTTQlz31Xpu7f7BfKbGer7mAljqTzc6ZOItZ6d0hhob7t9DT0KeCAR9Q4dKLbZCRxtBfl5Uq2oqlh811VqMkJrjM454A3Yo6GLtcBUlzeNKlDj37u90kFeuq6d7zdOKp7T4k/s1600/Bathhouse_Row.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPm62085ExTTQlz31Xpu7f7BfKbGer7mAljqTzc6ZOItZ6d0hhob7t9DT0KeCAR9Q4dKLbZCRxtBfl5Uq2oqlh811VqMkJrjM454A3Yo6GLtcBUlzeNKlDj37u90kFeuq6d7zdOKp7T4k/s400/Bathhouse_Row.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bathhouse Row, Hot Springs National Park</td></tr>
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The 19th century was the best of times and the worst of times. On three divergent fronts. We had the idle rich that glorified luxurious travel We had pioneers braved the wilderness to forge a new nation, and we also had the uneducated/quack doctors and patients that sought and promoted quack cures for all sorts of maladies.<br />
<br />
Consider that...<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.museumofquackery.com/welcome.htm" target="_blank"><b>Electricity</b></a> was promoted as cure for numerous diseases.</li>
<li><b><a href="http://mentalfloss.com/article/32042/corn-flakes-were-invented-part-anti-masturbation-crusade" target="_blank">Corn Flakes</a> </b>were marketed to cure masturbation.</li>
<li>Drinking or bathing in <b>mineral water </b>allegedly able to cure all sorts of ailments from alcoholism to arthritis, baldness, Bright’s disease, cancer, catarrh, chapped hands, constipation, diabetes, diarrhea, “female complaints,” flux, gout, hectic fever, high and low blood pressure, indigestion, insomnia, jake leg (a neurological malady caused by drinking moonshine whiskey containing tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate, an industrial chemical), malaria, milk leg, neuralgia, opium addiction, piles, pneumonia, rheumatism, ringworm, scurvy, sour stomach, St. Vitus’ dance, toothache, ulcers, and venereal diseases, plus various other unspecified skin, eye, stomach, bladder, liver, spleen and kidney problems."<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://texasalmanac.com/topics/science/mineral-water-spas-texas" target="_blank"><b>*</b></a></span></li>
</ul>
<div>
Last week I took a side trip to the mother of all national park units, <a href="http://www.nps.gov/hosp/index.htm" target="_blank">Hot Springs National Park</a> in Arkansas. Besides my peculiar interest in questionable medical cures, I had been offered a volunteer park service job there this summer and wanted to check it out. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The original <b><i>Hot Springs Reservation</i>,</b> the first designation of Hot Springs National Park, was set aside by Congress in 1832. Hot Springs National Park is thus the oldest of more than 400 units in the national park system. That's 40 years older than Yellowstone National Park. nd as such, it can rightly claim that it is <b><i>America's Spa</i></b>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In about 1870 westerners increasingly traveled to Hot Springs for the thermal baths and to drink the mineral water. Native Americans used it for centuries before that. It took another 100 years for the site to finally be placed on the National Register of Historic Places for its own protection. There's been a <a href="http://www.nps.gov/hosp/learn/historyculture/upload/Brief%20History%20of%20Bathhouse%20Row.DOC" target="_blank">long history of conflicts</a> among private landowners, entrepreneurs, and the federal government on what should be regulated to protect this natural resource. Like <br />
<a href="http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Malheur/">Malheur</a> National Wildlife Refuge in the news over the last month, the federal government won the fight but works in partnership with local interests.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Mineral water has historically been defined as "a natural water produced from a well or spring that naturally contains at least 250 parts per million total <i>dissolved solids</i>." Did you know that water spa aficionados distinguish about a dozen different types of mineral water? Thermal, Hypothermal, Mesothermal, Hyperthermal, Osmotic, Chemical, Oligomineral, Carbogaseous, Alkaline, Sodic, Saline / Chloro-Sodic, Sulfated, Sulfurous, and Ferruginous. <a href="http://www.greekmedicine.net/therapies/The_Water_Cure.html" target="_blank">**</a></div>
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<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<div>
What intrigued me about Hot Spring's bathhouse row of seven historic spas was the segregated and regulated pseudo science of the operations. First of all these were initially white-only establishments primarily tended to by African-American attendants. The National Park Service rightly now exhibits the role of race in the operation of the facilities.<br />
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSpZjfJq89GKZINyl6Zx-Echor3p4ztKa0LizAZe3mM_RrX04xU4DlHJKy67YfWLYSh6z7UAvDWv7DFOBHXjh7EDZ6A6Y3ei51A1u7m_Pl89Dmg_3Osxzw2Lmn2C1VG36t4CAHKbl4CiU/s1600/Needles_Enemas_Mercury.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSpZjfJq89GKZINyl6Zx-Echor3p4ztKa0LizAZe3mM_RrX04xU4DlHJKy67YfWLYSh6z7UAvDWv7DFOBHXjh7EDZ6A6Y3ei51A1u7m_Pl89Dmg_3Osxzw2Lmn2C1VG36t4CAHKbl4CiU/s320/Needles_Enemas_Mercury.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Women's Treatment Room</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
As for the pseudo-science aspects, you need to realize that many of the treatments offered at the spas then required a doctor's prescription to acquire. Not that there wasn't an economic motive to provide them to anyone that could pay the bill. Three of the treatments' apparati are captured in the adjacent photo I took.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
~ Left, background) Multi-jet needle-like showers where dozens of water jets targeted specific parts of the body.</div>
<div>
<br />
~ (Right, background) Mercuric sitz-baths where one sat in a short tub and allowed mercury-laden water to be absorbed through your mid-section.</div>
<div>
~ (Foreground hoses) Intense, high pressurized enemas.</div>
<div>
<br />
<b>~ </b>(Not shown) Electrified<b> </b>soaking tubs.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enema Control Cabinet. Steam Cabinet on the Left.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The more traditional regimen for the average patron was:<br />
<ol>
<li>Perhaps a workout in the private gym</li>
<li>A hot shower</li>
<li>A cold shower followed by a hot towel wrap</li>
<li>A cool-down period</li>
<li>Dressing in the latest styles in the ornate men's or women's locker room, and then </li>
<li>Socializing on the top floor in the men's smoking lounge or women's tea room.</li>
</ol>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ksksolHRVVPbctg-0OQ23wWAmY9tGwlXJSV8yBS1YuseemGZ22S6SHq7rr2VpSwlRCVi39FesjNt37JAgIMrfoIjdrLqBYaqemYhYZGaTLxtGhovZs4LONoryxz6oRf5P_6UO5uD6p0/s1600/Hobbs220160128_63.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ksksolHRVVPbctg-0OQ23wWAmY9tGwlXJSV8yBS1YuseemGZ22S6SHq7rr2VpSwlRCVi39FesjNt37JAgIMrfoIjdrLqBYaqemYhYZGaTLxtGhovZs4LONoryxz6oRf5P_6UO5uD6p0/s640/Hobbs220160128_63.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Men's Dressing Room</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5QK4gQANrqdhKx3nMsj6PYOTO_-nBb6xjScAKyUBmwWMs7jSHLrOFvrTpNGcpDzI5_kivENQKo_T0m9RhDspNJ26jsSUZes_bh5iXGNjWWhgsLrSUlYV8Y2mc1fT76FSHuNay-CKWM28/s1600/Hobbs220160128_61.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5QK4gQANrqdhKx3nMsj6PYOTO_-nBb6xjScAKyUBmwWMs7jSHLrOFvrTpNGcpDzI5_kivENQKo_T0m9RhDspNJ26jsSUZes_bh5iXGNjWWhgsLrSUlYV8Y2mc1fT76FSHuNay-CKWM28/s640/Hobbs220160128_61.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ceiling Above the Men's Dressing Room Scilpture</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
All in all an interesting afternoon's visit and worthy of a visit and perhaps a modern spa treatment at one of the many commercial spas now still operating in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Should you choose to replicate "taking the waters" for your health I encourage you to skip the mercury baths and electrified baths.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-1A7RMUz7htXCgLhsBXCG8cU4tnkvsoa7UANCaUMIR3867kjT2xJsldxz5A5OrnyVx1rBvm4aKv1XEJ8esOQEn_D2xE5QWRTvjD_vufM6bwsdZH9Brbde4Sf2iWDjfI20m66kMYlhyphenhyphenK0/s1600/Hobbs220160128_65.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-1A7RMUz7htXCgLhsBXCG8cU4tnkvsoa7UANCaUMIR3867kjT2xJsldxz5A5OrnyVx1rBvm4aKv1XEJ8esOQEn_D2xE5QWRTvjD_vufM6bwsdZH9Brbde4Sf2iWDjfI20m66kMYlhyphenhyphenK0/s640/Hobbs220160128_65.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Dry) Electrical Therapy Treatment Room</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
See Also: <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19230311">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19230311</a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3Hot Springs National Park, 101 Reserve St, Hot Springs, AR 71901, USA34.5131753 -93.0513323000000137.2673647999999993 -134.3599263 61.758985800000005 -51.742738300000013tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597512763861703389.post-69071197150793868382016-02-05T10:24:00.002-07:002016-02-09T17:20:05.140-07:00DeGray Eagles Et Cetera<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWmzIRYlP887y54nAEyk_d3lxvFjCySd5HHTFJ0rqheTo-JuNZQBd9jEYraKj3wvwEKrDy71ow3Ifq8qJ1rEQ5F6HC8gx-8SZJOyaQILT9vD07_8riSJ5te3T6S9okaCgq2e8oS_hO6o/s1600/DeGray+Logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="DeGray Lake Resort Logo with Blue Heron" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWmzIRYlP887y54nAEyk_d3lxvFjCySd5HHTFJ0rqheTo-JuNZQBd9jEYraKj3wvwEKrDy71ow3Ifq8qJ1rEQ5F6HC8gx-8SZJOyaQILT9vD07_8riSJ5te3T6S9okaCgq2e8oS_hO6o/s200/DeGray+Logo.png" title="" width="200" /></a></div>
After spending a month layover at the Escapees RV Club
headquarters camp in Livingston, TX my journeys have taken me to Arkadelphia and Hope Arkansas for my first Search and Rescue (SAR) training class. I’ll be returning to Livingston after two weeks
for a one week stay before traveling back west. However, I have to return to Arkadelphia in March to complete the field exam that completes my <a href="http://www.nasar.org/sartech_ii" target="_blank">SARTECH II</a> certification with the <a href="http://www.nasar.org/" target="_blank">National Association For Search and Rescue.</a> </div>
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I was only one of three
RV campers staying midweek at <a href="http://www.degray.com/" target="_blank">DeGray Lake Resort State Park</a>. It’s a very nice
park this is with all the accoutrements of the modern state resort park: golf
course, large marina, seasonal riding stable, widely spaced camp sites, and
three rental yurts. It’s only by coincidence that I managed to pick the nicest
of spots overlooking the 13,500 acre reservoir.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibF_HWGhG3OjjbdDDsQgieaUqaF0d_xQhG1O43fHiHxUdaFDGu08HZxbtg1OPul7-QIKdkkexNvx4dfbyaA6mBI6-YFmSCICy2nVF7aza-dp4atSM1sECMp1Gic-yleCJsmGE7io_4bo0/s1600/Hobbs220160127_19.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibF_HWGhG3OjjbdDDsQgieaUqaF0d_xQhG1O43fHiHxUdaFDGu08HZxbtg1OPul7-QIKdkkexNvx4dfbyaA6mBI6-YFmSCICy2nVF7aza-dp4atSM1sECMp1Gic-yleCJsmGE7io_4bo0/s320/Hobbs220160127_19.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
When I awoke the first morning I
inadvertently flushed from the tall pines surrounding my site a flock of
previously unseen <a href="https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/black-vulture" target="_blank">black vultures</a>. To my surprise twenty-four vultures returned to one tree adjacent to the RV for the
evening to catch the last warming rays of sunshine. Roosting but 50 yards away on a dead snag were two adult American Bald
Eagles sharing the serene shoreline.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.audubon.org/sites/default/files/Black_Vulture_m17-67-100_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Black Vulture" border="0" height="320" src="https://www.audubon.org/sites/default/files/Black_Vulture_m17-67-100_l.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Vulture</td></tr>
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My days at the lake were spent quietly hiking the local shoreline and
purchasing the last of the SAR pack supplies needed for the training class. I’m
a little surprised how few campers there were in the campground midweek. The weather was quite nice during the day and the temps only drop to the 40’s at night.<br />
<br />
The population soared on the weekend as it was the start of the park’s 37<sup>th</sup> annual
“<a href="http://www.clipsyndicate.com/video/play/4866546" target="_blank">Eagles Et Cetera</a>” celebration. No, this is not a fan club event for the rock
band (I wish). Offered during the three day celebration were numerous eagle and owl
watch tours, raptor rehab demonstrations, and a live falconry hunt. I couldn't attend because they coincided with the
training sessions, but I was able to see enough to know there will be
plenty to see in this watershed.</div>
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Midweek I drove north to Hot Springs, AR to possibly “take
in the waters” before returning for the start of the training. More on that next time I post.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597512763861703389.post-71796888961793517502016-01-16T07:25:00.000-07:002016-01-20T22:49:19.807-07:002016 - A New Year of Adventure<h2>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0bvTcJlJB1SxK4fbJPG5Hk_S31jVJVDpmFahHmTweZRbew7f12uMiNom1bl1ra-jNu6ANYetKz8je-9KwkDskadTyDuiSSahHuDTB5CAc9WnoiD9fwuTukInj_6Jrx_hsyHPegMh62k/s1600/San_Francisco_Peaks.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0bvTcJlJB1SxK4fbJPG5Hk_S31jVJVDpmFahHmTweZRbew7f12uMiNom1bl1ra-jNu6ANYetKz8je-9KwkDskadTyDuiSSahHuDTB5CAc9WnoiD9fwuTukInj_6Jrx_hsyHPegMh62k/s640/San_Francisco_Peaks.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "geneva" , "arial" , "helvetica" , , sans-serif; font-size: 15.3px; font-style: italic;">The Kachina Peaks from Mount Elden </span>(by Tyler Finvold)</td></tr>
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</h2>
January began with a respite from home building and and airline trip back to Des Moines for a medical checkup and diagnostics. It appears I'm healthy enough to <i>keep on truckin</i> down the road, so plans for the next ten months are now firming up nicely. I'll continue travelling in my RV throughout the West after a winter break in Texas and Arkansas.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2KwAsRcmud4mY2qUt74kQ1ZeJqwqtKIfp8xPQwUIoPEz_wyD_96_3LL_cP7llpVIL1uv0x1upT00cBE_gJjEW0SzHvOsbaBOSHURRrxV3YLf3Tw5rZWCsKI_2K6E9df89ltoZRj5CLC8/s1600/humphreys-trailhead.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2KwAsRcmud4mY2qUt74kQ1ZeJqwqtKIfp8xPQwUIoPEz_wyD_96_3LL_cP7llpVIL1uv0x1upT00cBE_gJjEW0SzHvOsbaBOSHURRrxV3YLf3Tw5rZWCsKI_2K6E9df89ltoZRj5CLC8/s320/humphreys-trailhead.gif" width="320" /></a>I had planned to take Toad Haul Manor to the even warmer Texas Gulf coast for a while, but a coveted summer workamping job opened up and I wanted to improve my skills to be better prepared for the position.<br />
<br />
I've accepted a summer volunteer position with the <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/coconino" target="_blank">Coconino National Forest</a>, Red Rock Ranger District<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6px;"><span style="color: #28742e; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></b>in Flagstaff, Arizona with their fairly new <b>Wilderness Preventative Search and Rescue Program </b>(PSAR). Modeled after Yosemite and the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/photosmultimedia/hike_smart-01.htm" target="_blank">Grand Canyon</a> National Parks programs, the program seeks to reduce the number of injuries and deaths from hikers and campers being unprepared for the challenges of wilderness travel. It's a collaboration with the <a href="http://coconinosar.org/who-we-are/" target="_blank">Coconino County Search and Rescue</a>, <a href="http://www.friendsoftheforestsedona.org/homepage.html">Friends Of The Forest Sedona</a>,<strong style="background-color: #fffdee; color: #000099; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.005px; line-height: 20.23px;"> </strong>and University of Arizona. In the last three years an average of 80 search and rescues were needed, 24 on average requiring rescuing injured parties.<br />
<br />
In addition to the technical, educational, and preventative aspects of search and rescue, the position will assist eight+ other RV-based volunteers with other Coconino National Forest projects such as trail building, facility maintenance, trail patrolling, trail signage, natural/cultural interpretation and environmental education. We'll be staying in our own specialized little mountain community at <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino/workingtogether/volunteering/?cid=fsbdev3_054838" target="_blank">Camp Elden</a> in the mountains above Flagstaff.<br />
<br />
What's especially exciting to me is the work location in the Flagstaff and Sedona area and all of its <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/attmain/coconino/specialplaces" target="_blank">special places</a>. Arizona has <b>47</b> wilderness areas totaling 1.4 million acres and several national parks/monuments including the Grand Canyon. The area where I'll be volunteering has :<br />
<ul>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObuzyDqUSq-5i7z11c-cng-d3Hv8wG1MYq74GfxPL6PIw34q9sBPJAXn-IqWp96PXbs3WLX1QVpdBQXgl3YMQce0qCsTD7mSzRQuqb8NmgrQf1pPAFIeJ2n5_klJygdAlJD794f04A3I/s1600/flagstaff-area01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObuzyDqUSq-5i7z11c-cng-d3Hv8wG1MYq74GfxPL6PIw34q9sBPJAXn-IqWp96PXbs3WLX1QVpdBQXgl3YMQce0qCsTD7mSzRQuqb8NmgrQf1pPAFIeJ2n5_klJygdAlJD794f04A3I/s320/flagstaff-area01.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<li><a href="http://www.sangres.com/arizona/wilderness/kachinapeaks.htm#.VpdES_krLiw" target="_blank">Kachina Peaks Wilderness</a> (Site of the winter Arizona Snow Bowl where I hope to ski next season)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.sangres.com/arizona/wilderness/kendrickmountain.htm#.VpdD2fkrLiw" target="_blank">Kendrick Mountain Wilderness</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.sangres.com/arizona/wilderness/strawberrycrater.htm#.VpdErvkrLiw" target="_blank">Strawberry Crater Wilderness</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.sangres.com/arizona/national-parks/sunsetcrater/index.htm#.VpdNifkrLiw" target="_blank">Sunset Crater National Monument</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.sangres.com/arizona/national-parks/walnutcanyon.htm">Walnut Canyon National Monument</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.sangres.com/arizona/national-parks/wupatki.htm#.VpdFHPkrLiw" target="_blank">Wupatki National Monument</a></li>
</ul>
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Then there is the proximity to the Grand Canyon and the "cosmic" and beautiful Sedona region. So, all in all, I'm looking forward to exciting and diverse opportunities in Arizona.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5H3vQugTWNLm2Xp6qvdkuLFiBXWdG7XH5WiFzT8QV06ydlILNX9jTrNApdrGXv-QstQmsNA-AhE-Q6GCvDyMYwVp02A6MiBG2o41RKHvCmJ0SdeB-wtWFsBBcuIsyepAVRXXAxzXdME/s1600/NASAR_CYMK_LOGO_BlackType.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5H3vQugTWNLm2Xp6qvdkuLFiBXWdG7XH5WiFzT8QV06ydlILNX9jTrNApdrGXv-QstQmsNA-AhE-Q6GCvDyMYwVp02A6MiBG2o41RKHvCmJ0SdeB-wtWFsBBcuIsyepAVRXXAxzXdME/s200/NASAR_CYMK_LOGO_BlackType.png" width="200" /></a> In a couple weeks I'll be attending the <a href="http://www.nasar.org/" target="_blank">National Association for Search And Rescue</a> (NASAR) <a href="http://www.nasar.org/fundamentals_of_sar" target="_blank">fundamentals</a> training and certification class in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.and in April I'll travel to Jackson, Wyoming to get trained and hopefully nationally certified as a Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilderness_Emergency_Medical_Technician" target="_blank">WEMT</a>).<br />
<br />
In between those two milestones I'll be visiting friends in Texas and working on two additional Habitat For Humanity home builds in Mason, TX and Santa Fe, NM. Of course, in the Santa Fe (Taos) area and in Jackson Hole I hope to fit in as many downhill ski days as my endurance and budget allows.<br />
<br />
Hopefully I can remain a witness to retirement not being boring.<br />
<br />
I hope you continue to read my blog along the journey as I document the people and places I discover travelling in Toad Haul Manor.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2Flagstaff, AZ, USA35.1982836 -111.6513019999999935.094458100000004 -111.81266349999999 35.3021091 -111.48994049999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597512763861703389.post-54599012473429827782015-11-15T22:48:00.001-07:002016-01-17T16:35:31.978-07:00Descent Into The Underworld<span style="font-size: large;">Carlsbad Caverns National Park</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuxHCVcy78Id1g4H4AI9F7EZiNcsupBDUKRw49o0GUmdkBB3LriqoMJbI-30fNqIlHwzcd104go7FgbFQx64KdS31vsD_I8q0U-zolIOlEcGSdyazzUiM_6SE1y6U21cwwH_wWHa2uJ2w/s1600/Carlsbad20151107_07a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuxHCVcy78Id1g4H4AI9F7EZiNcsupBDUKRw49o0GUmdkBB3LriqoMJbI-30fNqIlHwzcd104go7FgbFQx64KdS31vsD_I8q0U-zolIOlEcGSdyazzUiM_6SE1y6U21cwwH_wWHa2uJ2w/s640/Carlsbad20151107_07a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Natural Entrance to the Carlsbad Cavern Bat Cave</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Take a leisurely but steep stroll eighty stories under the earth and experience the majesty of the netherworld know as Carlsbad Caverns. Located outside Whites City this famous national park is a <a href="http://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/spelunker" target="_blank">spelunker</a>'s dream to explore. The photo above is one of 119 known cave entrances in the park. Shown is the walk-in natural entrance descending over 1,600 feet to over thirty miles of interconnected caves formed in the limestone mesa towering above Whites City and the nearby city of Carlsbad, NM. This is the nation's deepest and and its third longest.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxz7qawA4o2qkZrNnh4F_BQ_TK1sYegiRVemKtBQ9B8AsbFBC_QRjxAWeLbhcRdnl0vv26FS6bHPW1FSVHxT6Fv_u2ElTBajxqUk4X0dI2nX9EVLGcFbGYf0FXrFHpdekSM0wz8rNUf90/s1600/Carlsbad20151107_01a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxz7qawA4o2qkZrNnh4F_BQ_TK1sYegiRVemKtBQ9B8AsbFBC_QRjxAWeLbhcRdnl0vv26FS6bHPW1FSVHxT6Fv_u2ElTBajxqUk4X0dI2nX9EVLGcFbGYf0FXrFHpdekSM0wz8rNUf90/s320/Carlsbad20151107_01a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Carlsbad Caverns National Park is one of at least ten national parks or monuments in the US that contain explorable cave geology:<br />
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<ul>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxs2_2G8P96kpA6JaJWwJcntPkeOn4_roprUITTCsm7Fz2ZcZMub4J7zk5t2ZmGxBuvVO50u_ChDPud2oQxHgi_6GB2OfsRk12E1B75t5HlN_3kJHd785Wq5up3FCYshFVCV9NqqyiFY/s1600/Carlsbad11142015_119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxs2_2G8P96kpA6JaJWwJcntPkeOn4_roprUITTCsm7Fz2ZcZMub4J7zk5t2ZmGxBuvVO50u_ChDPud2oQxHgi_6GB2OfsRk12E1B75t5HlN_3kJHd785Wq5up3FCYshFVCV9NqqyiFY/s320/Carlsbad11142015_119.jpg" width="179" /></a>
<li>Balconies Cave in <a href="http://www.nps.gov/pinn/index.htm" target="_blank">Pinnacles National Park</a> in California</li>
<li><a href="http://www.nps.gov/cave/index.htm" target="_blank">Carlsbad Cavern National Park</a> in New Mexico</li>
<li><a href="http://www.nps.gov/seki/learn/nature/cave.htm" target="_blank">Crystal Cave in Sequoia National Park</a> in California</li>
<li><a href="http://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm" target="_blank">Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.nps.gov/seki/learn/nature/cave.htm" target="_blank">Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.nps.gov/labe/index.htm" target="_blank">Lava Beds National Park</a> in California</li>
<li>Lehman Caves in <a href="http://www.nps.gov/grba/planyourvisit/lehman-caves-tours.htm" target="_blank">Great Basin National Park</a> in Nevada</li>
<li><a href="http://www.nps.gov/maca/index.htm" target="_blank">Mammoth Cave National Park </a>in Kentucky</li>
<li><a href="http://www.nps.gov/tica/index.htm" target="_blank">Timpanogos Cave National Monument</a> in Utah</li>
<li><a href="http://www.nps.gov/wica/" target="_blank">Wind Cave National Park</a> in South Dakota</li>
</ul>
I've been in lots of caves before but this park astounded me with its variety and the cave's intricate and delicate decorations. From enormous flowing stone columns to elaborate forests of spindly stone branches to the most delicate and graceful chandeliers of exquisitely shaped crystal-like spears held fast to the ever changing ceiling of enormous caverns. And then there were the reflective mirror pools formed over centuries from tiny mineral laced water droplets.<br />
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<blockquote 14px="" 16px="" 20px="" arial="" border-box="" box-sizing:="" class="tr_bq" color:="" font-family:="" font-size:="" helvetica="" line-height:="" margin-bottom:="" sans-serif="">
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #996600;">"The finest workers in stone are not copper or steel tools, but the gentle touches of air and water working at their leisure with a liberal allowance of time." </span></em><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #996600;">- Henry David Thoreau</span></em></blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQeqBY2qAA4pu63ukkOqAJEprkuyEWA8hhDdbQ-pjTSqI4yCTMuaY5o4mtepOfmRg57CpYq8KKiCyZg31OR-H4sTvrDIk6To6rdres4xHjBRaZVI4X3IsPmPMinTVNngwG5mfLFu7DRA/s1600/Carlsbad20151107_39a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQeqBY2qAA4pu63ukkOqAJEprkuyEWA8hhDdbQ-pjTSqI4yCTMuaY5o4mtepOfmRg57CpYq8KKiCyZg31OR-H4sTvrDIk6To6rdres4xHjBRaZVI4X3IsPmPMinTVNngwG5mfLFu7DRA/s400/Carlsbad20151107_39a.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shark Mouth Feature</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And there was life in the darkness: nearly a thousand species of small organisms, large colonies of cave swallows and up to a half-million Brazilian (Mexican) Free-tailed bats. There are sixteen varieties of bats that call Carlsbad their summer home. Their numbers were down during my November visit because most migrate south to Mexico and beyond for the winter. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbXHVxuNoFrb2ovuqM2cRaEKxVTygQtW7En-_jxQM8V4k0R_mHB8wfSqAY82-R344R6ts58xvRhEa88XANmNLrWp-kbXVz_r4isAk8je8suPwbRetEDtEezjDHLsNWhn0Aa_7p7TGEaE/s1600/Carlsbad20151107_101a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbXHVxuNoFrb2ovuqM2cRaEKxVTygQtW7En-_jxQM8V4k0R_mHB8wfSqAY82-R344R6ts58xvRhEa88XANmNLrWp-kbXVz_r4isAk8je8suPwbRetEDtEezjDHLsNWhn0Aa_7p7TGEaE/s320/Carlsbad20151107_101a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Natural Entrance Amphitheater<br />
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Some, however, linger here year round. Near sunset human visitors can sit in the Natural Entrance amphitheater and watch the silent and graceful swarms of bats exit the cave in a beautiful and mesmerizing cyclone of life. The experience is nothing like the wild fury of bats portrayed in movies (e.g. Batman Begins). They spiral from the cave in graceful, measured spirals. Silhouetted against the evening sky one can barely imagine that this event has been repeating itself daily for millennia.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgScshmSJpT0-5Q2Yp3g2veMXpyxtizOLpNfShd4K9lOvOm9H3_7qjHboFbACm2DBbx8kiFDftGzPGKo4Ad7WoCb3zvFcnsil3AauB5HNOgH98OPsMMKpv8XOSLTAVTMTSXWHlhAW-GBTo/s1600/Carlsbad20151107_77a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgScshmSJpT0-5Q2Yp3g2veMXpyxtizOLpNfShd4K9lOvOm9H3_7qjHboFbACm2DBbx8kiFDftGzPGKo4Ad7WoCb3zvFcnsil3AauB5HNOgH98OPsMMKpv8XOSLTAVTMTSXWHlhAW-GBTo/s400/Carlsbad20151107_77a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLX-no-fNR2SMVvlFvm2zSmUk6Us4wKIwAgWLpHrAC3Jo7o8L1pl3fj0F9mSSZJGsid5v6uxIM1WecsnaJWvrUKWxItQ1ngIqHIrfOFzU_r6NjdxSwm6vaX3VmG-2bS4SnrflgM4CcK7k/s1600/Carlsbad20151107_71a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLX-no-fNR2SMVvlFvm2zSmUk6Us4wKIwAgWLpHrAC3Jo7o8L1pl3fj0F9mSSZJGsid5v6uxIM1WecsnaJWvrUKWxItQ1ngIqHIrfOFzU_r6NjdxSwm6vaX3VmG-2bS4SnrflgM4CcK7k/s400/Carlsbad20151107_71a.jpg" width="221" /></a><br />
There are more than 100 entrances to caverns in the park. I spent two days in the bat cave bowels in a reverent state where I was awed by the beauty and complexity of everything I saw. On the first day I took about four hours to walk into the Bat Cave to reach the beginning of <i>El Salon del Gigantes</i> (The Big Room) to see a cavern that could hold three football fields containing thousands of natural wonders.<br />
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Throughout the journey no headlamps or flashlights are required as the pathway is gently lit by artificial lights. Originally designed by a Hollywood lighting specialist the accent lighting surely deserves an Oscar for lighting design.<br />
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The route is 100% on a hard surface that provided excellent traction in humid environs of the cave. This is so unlike the early days of the caves operation without elevators when visitors were lowered in buckets that doubled as hoppers for hauling out enormous quantities of <a href="http://www.nps.gov/cave/learn/historyculture/index.htm" target="_blank">bat guano</a> for local agricultural use.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2b2zq_h6s0c3HbsJ5pUDukrS9NMf5oKnwEUlqLpVpM-GF2ZB2iineTkvYveGrn8TLAv-xB54wbxSMDVwpar2oIBIqAEsTZC_zmMyPerpDYMgFZbkfctcvfUJRWSBt2TOPPElqFmJjnM/s1600/Carlsbad20151107_17a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2b2zq_h6s0c3HbsJ5pUDukrS9NMf5oKnwEUlqLpVpM-GF2ZB2iineTkvYveGrn8TLAv-xB54wbxSMDVwpar2oIBIqAEsTZC_zmMyPerpDYMgFZbkfctcvfUJRWSBt2TOPPElqFmJjnM/s200/Carlsbad20151107_17a.jpg" /></a>At the start of my visit the elevator that carries visitors down to the bottom had just broken. It got stuck in emergency brake mode and in recovering normal use the large motor burned out. As a result everyone had to both walk down and back out on the steep path of the cave. All the ranger led cave tours were cancelled and everyone received free admission to the cave if they could walk in and out. This no small feat for mere mortals.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM6cs0Sz0mYrYnE4V7cLTEOPz1BhgBy8KFwA5ghNo8Rwzd32u_Y6jXCX5IgwjRy-ayjkBH_ZioLTWLD4MOLpYCZEEDRtx_-tvV3JEBDi0euA2uHL72ZCkkpdYmzXe1e3EDL7N21cTiuos/s1600/Guano+bucket_1924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM6cs0Sz0mYrYnE4V7cLTEOPz1BhgBy8KFwA5ghNo8Rwzd32u_Y6jXCX5IgwjRy-ayjkBH_ZioLTWLD4MOLpYCZEEDRtx_-tvV3JEBDi0euA2uHL72ZCkkpdYmzXe1e3EDL7N21cTiuos/s400/Guano+bucket_1924.jpg" width="400" /></a>There were lots of generous and dedicated parents hauling complaining children back up the 800+ feet to the main level. I counted over 80 steep switchbacks on the route.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_2npJgFioAePlbvlmdyeu_YgDpzGuhH0W4_F-5VSP4_ft_hs14t_pJcmcImqQ6twwGwSLg2vTMBdar4Lw-x1XLzQ7U1eQxEg9hiPF06wgRpdIhKgQTiTvbuVp1c6ldnbBPVmViq_uw0w/s1600/Carlsbad20151107_78a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_2npJgFioAePlbvlmdyeu_YgDpzGuhH0W4_F-5VSP4_ft_hs14t_pJcmcImqQ6twwGwSLg2vTMBdar4Lw-x1XLzQ7U1eQxEg9hiPF06wgRpdIhKgQTiTvbuVp1c6ldnbBPVmViq_uw0w/s640/Carlsbad20151107_78a.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBsQz6mEKigaRmCMiO3WdzMn70X9ju3q3tRCHPuyDJcsKeIe313Fe3PCJ20TkSvsASzYMSky04YyrPHFeoYiOxEEZ7hZP6Hp5emFaZgie1-kmTRpPfQag3nA1BE7Q0EJVu9JezS5kynU/s1600/Carlsbad20151107_86a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBsQz6mEKigaRmCMiO3WdzMn70X9ju3q3tRCHPuyDJcsKeIe313Fe3PCJ20TkSvsASzYMSky04YyrPHFeoYiOxEEZ7hZP6Hp5emFaZgie1-kmTRpPfQag3nA1BE7Q0EJVu9JezS5kynU/s640/Carlsbad20151107_86a.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzAyIduyDVnKP1-pZ60b43FXbQsF1jI00DlLhjYBfQViQJiTsvtgP6h-f0ZLYGrPLW_kE3Z_zAWjPrByn9DwXdd9hgNRHzR97Joyt8rsTagex3YM-ogvd5ZtabqdNOSd7Lg71BJtRYZ-g/s1600/Carlsbad11142015_101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzAyIduyDVnKP1-pZ60b43FXbQsF1jI00DlLhjYBfQViQJiTsvtgP6h-f0ZLYGrPLW_kE3Z_zAWjPrByn9DwXdd9hgNRHzR97Joyt8rsTagex3YM-ogvd5ZtabqdNOSd7Lg71BJtRYZ-g/s400/Carlsbad11142015_101.jpg" width="223" /></a><br />
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On my second trip a week later the elevator was still not back in operation and I couldn't take any of the six National Park Service ranger guided tours. I wanted to take the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/cave/planyourvisit/left_hand_tunnel.htm" target="_blank">Left Hand Tunnel Tour</a>, an historic candle-lit lantern tour through an undeveloped section of the cave on unpaved trails.<br />
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Despite the cancellation, the Big Room holds enough splendors to satisfy any visitor. Shared here are some of the highlights of my stroll through the room.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBEos12ixpeaIGjBScUoS7umcL0FWsSLQyEeN_mmZ8-J_Q6fk2tQyPYnWPq08CaQuJg8FdnhJor_sAa5SMbJmiLnowpylLb7hpuzOWfDoLbkpXEYwof2y46ufWM6liM63lNaJEgFbDxY/s1600/Carlsbad11142015_83.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBEos12ixpeaIGjBScUoS7umcL0FWsSLQyEeN_mmZ8-J_Q6fk2tQyPYnWPq08CaQuJg8FdnhJor_sAa5SMbJmiLnowpylLb7hpuzOWfDoLbkpXEYwof2y46ufWM6liM63lNaJEgFbDxY/s400/Carlsbad11142015_83.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_UNGzLA7Wl5aW1x8rdQRXY2-_2_BDDUCOSvvdtV4s3lW12fpfuYiFPeqBDErwLj2UFivQ_6sMJfQ_H7EJb8Gu7enVpbgebcK_THH9lwSncyidHMIjvIR5faX783vlBRszgkOKXZuOnE0/s1600/Carlsbad11142015_65.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_UNGzLA7Wl5aW1x8rdQRXY2-_2_BDDUCOSvvdtV4s3lW12fpfuYiFPeqBDErwLj2UFivQ_6sMJfQ_H7EJb8Gu7enVpbgebcK_THH9lwSncyidHMIjvIR5faX783vlBRszgkOKXZuOnE0/s640/Carlsbad11142015_65.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7L4ztb8T3heuKPfPo1QCzk0Ky-iWO1NX_aMHJe37ALzjBpJ50zyqpC1vn59hoRaw-KQunxUMPyCFQSaC8b7TWpkkDMwA-KBr1brip7W_sTi5IPZw6AjkREKqj_XKVmQ1dfqTGlHVfJE/s1600/Carlsbad11142015_59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7L4ztb8T3heuKPfPo1QCzk0Ky-iWO1NX_aMHJe37ALzjBpJ50zyqpC1vn59hoRaw-KQunxUMPyCFQSaC8b7TWpkkDMwA-KBr1brip7W_sTi5IPZw6AjkREKqj_XKVmQ1dfqTGlHVfJE/s640/Carlsbad11142015_59.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lion's Tail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table border="0"><tbody>
<tr><td><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8aQC5X1x20k4dau221E-hOnKGoVfUIReE5GcQue0a3ws5skRFVRkHtLCe8r3qgVbXRBr-05qdpg4_4oy2pzWLPofVyrwIOcDUGaubUaR4lMZ-vmLYVxPncuOdE13csXO93NOEvdmdI5I/s1600/Carlsbad11142015_79.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8aQC5X1x20k4dau221E-hOnKGoVfUIReE5GcQue0a3ws5skRFVRkHtLCe8r3qgVbXRBr-05qdpg4_4oy2pzWLPofVyrwIOcDUGaubUaR4lMZ-vmLYVxPncuOdE13csXO93NOEvdmdI5I/s320/Carlsbad11142015_79.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Chandelier </td></tr>
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</td><td><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDkYQVhntWD-sDO24RnrZeQZQZryeCrg-wLqEEgAHtz_Hxpe73ls47iPQ9p7mETkYRq-BWsDbm6Y5Ku9q45OGdM8GJiKlsbBHNEezXqS4a3kfsdz65KpwPDRbjcAOHTKd13XsXBSVFh4/s1600/Carlsbad11142015_128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDkYQVhntWD-sDO24RnrZeQZQZryeCrg-wLqEEgAHtz_Hxpe73ls47iPQ9p7mETkYRq-BWsDbm6Y5Ku9q45OGdM8GJiKlsbBHNEezXqS4a3kfsdz65KpwPDRbjcAOHTKd13XsXBSVFh4/s320/Carlsbad11142015_128.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Path Near the Bat Cave Elevators</td></tr>
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</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKl8HClI-MxUw2PM3JqlJkZemyRV1MKfVN0ihdTlANNCk4tYtlzfqfHfN0vnuopQ5JHulCgRpgP5TZvWN9tMe7SvRZWNTPoN5siZ7yCBt4aZVWnRKbv1_OMnwET5K2xDqgBTL-mJtOQc/s1600/Carlsbad11142015_40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKl8HClI-MxUw2PM3JqlJkZemyRV1MKfVN0ihdTlANNCk4tYtlzfqfHfN0vnuopQ5JHulCgRpgP5TZvWN9tMe7SvRZWNTPoN5siZ7yCBt4aZVWnRKbv1_OMnwET5K2xDqgBTL-mJtOQc/s320/Carlsbad11142015_40.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMiADPaa8WFtcNsiOf83oJuWoKfqdXS3Po-58tiZhza93tTefvmyMe3Nc7ILzWtqvm1i_QPaymLoX2BfRuWzBErG840-i-8Of9OsLpYbPLyoGDbfuyEhJRLnPefWYFo9-2DWPhi7sZIIk/s1600/Carlsbad11142015_122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMiADPaa8WFtcNsiOf83oJuWoKfqdXS3Po-58tiZhza93tTefvmyMe3Nc7ILzWtqvm1i_QPaymLoX2BfRuWzBErG840-i-8Of9OsLpYbPLyoGDbfuyEhJRLnPefWYFo9-2DWPhi7sZIIk/s200/Carlsbad11142015_122.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
I highly recommend that Carlsbad Caverns National Park appear somewhere near the top of your must visit travel list.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-njTG1zZmL_HklHLTPCflGwnJArBsGcYzOs0IgOP_KwkXzIkMqpH1QYmb3wrAtWnwB7LTPMH5qt-lvQPJSvy9z4cQy7ZdkcPgXF-FHVBO9EB9Ta0UhUjHis1jYFcFhv_njBl4okLDfM/s1600/Carlsbad20151107_89a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-njTG1zZmL_HklHLTPCflGwnJArBsGcYzOs0IgOP_KwkXzIkMqpH1QYmb3wrAtWnwB7LTPMH5qt-lvQPJSvy9z4cQy7ZdkcPgXF-FHVBO9EB9Ta0UhUjHis1jYFcFhv_njBl4okLDfM/s200/Carlsbad20151107_89a.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 13.6px;">One Happy Old Geezer Spelunker</span></td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Carlsbad Cavern Hwy, Carlsbad, NM 88220, USA32.1891558 -104.4168065999999732.1354003 -104.49748759999997 32.2429113 -104.33612559999997tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597512763861703389.post-70173585979114725692015-11-05T11:51:00.004-07:002016-02-07T13:03:19.349-07:00Smokey Gets In Your Eyes<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj342jx5z0cypRPa9Fb6X7B59mMk_70RhB8vRMVmSlltBr9Kl_wjebXkK5Jb0lV10c5OAz6kKZBVuxRLKz68HsjbRut08Cd3VJ_XALaiSoEhO6ITSFqKRaD0TgCmzhPp3_0Se8UPRKReqo/s1600/Alamagordo20151103_58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj342jx5z0cypRPa9Fb6X7B59mMk_70RhB8vRMVmSlltBr9Kl_wjebXkK5Jb0lV10c5OAz6kKZBVuxRLKz68HsjbRut08Cd3VJ_XALaiSoEhO6ITSFqKRaD0TgCmzhPp3_0Se8UPRKReqo/s640/Alamagordo20151103_58.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smokey Gets In My Eyes</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoc_Cvy3RXh2UdQYOql3TyOiiT4Zmt77U-xVMUVLnDUodR8yPkW4lgBM5Xb344CVWZl6oiZEQ24B9c8M2pTiT6Mn-_3QXo6GRBz7vUruSg7C67e5pOm2Uy2I7BfvdUx0wsb9M3Sp7OIkE/s1600/bambi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoc_Cvy3RXh2UdQYOql3TyOiiT4Zmt77U-xVMUVLnDUodR8yPkW4lgBM5Xb344CVWZl6oiZEQ24B9c8M2pTiT6Mn-_3QXo6GRBz7vUruSg7C67e5pOm2Uy2I7BfvdUx0wsb9M3Sp7OIkE/s200/bambi.jpg" width="190" /></a>I'm on a circuitous route to my next Habitat For Humanity house builds in Hobbs, NM. From Alamogordo I bypassed some mountain passes in my RV to get to New Mexico's <a href="http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SFD/SmokeyBear/SmokeyBearPark.html" target="_blank">Smokey Bear Historic Park</a> in Capitan. Like <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bambi" target="_blank">Disney's Bambi</a> and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Smokey The Bear was a fixture of my youth. I loved them both.<br />
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From the backseat of the family station wagon travelling in Minnesota, Wisconsin and northern Michigan whenever I saw a live white-tailed deer along the road (there were plenty of dead ones too) I'd squeal "Rudy, Rudy, Rudy!" (Not to be confused with <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0884388/" target="_blank">Rudolph Valentino</a> that was also a movie favorite.)<br />
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Bambi, the movie, was produced in 1942 and had eight years to infuse the culture before I was born into its place in history. Like Smokey, Bambi played an <a href="http://www.smokeybear.com/vault/bambi_bear.asp" target="_blank">important role </a>in educating the public about preventing forest fires.<br />
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In that period it was not uncommon to see white-tailed deer and black bears either in the local county dump (well before landfills became the dump <i>du jour</i>) or in cages at roadside tourist spots. "Take your Picture With Bambi" or "Feed The Wild Bear" the signs would shout. I probably didn't associate the real Smokey with living in a cage despite the fact that Smokey spent all his 26 years in a cage at The National Zoo in Washington, DC.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHJwtyAhC_uQY3TGm9sVc3ZGK_MPsinCibIX63TOd6DdisCBDYLXO1BLiECintmfHV2asgjUiJ6SnydHUGm31HrcDYSNv0HR6Q2PfNxTBB4oCsWOgPDy2xEzI5STiLT26O9mEJg4PGXI/s1600/BearSodaPop2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHJwtyAhC_uQY3TGm9sVc3ZGK_MPsinCibIX63TOd6DdisCBDYLXO1BLiECintmfHV2asgjUiJ6SnydHUGm31HrcDYSNv0HR6Q2PfNxTBB4oCsWOgPDy2xEzI5STiLT26O9mEJg4PGXI/s320/BearSodaPop2.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
At the roadside stops one could buy a bottle of sweet soda pop and feed the depressed bear ensconced safely inside a chain link fence. It's terribly disheartening to think about now, but to a child it was thrilling and astounding to be that close to a wild creature. As an adult I'm saddened by the loss of innocence. That tear in my eye isn't from smoke. That feeling is probably why some fifty years later I volunteered at the <a href="http://www.americanbear.org/sanctuary/bear-sanctuary.html" target="_blank">Vince Shute Black Bear Sanctuary</a> in Orr, MN. But, I certainly do digress, don't I? I blog about more bears later.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihr2fz3l1CMMnqA7W2xFMD3cR42Emk7DYjsKJLePG4vO93GEZ0CEKCMt4-Wqei_k1f6OHeH3xUP9ZGT-PYP_xznQWvK3xHXa-RxAvrKO7xkxjlhRmHFzh22NPEtJOxym7IlC58ha4FsHE/s1600/Smokey+the+Bear+Scouts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihr2fz3l1CMMnqA7W2xFMD3cR42Emk7DYjsKJLePG4vO93GEZ0CEKCMt4-Wqei_k1f6OHeH3xUP9ZGT-PYP_xznQWvK3xHXa-RxAvrKO7xkxjlhRmHFzh22NPEtJOxym7IlC58ha4FsHE/s320/Smokey+the+Bear+Scouts.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boy Scout Fire Prevention Poster</td></tr>
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Smokey The Bear was and still is an important part of twentieth century lore. He pulled at the emotional heart strings of America in the 1940s and 50s.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxz7qw7bKFFwHyUXnLo9l9Brur4320BUOYgFkkrdtKB8JB4DALXb2TvzLwXHiWTr1jymV9L9WiyYVmzFGXjFXbdnC2LwKQQuf3G7nG0cBifzh8R4L0d9rNPIqkYKyIQZKqs_v1pvDC1Hk/s1600/SmoketAxis.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxz7qw7bKFFwHyUXnLo9l9Brur4320BUOYgFkkrdtKB8JB4DALXb2TvzLwXHiWTr1jymV9L9WiyYVmzFGXjFXbdnC2LwKQQuf3G7nG0cBifzh8R4L0d9rNPIqkYKyIQZKqs_v1pvDC1Hk/s200/SmoketAxis.gif" width="158" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wartime Poster</td></tr>
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He became part of the war effort in 1942, was a central theme of the Boy Scouts of America in their conservation activities, and helped start the wildland conservation movement we witness today.<br />
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The Smokey’s Museum opened in Capitan, <a href="http://www.legendsofamerica.com/nm-mainpage.html">New Mexico</a> in 1961. The museum is housed in a rustic one room cabin full of Smokey The Bear memorabilia, photos, and posters that chronicle the influence of Smokey The Bear on preventing forest fires.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivfMul-_Nt1vdXN69MYULKRGxKXGR35GoTDXGtyZsKJMRBe-0T0ZicrEoUNMA332GGg5j4FBmF2UZ_ekfOaAIjAnyRiaAT5ve_48OT_MKfE_AWZSNqDJLX7nrD_k07DGHd_vUKjLiXN_A/s1600/RealSmolkeyAge8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivfMul-_Nt1vdXN69MYULKRGxKXGR35GoTDXGtyZsKJMRBe-0T0ZicrEoUNMA332GGg5j4FBmF2UZ_ekfOaAIjAnyRiaAT5ve_48OT_MKfE_AWZSNqDJLX7nrD_k07DGHd_vUKjLiXN_A/s640/RealSmolkeyAge8.jpg" width="374" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smokey at Age 8 in <br />
The National Zoo</td></tr>
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"The Museum is located a 102 Smokey Bear Blvd, on the north side of State Highway 380, just west of the intersection with State Highway 48, and just east of the Smokey Bear Historical Park."<br />
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Want to know more about Smokey? Please visit the museum or <a href="http://www.smokeybear.com/vault/#"" target="_blank">this historical outline website</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.hcn.org/issues/44.12/smokey-bear-from-cute-to-buff-and-in-between" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Smokey's Timeline</a><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Smokey Bear Historical Park, 118 Smokey Bear Blvd, Capitan, NM 88316, USA33.5457277 -105.574377700000016.2999067000000011 -146.8829717 60.7915487 -64.265783700000014tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597512763861703389.post-72624357389342975812015-11-04T20:28:00.001-07:002016-01-17T16:40:34.708-07:00Prehistoric Trackways National Monument <h3>
Continuing My Journey South Along the Rio Grande Rift</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZT4UOYoz6WhS2UEP9-LL7BgSGtdOy-ssc8DO8dArghKhyphenhyphen65mBpX7q0T1QT61jBA9Y9s8etxFdHgUWRiXWre3iWstre2BinlXM3JWs8wSTxtzkrtlSPGClcDir7wU5kyLBonbwJM8L4vM/s1600/Prehistoric+Pathways+Map.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZT4UOYoz6WhS2UEP9-LL7BgSGtdOy-ssc8DO8dArghKhyphenhyphen65mBpX7q0T1QT61jBA9Y9s8etxFdHgUWRiXWre3iWstre2BinlXM3JWs8wSTxtzkrtlSPGClcDir7wU5kyLBonbwJM8L4vM/s640/Prehistoric+Pathways+Map.gif" width="608" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigw0xyBHb5ywqRfo2c-jy3M0WssaES6CMWaxcHmwXHtXTV6nNbm3b6Dt5RDk8R6yfn6dR3rKUayZE_ZYVigZXXOrDrEgHwWGEqB6WQa3ZO-_ilETWatJVW_Jo8My94NRJOkc_HcMGwwtg/s1600/Rio+Grande+Rift+Basin+Map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigw0xyBHb5ywqRfo2c-jy3M0WssaES6CMWaxcHmwXHtXTV6nNbm3b6Dt5RDk8R6yfn6dR3rKUayZE_ZYVigZXXOrDrEgHwWGEqB6WQa3ZO-_ilETWatJVW_Jo8My94NRJOkc_HcMGwwtg/s400/Rio+Grande+Rift+Basin+Map.jpg" width="280" /></a></div>
In September I wrote about <a href="http://www.toadhaulmanor.com/2015/10/vestiges-of-visitors-and-volcanoes.html" target="_blank">Petroglyph National Monument</a> and the <b><a href="http://aconcagua.geol.usu.edu/~arlowry/RGR/faq.html" target="_blank">Rio Grande Rift</a></b> along which the City of Albuquerque is built. The rift was created between 29 and 35 million years ago and extends from Colorado to Texas.<br />
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While volunteering in Las Cruces at Habitat For Humanity I took a short trip to the <u>western</u> outskirts of town to visit <a href="http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/content/nm/en/prog/NLCS/PT_NM.html" target="_blank">Prehistoric Trackways National Monument</a> managed not by the National Park Service (NPS), but the <a href="http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en.html" target="_blank">Bureau of Land Management</a> (BLM). In as separate blog I write about the eastern outskirts of Las Cruces.<br />
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If you like identifying and following game tracks in the woods, then this is your dream destination because of the huge number of visible tracks exposed on the ground of the monument. <a href="http://www.blm.gov/style/medialib/blm/nm/programs/recreation/rec_docs/rec_docs_las_cruces.Par.30343.File.dat/TracesofaPermianSeacoast_smallerfilesize.pdf" target="_blank">What kinds of tracks are viewable?</a> How about primitive scorpions, giant centipedes, millipedes, worms, horseshoe crabs, flying insects, an assortment of crawling bugs and beetles, shrimp, jellyfish, sea anemone, brachiopods, salamanders, and assorted other amphibians?<br />
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Prehistoric Trackways National Monument was established only this decade by Congress on March 30, 2009.<br />
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In cooperation with Smithsonian
Natural History Museum and the Carnegie
Museum of Natural History citizen scientist Jerry MacDonald extracted 2,500 slabs of dinosaur trackways within the monument and they are now on display in the collection of the <a href="http://www.nmnaturalhistory.org/" target="_blank">New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science</a> in Las Cruces.<br />
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The video I've included below is a great primer on the Rio Grande Rift and its role in presenting us with the massive collection of tracks from the Early <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permian" target="_blank">Permian Period,</a> which was the last period of the Paleozoic Era. Recall that the Permian Period ended with the largest mass extinction in Earth's history, in which nearly 90% of marine species and 70% of land dwelling creatures disappeared. During this period, all the Earth's major land masses were collected into a single supercontinent known as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pangaea" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255);" title="Pangaea">Pangaea</a>.<br />
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My biggest complaint about this 5200 acre monument is the lack information about how to access the area with most of the tracks. Entrance signage to the parking areas is lacking and the gravel access roads way into the sites require a four high-wheeled vehicle or a long hike in an unmapped area. Its best to call the HQ office a 575-525-4300 for directions and guidance.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Prehistoric Trackways National Monument, Las Cruces, NM 88007, USA32.3688799 -106.894545600000015.5372454000000033 -148.20313960000001 59.2005144 -65.585951600000016tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597512763861703389.post-84361295917372466922015-11-04T18:28:00.002-07:002016-01-17T16:46:04.332-07:00Deadly Dunes in the Serene Desert<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">
White Sands National Monument</span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaW6CK5ycKcZRr0dMOMMX-CiTsYaIDXPgKPFmN-2sjYhpfqFS_Zqj1FAHO4Lth8ax3yfyQESpolRJ0Kt0VWzNQ4ankPqnqFPa-PC9dyu7cSQa_amm6TCkQUhfe0jrjMDQU2C96spQopYU/s1600/White+Sands11022015_17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaW6CK5ycKcZRr0dMOMMX-CiTsYaIDXPgKPFmN-2sjYhpfqFS_Zqj1FAHO4Lth8ax3yfyQESpolRJ0Kt0VWzNQ4ankPqnqFPa-PC9dyu7cSQa_amm6TCkQUhfe0jrjMDQU2C96spQopYU/s640/White+Sands11022015_17.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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During the 1950s I developed along with many other children a fascination with early space exploration. As such, the science history of the period interests me. In addition, during the forty plus years since my first wife informed me that she spent her junior high school years in the <a href="http://www.wsmr.army.mil/Pages/newhome.aspx" target="_blank">White Sands <b>Missile Range</b></a> region where her father served I've wanted to visit the awesome <a href="http://www.nps.gov/whsa/index.htm" target="_blank">White Sands <b>National Monument</b></a>, in part, because of its nearby rocket and atomic bomb development history, and because of the rare <b>gypsum </b>sand (think gazillions of white toy sand box sand bags) deposits found there<br />
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The missile base is the birthplace of US rocket programs and the national monument is totally surrounded by the missile range. Access to the monument is closed for a few hours during each of the 800+ missile tests conducted each year.<br />
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The infamous <a href="http://www.nps.gov/whsa/upload/history_of_-trinity_wsmr_final_3_14_12.pdf" target="_blank">Trinity Atomic Bomb Site</a> is located 70 miles north of the monument and is only open to the public twice per year. How fitting is it that the Trinity Site is located in a place the Spanish settlers originally named Jornada del
Muerto — the Journey of the Dead? First hand observers descriptions of this explosion and its impacts (pun intended) on the local environment are recorded <a href="http://www.wsmr.army.mil/PAO/Trinity/Pages/TrinityHistory.aspx" target="_blank">here</a>..<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgWQpFHdOyGctBC_5XNMngQDvIX1VQjA72f52ui5dxKMyiEMpE2UebHIe2resQeGSP2pHNtROLvqBJYv-j851ZYZbL_KMNmBQujJly63OUDbt43XM4ctQk84G4rQUe5oIc8KSZHGV0cPI/s1600/area_camping_map_2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="574" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgWQpFHdOyGctBC_5XNMngQDvIX1VQjA72f52ui5dxKMyiEMpE2UebHIe2resQeGSP2pHNtROLvqBJYv-j851ZYZbL_KMNmBQujJly63OUDbt43XM4ctQk84G4rQUe5oIc8KSZHGV0cPI/s640/area_camping_map_2011.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SE New Mexico </td></tr>
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White Sands National Monument is perhaps more famous for its 275 sq, miles of tall gypsum sand dunes. It has been a destination for tourists since it was established in 1933. That was well before creation of the rocket and atomic bomb programs associated with the region.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmv7Mp5bYwHX_yL7UOmvDLmKmYppciRSCMlMJ665JJCp2HcicuBN1RqOxg6qzorKrSHVOMJLoDQMqjL5z5r6acVOw8x3aLaiO319UEoCGaxDw4ewxuKN7sunI7YDDFUB2fsgCWqydwsw/s1600/chihuahuan_desert.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmv7Mp5bYwHX_yL7UOmvDLmKmYppciRSCMlMJ665JJCp2HcicuBN1RqOxg6qzorKrSHVOMJLoDQMqjL5z5r6acVOw8x3aLaiO319UEoCGaxDw4ewxuKN7sunI7YDDFUB2fsgCWqydwsw/s200/chihuahuan_desert.gif" width="182" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">Chihuahuan Desert</span></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5v73KKRWAcHWdHq7WohZqmnWNvDPGcU3u2q60V2wdEf-zt1QvdKdT3YriBi_HZDu91PMjD8iHxIeBvoq2_J7_T7nvVl9KuvT1HZ5yzw6GwCVXzhNUDxrgKIBFc-rQOrHljDYFsQq5jc/s1600/VLAarmclouds_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5v73KKRWAcHWdHq7WohZqmnWNvDPGcU3u2q60V2wdEf-zt1QvdKdT3YriBi_HZDu91PMjD8iHxIeBvoq2_J7_T7nvVl9KuvT1HZ5yzw6GwCVXzhNUDxrgKIBFc-rQOrHljDYFsQq5jc/s200/VLAarmclouds_large.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very Large Array</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5v73KKRWAcHWdHq7WohZqmnWNvDPGcU3u2q60V2wdEf-zt1QvdKdT3YriBi_HZDu91PMjD8iHxIeBvoq2_J7_T7nvVl9KuvT1HZ5yzw6GwCVXzhNUDxrgKIBFc-rQOrHljDYFsQq5jc/s1600/VLAarmclouds_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>The nearest town is <a href="http://www.alamogordo.com/community-profile/" target="_blank">Alamogordo</a>, NM which is where I stayed for a couple of weeks between Habitat For Humanity Builds. Nearby attractions include the <a href="http://www.nmspacemuseum.org/" target="_blank">New Mexico Museum of Space History </a>and the <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/lincoln/" target="_blank">Lincoln National Forest</a>.<br />
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Nearer to Albuquerque is the <a href="https://public.nrao.edu/tours/visitvla" target="_blank">Very Large Array</a> (VLA) astronomical radio observatory that is famous for its 27, 82 ft. wide receiver dishes. The biggest employer is <a href="http://www.holloman.af.mil/" target="_blank">Holloman Air Force Base</a> which is home to the F-16 fighter jet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQp5OwXPwq9vyqKL205rub3n1MMqqkyboZdwyeo9qc5UHOW4NEtjPFzEeAnLnB9lLU3HPFCEqGUjXOVLtJMOdnPuVQMb6lfK7rWxOdHJF1P6t5YDmxZIyByLL7sFjDkDEOAyx3fOaAVA/s1600/cuatrocienegas_mast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQp5OwXPwq9vyqKL205rub3n1MMqqkyboZdwyeo9qc5UHOW4NEtjPFzEeAnLnB9lLU3HPFCEqGUjXOVLtJMOdnPuVQMb6lfK7rWxOdHJF1P6t5YDmxZIyByLL7sFjDkDEOAyx3fOaAVA/s200/cuatrocienegas_mast.jpg" width="200" /></a>I was fascinated to learn that White Sands has a sister national park in Mexico, <a href="http://www.nps.gov/whsa/learn/nature/cuatrocienegas.htm" target="_blank">Cuatro Ciénegas</a>. Both are located in the Chihuahuan Desert, and don't just blow away as one might expect because they are nearly 100% humid beneath the surface. This moisture along with plant life bonds the small gypsum crystals creating resistance to wind erosion. Most of the dunes I walked on were quite stable except for the leeward side of steep dunes. So stable were dunes that visitors etched albeit temporary signs on to their sides.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwQRfddPsECQnm_mbDnObyyFcy3CpVZlj_hlCQwQsBKZlrBDE-cGNRLQFAd9wl51xyyivFSxiEBjlvLF0iKfBxG5ESN7slGPEYFjq1-dr72Y2SpCDT0JbfvJ1pLCdIxVLWEX6AVbk8VM/s1600/Alamagordo20151102_06a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwQRfddPsECQnm_mbDnObyyFcy3CpVZlj_hlCQwQsBKZlrBDE-cGNRLQFAd9wl51xyyivFSxiEBjlvLF0iKfBxG5ESN7slGPEYFjq1-dr72Y2SpCDT0JbfvJ1pLCdIxVLWEX6AVbk8VM/s320/Alamagordo20151102_06a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The monument is literally blinding beautiful and blisteringly dangerous. Hiking options are strenuous and have been known to kill <a href="http://snowbrains.com/french-couple-dies-hiking-new-mexican-desert-9-year-old-son-survives/" target="_blank">underprepared hikers</a>. Yet, the dunes serve as a playhouse for hikers, geologists, sand surfers, balloonists, desert explorers and photographers.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpdBwd6WPym01YB3gfMB0KGklWJEU_Djr2akSwpA-NribZdpEPUsR5kyJ6LaSFwt-6Lzsx_Hi85AGXeFoxCMCYgnBYTjrYYDeKFp9C-Xd_r1pd-ezX1QfX_45_jCYVVu3_HHQADYl2uhI/s1600/Alamagordo20151102_32a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpdBwd6WPym01YB3gfMB0KGklWJEU_Djr2akSwpA-NribZdpEPUsR5kyJ6LaSFwt-6Lzsx_Hi85AGXeFoxCMCYgnBYTjrYYDeKFp9C-Xd_r1pd-ezX1QfX_45_jCYVVu3_HHQADYl2uhI/s200/Alamagordo20151102_32a.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Earless Lizard </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiviLiFtWGoJw0L9wswu6zNI_VoQIeJ9mZdcvqssPvsr0-rS5gajkg8LAiLGnu0bMLw31S1Ka_0T3DTczx0msGeislQfVurfChZmjhTI0S4IITU2_-EOD0jwKaAt-Yc7ODoyHGRgGgIwc/s1600/White+Sands11022015_21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiviLiFtWGoJw0L9wswu6zNI_VoQIeJ9mZdcvqssPvsr0-rS5gajkg8LAiLGnu0bMLw31S1Ka_0T3DTczx0msGeislQfVurfChZmjhTI0S4IITU2_-EOD0jwKaAt-Yc7ODoyHGRgGgIwc/s200/White+Sands11022015_21.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a>Amazingly resilient species survive the extreme environment of the constantly shifting dunes. <br />
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Plants, animals (especially <a href="http://www.chihuahuandesert.org/PDFs/Color%20changing%20lizards.pdf" target="_blank">lizards</a>) and even fish are able to adapt to wild swings of temperature, moisture and salinity. The plants help shape the windblown dunes.<br />
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This <u>most excellent,</u> hour-long video, <i><b>White Sands, White Wilderness: A Visual Exploration of the World's Largest Gypsum Dunes</b></i>, superbly documents some of the wonders of the dunes.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vgPisgnyFBU/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vgPisgnyFBU?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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This <a href="http://www.nps.gov/hfc/carto/PDF/WHSAmap1.pdf" target="_blank">aerial map</a> demonstrates how the water and wind-based erosion from the San Andreas Mountains to the west has contributed to the creation of sand within the monument.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi3Y7iTX3ipqZjKORYV3fV5sgHafDU-JNkXJHQ5OXYmJi_tIIEOp83Y2TUk5olk_5AK_ErXQQXTowoRqfZf5qzNuFr9BmlBZVYUECj1NTMB2TYl8DAEBZpLWigL27QJUwsR51OznXBeIA/s1600/White+Sands11022015_11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi3Y7iTX3ipqZjKORYV3fV5sgHafDU-JNkXJHQ5OXYmJi_tIIEOp83Y2TUk5olk_5AK_ErXQQXTowoRqfZf5qzNuFr9BmlBZVYUECj1NTMB2TYl8DAEBZpLWigL27QJUwsR51OznXBeIA/s640/White+Sands11022015_11.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unending Variety of Dune Formations Yet Based on Six Styles:<br />
<a href="http://www.nps.gov/grsa/learn/nature/dune-types.htm" target="_blank">Dome, Balchan, Reversing, Transverse, Star, and Parabolic</a></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRnbReCy_AIju4ENqi01F0WIP1KxSfORn7dZVqHPalQv70wBeL1kE4aFnJWQZxafo40nJEttYdTbD1DzgGnEFquEZKWcbA2jTunNynsFYYyMkk1u6z4BDS2O5o_QeG0yoswTMSz2bvKE/s1600/WSNM+Map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRnbReCy_AIju4ENqi01F0WIP1KxSfORn7dZVqHPalQv70wBeL1kE4aFnJWQZxafo40nJEttYdTbD1DzgGnEFquEZKWcbA2jTunNynsFYYyMkk1u6z4BDS2O5o_QeG0yoswTMSz2bvKE/s320/WSNM+Map.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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As long as one can tolerate the swings in temperature, visitors could take a couple days to fully explore the wonders of this national treasure. I took the five mile morning hike out to Alkali Flats to take the photos shown in this blog. The loop trail is well marked so you can venture off trail without getting lost if you stay <u>within</u> the loop. Doing so you'll be able to see the infinite variety of dune formations from different perspectives.<br />
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If your goal is to go sledding in the desert you can rent or buy ($$) plastic sleds in the gift shop.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPFMxjB7LLy14yyGQ77gH5SNdjZBq5whHD4hsMf9MG3cT9S7JX5TegQ5AjOAtcslGgoLfTl6x1Vy4Nby9Nl71F2GaErIInZoWkqy9BH-vEacyDjyZXKOcJS8W3gcv2mSjfh9HrHBFD1Y/s1600/White+Sands11022015_33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPFMxjB7LLy14yyGQ77gH5SNdjZBq5whHD4hsMf9MG3cT9S7JX5TegQ5AjOAtcslGgoLfTl6x1Vy4Nby9Nl71F2GaErIInZoWkqy9BH-vEacyDjyZXKOcJS8W3gcv2mSjfh9HrHBFD1Y/s640/White+Sands11022015_33.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alkali Flats East of the San Andreas Mountains</td></tr>
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BTW, you will get sand in your shoes and every other piece of clothing and equipment you have with you, especially if the wind is blowing. Take plenty of water and apply sunscreen. You can get a great tan or sunburn depending upon your preparedness.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1QKDkev_UeqgvoHqdfey0qAv82iPNm8OIKev7hlTR-ZyyjFR4OALF2kXYdRIghbF_2iPF2uFC4ClARAtT5Zoy_jmjsHMJws9btykaJ7oELkU5zOlrnbkkqCqMejplMbupN6ZgOTjQts/s1600/Alamagordo20151102_45a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1QKDkev_UeqgvoHqdfey0qAv82iPNm8OIKev7hlTR-ZyyjFR4OALF2kXYdRIghbF_2iPF2uFC4ClARAtT5Zoy_jmjsHMJws9btykaJ7oELkU5zOlrnbkkqCqMejplMbupN6ZgOTjQts/s640/Alamagordo20151102_45a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Geezer in the Desert</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0White Sands National Monument, New Mexico 88352, USA32.7872403 -106.32568165.9556058000000007 -147.6342756 59.6188748 -65.0170876tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597512763861703389.post-68131414691691827542015-10-12T16:29:00.001-07:002016-01-17T17:12:26.941-07:00Dripping Springs Natural Area & The Organ Mountains<h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Organ Mountains - Desert Peaks National Monument</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4SCZUGthYVJsLF-58UGr36gK7GQSqxBrwusB8XCuJo4EvIsQvYDY0FheZsaReDA8SIcrmcS5PiuSI39xfaq3lPpLL-VFaJGD59woAA6aPUPPU43kYGBtETIVeWVSU5WJ2bcYcna7Op8w/s1600/Mesilla+-+DripSpg-20151012_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4SCZUGthYVJsLF-58UGr36gK7GQSqxBrwusB8XCuJo4EvIsQvYDY0FheZsaReDA8SIcrmcS5PiuSI39xfaq3lPpLL-VFaJGD59woAA6aPUPPU43kYGBtETIVeWVSU5WJ2bcYcna7Op8w/s640/Mesilla+-+DripSpg-20151012_02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View Along the Trail To Dripping Springs</td></tr>
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I was in Las Cruces, NM during October, 2015 and my forthcoming adventures will be further explorations of the <b><a href="http://aconcagua.geol.usu.edu/~arlowry/RGR/faq.html" target="_blank">Rio Grande Rift</a></b> and its impact on southern New Mexico.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHKsqj50MTV3mRRImBzdPAKDqmpQ_qRXr1Rptn-A0bdYET9yqysqE-utCkAMuQcJjQ6wuYBCIvgYjmix4wuWK3Ve2GVmSqA_ATpo1wxOg5r67CKYullFJhVzXXXw2IepbdUN3in90d8g/s1600/chihuahuan_desert.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHKsqj50MTV3mRRImBzdPAKDqmpQ_qRXr1Rptn-A0bdYET9yqysqE-utCkAMuQcJjQ6wuYBCIvgYjmix4wuWK3Ve2GVmSqA_ATpo1wxOg5r67CKYullFJhVzXXXw2IepbdUN3in90d8g/s200/chihuahuan_desert.gif" width="182" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">Chihuahuan Desert</span></td></tr>
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Ten miles east of Las Cruces sits <a href="http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/recreation/las_cruces/dripping_springs.html" target="_blank">Dripping Springs Natural Area</a> which is now part of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument, another beautiful site managed by the <a href="http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en.html" target="_blank">Bureau of Land Management</a>.<br />
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The Organ Mountains are a series of steep, rocky needles that jut dramatically above the Chihuahuan Desert floor to an elevation of 9,000 feet. Sitting astride the Rio Grande Rift, they are the result of tectonic plate movement along this long fault line in the desert southwest.<br />
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There is primitive camping on nearby BLM land and 57 family campsites and two group sites in the <a href="http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/recreation/las_cruces/aguirre_spring_campground.html" id="/content/nm/en/prog/recreation/las_cruces/aguirre_spring_campground">Aguirre Spring Campground</a> located on the east side of the Organ Mountains. It overlooks the Tularosa Basin and <a href="http://www.nps.gov/whsa/" target="_blank">White Sands National Monument</a> which I will be visiting next month.<br />
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There is a visitor center, twelve picnic sites, and more than 50 miles of hiking <a href="http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/NLCS/OMDP_NM/omdp_recreational.html" target="_blank">trails</a> in the area. Hiking in the morning hours is recommended for the western slopes so that you can stay in the shadow of the Organ Mountain peaks.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KK_uExQozewAo-cXJZxb9ES_TLr9FANRiUGyHduZ93hPc2amSNsQ3p0p51H1NuZh0OdXf6541zOcMxRR1eVekO6UgMDvPsHO_yl3cukuQJwYqPjMSdn1EXAcVEGxn6TfZBviBiZ8Zvs/s1600/Mesilla+-+DripSpg-20151012_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KK_uExQozewAo-cXJZxb9ES_TLr9FANRiUGyHduZ93hPc2amSNsQ3p0p51H1NuZh0OdXf6541zOcMxRR1eVekO6UgMDvPsHO_yl3cukuQJwYqPjMSdn1EXAcVEGxn6TfZBviBiZ8Zvs/s640/Mesilla+-+DripSpg-20151012_01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Western View Along The Dripping Springs Approach Trail</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0XqmSUGy8YCyXtTJ4LIo2WB32USe94mU2kbB-hGVUE-PYTdw4HUUHFgTvZOVysIHdytV-NqCnQL_bGQBVPt6e_wejKq-B4nmmJPmck5pT7KrZXRr4UlG61RRMPIvjjd8Ts3j0Qlq4zw/s1600/Mesilla+-+DripSpg-20151012_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0XqmSUGy8YCyXtTJ4LIo2WB32USe94mU2kbB-hGVUE-PYTdw4HUUHFgTvZOVysIHdytV-NqCnQL_bGQBVPt6e_wejKq-B4nmmJPmck5pT7KrZXRr4UlG61RRMPIvjjd8Ts3j0Qlq4zw/s400/Mesilla+-+DripSpg-20151012_04.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cabin Construction</td></tr>
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I hiked about four miles at Dripping Springs to see the remnants of the <a href="http://www.blm.gov/style/medialib/blm/nm/programs/recreation/rec_docs/rec_docs_las_cruces.Par.36821.File.dat/Dripping%20Springs.pdf" target="_blank">Dripping Springs Resort and Sanitorium </a>built by Colonel Eugene Van Patten in the 1870s. Partially restored buildings show how medical treatments of the late 1800s often relied upon the notion of recuperating from illness in secluded locations surrounded by nature, with abundant sunshine, fresh air, natural springs,and dietetic regulation. For example, consider the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_Creek_Sanitarium" target="_blank">Battle Creek</a> (Kellogg's cereal fame) Sanitorium.<br />
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I would have likely enjoyed living in these cabins and taking daily walks along the secluded mountain trails. Still visible are the livery stable, water retention reservoir, and a couple of the guest cabins perched high on the hillsides.<br />
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Nature abounds in the narrow Organ Mountains canyons. The local native plant society has helped preserve or replant almost 200 different trees, shrubs, grasses, ferns, cacti, and herbs in the canyon and at the visitor center.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDRebiuCt40f8_ta7tZFItGR98WG_oCG4ntyiiyygP077KobgzZ5Hv4TfoKHn0mdK7mILGCyYEKD0V9HzGhuzJxmKo32-EhQ1mFXtrCsU059mCsBJ5VAlMRUs1C0ibVBn0Dg3rOdQd_MI/s1600/Mesilla+-+DripSpg-20151012_05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDRebiuCt40f8_ta7tZFItGR98WG_oCG4ntyiiyygP077KobgzZ5Hv4TfoKHn0mdK7mILGCyYEKD0V9HzGhuzJxmKo32-EhQ1mFXtrCsU059mCsBJ5VAlMRUs1C0ibVBn0Dg3rOdQd_MI/s640/Mesilla+-+DripSpg-20151012_05.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remnants of Resort / Sanitorium</td></tr>
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<td><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_ewxjNcZQbuHIjbYutTsoBujPpJeqOOhcMxQQNW69ub66V58Oy_q3iWgWMYf2IvB_093XrJbcunpkbWsaOocxCJTZmoIz8XSK8U_IHE5aK3exTVXFimR-K-xj8I3ziFG3CFUUolIdkA/s1600/Mesilla+-+DripSpg-20151012_06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_ewxjNcZQbuHIjbYutTsoBujPpJeqOOhcMxQQNW69ub66V58Oy_q3iWgWMYf2IvB_093XrJbcunpkbWsaOocxCJTZmoIz8XSK8U_IHE5aK3exTVXFimR-K-xj8I3ziFG3CFUUolIdkA/s400/Mesilla+-+DripSpg-20151012_06.jpg" width="222" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">High View of the Resort / Sanitorium <br />
through the Dripping Springs <br />
Stream Canyon Walls</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
<td><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZf-hWu8NdXO4crFCLqzooY0vFW5eU6eNf1WlyIL9BKZooIAaQy6JUcbNRJ_1Rhq6kxzb-PuGYTKlggxLnDV7tX6E-1EdiN-KPfKQk_z_saez84hTO5-ordAHnMbf_PpLDPaJaGqa98ro/s1600/Mesilla+-+DripSpg-20151012_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZf-hWu8NdXO4crFCLqzooY0vFW5eU6eNf1WlyIL9BKZooIAaQy6JUcbNRJ_1Rhq6kxzb-PuGYTKlggxLnDV7tX6E-1EdiN-KPfKQk_z_saez84hTO5-ordAHnMbf_PpLDPaJaGqa98ro/s400/Mesilla+-+DripSpg-20151012_04.jpg" width="222" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yucca Plant Stem<br />
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<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0s71O7VKYIzCHtPd-VCguPWSaqVMvyfLYCRecqVxFdQ2eoi1vwiGOZp6g504GVrxUk6Wbdhc97232aENFoZ0P2XqN1PxH7g2B9OF3srjg0i6O4omfK3f6E_4LEjYqFp2kFE2UOLQwO8/s1600/Mesilla+-+DripSpg-20151012_29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0s71O7VKYIzCHtPd-VCguPWSaqVMvyfLYCRecqVxFdQ2eoi1vwiGOZp6g504GVrxUk6Wbdhc97232aENFoZ0P2XqN1PxH7g2B9OF3srjg0i6O4omfK3f6E_4LEjYqFp2kFE2UOLQwO8/s640/Mesilla+-+DripSpg-20151012_29.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzyKPKEFKKJv-HUrVKPqPehW-dXcZo5YzXb5ndHJXSy0QrhSWMlo8rK5yVxe9vZENF04Ci_PGIQNU2TyQJLozJGZ2Zb3c3KRNK5p9zUyfyBr46EH5NuUbWE1GSD7O9C0AAfUR4b1QTl4/s1600/Mesilla+-+DripSpg-20151012_13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzyKPKEFKKJv-HUrVKPqPehW-dXcZo5YzXb5ndHJXSy0QrhSWMlo8rK5yVxe9vZENF04Ci_PGIQNU2TyQJLozJGZ2Zb3c3KRNK5p9zUyfyBr46EH5NuUbWE1GSD7O9C0AAfUR4b1QTl4/s640/Mesilla+-+DripSpg-20151012_13.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tree Cholla (Candelabra Cactus)</td></tr>
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<div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597512763861703389.post-48304759871384456382015-10-10T23:14:00.002-07:002016-01-17T17:18:14.210-07:00On the Road Building Homes With Habitat For Humanity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Weeks 1 & 2<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dwUWBvZxZ9JOoeOEdkbSLno0-PXJy5FB0l2pOPlYU6Tvnc6jruhqC_M4QEEjEUTfRpozyxzbYcSzjak97V_Fr_WVtbb3J6KXrbB-HRdXG9nmL72_yUaMDit-RkdRGlTNHjcUbPVsCSs/s1600/pgbanner-rvcav.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Habitat For Humanity's Care-A-Vanner Program Banner Image" border="0" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dwUWBvZxZ9JOoeOEdkbSLno0-PXJy5FB0l2pOPlYU6Tvnc6jruhqC_M4QEEjEUTfRpozyxzbYcSzjak97V_Fr_WVtbb3J6KXrbB-HRdXG9nmL72_yUaMDit-RkdRGlTNHjcUbPVsCSs/s640/pgbanner-rvcav.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<br />
I shifted gears this week from playing tourist in the nation's national parks to being a volunteer home builder for <a href="http://www.habitat.org/getinv" target="_blank">Habitat For Humanity.</a> I'm on scene in Mesilla Valley (Las Cruces, NM) for a month helping build two homes. I've joined a group of nine other, experienced <a href="http://www.habitat.org/rv/about_cav.aspx" target="_blank">Care-A-Vanners</a> and a few locals that are partnered with two future homeowner families to build their first home.<br />
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Each week I'll update progress with pictures and notes below about the Care-A-Vanner experience.<br />
<h3>
Week One</h3>
This first week we made quite a bit of progress. Before the official build began I helped the homeowners clean-up the site to make it a safe work zone. The water/sewer lines had already been installed, the slabs had been poured, and the construction trailers with materials and porta-potty were all pre-positioned. This was our starting point.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheAxA03o17N72plnqP3bXPtxke6fLfBzqJv8I9h3fPe2xapTREQr1Hazm3MLV3ja24xVBMWz9rwlND6lO9y9tWrOkB40821cIY1jSqPi5OtUwDwP5y1ueglM0L2EjIO7VIrUN5RbmID3s/s1600/Mesilla+-20151005_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheAxA03o17N72plnqP3bXPtxke6fLfBzqJv8I9h3fPe2xapTREQr1Hazm3MLV3ja24xVBMWz9rwlND6lO9y9tWrOkB40821cIY1jSqPi5OtUwDwP5y1ueglM0L2EjIO7VIrUN5RbmID3s/s640/Mesilla+-20151005_01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: 13.6px;">
Day Zero: Two Building Sites Prepped for the the</div>
<div style="font-size: 13.6px;">
Care-A-Vanners to Start Building</div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"Houses built on owner’s land take about 8 months if built by a contractor and more than 11 months if they are owner-built (i.e., where the owner of the land serves as a general contractor). Single-family homes built for rent take, on average, between 8 and 9 months from permits to completion." ~ <a href="http://eyeonhousing.org/2013/10/how-long-does-it-take-to-build-a-house/" target="_blank">NAHB</a></i></blockquote>
Discounting the time to get the site to this pristine condition, imagine the pace we are setting for ourselves to have these homes ready in less than two months by a dozen volunteers.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsoxb6MqouYXKuwQCPRCppIFtzs-q5jCjGjnd10U_lAEtB0qNoeWqGN3cGFDqeel37YF5BnSCbQY1aV47ukpnWPcLNgX-4VFTsRurEXiaZp0v1XiIt5TuEW0QDXvazLD26r7NAQsh2iW0/s1600/Mesilla+-20151005_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsoxb6MqouYXKuwQCPRCppIFtzs-q5jCjGjnd10U_lAEtB0qNoeWqGN3cGFDqeel37YF5BnSCbQY1aV47ukpnWPcLNgX-4VFTsRurEXiaZp0v1XiIt5TuEW0QDXvazLD26r7NAQsh2iW0/s400/Mesilla+-20151005_02.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Day One:</b> Exterior walls built</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_H2hPVVWIEr3B2zSg_ZXdRsD69nW3LTnHJoq4lsbMmLvg2HHE-rgsK3mzjALSUcu3Fv-Ibycl-BYGP2kUIOwdnV70GnGH2hVp2762s4qv191L5rxKYSc_r8a6CHq-iWk9UbmIzw-op6s/s1600/Mesilla+-20151006_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_H2hPVVWIEr3B2zSg_ZXdRsD69nW3LTnHJoq4lsbMmLvg2HHE-rgsK3mzjALSUcu3Fv-Ibycl-BYGP2kUIOwdnV70GnGH2hVp2762s4qv191L5rxKYSc_r8a6CHq-iWk9UbmIzw-op6s/s400/Mesilla+-20151006_03.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td center="" class="tr-caption" text-align:=""><h4>
<span style="font-size: small;">Day Two: </span></h4>
<span style="font-size: small;">Exterior walls sheathed, windows cut,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">and wall top plates ready for</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">the next day's roof truss install.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM0EGsEp4kzL17If3eF8lQjxcg9YvDE_ifPHDMq7DOioNIXqosKC2jLwUU8QcTWmj7rtLFv_d4iCJLrXHDPAkw-57PziyF28LqplYQaIe-sWHI1MNSspUG6WyhS887V4ymSaqjQ5N1Wio/s1600/Mesilla+-20151007_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM0EGsEp4kzL17If3eF8lQjxcg9YvDE_ifPHDMq7DOioNIXqosKC2jLwUU8QcTWmj7rtLFv_d4iCJLrXHDPAkw-57PziyF28LqplYQaIe-sWHI1MNSspUG6WyhS887V4ymSaqjQ5N1Wio/s400/Mesilla+-20151007_04.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td center="" class="tr-caption" text-align:=""><h4>
<span style="font-size: small;">Day Three:</span> </h4>
<span style="font-size: small;">Walls plumbed, porches built,</span><span style="font-size: small;">and trusses installed.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5RlK5Fe21-CcUT94KZ3UulZwKzqLpvQZtPzRbe4Zg5S_6nUCmy9vFjaX7VI0E45WeKjOzASNmVC2MmOi7K751Zgg3ZWoIApwlonfxi_39ovWOrfdX-TCtaXZ9QEf0FLxsJxBQ5Ef4yQ/s1600/Mesilla+-20151008_05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5RlK5Fe21-CcUT94KZ3UulZwKzqLpvQZtPzRbe4Zg5S_6nUCmy9vFjaX7VI0E45WeKjOzASNmVC2MmOi7K751Zgg3ZWoIApwlonfxi_39ovWOrfdX-TCtaXZ9QEf0FLxsJxBQ5Ef4yQ/s400/Mesilla+-20151008_05.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td center="" class="tr-caption" text-align:=""><h4>
<span style="font-size: small;">Day Four:</span></h4>
<span style="font-size: small;">Rafter tails trimmed and fascia boards readied.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53CxEVDLfrQpw501p6ujgPzNQF0szXKiKj_eTIMnREfTFBYQQR7p1VOeP9OS-3fBo7eHPRlfBB67bN5sT-DgiQx-xI3nH6AGFqxHO18aX8faSCcxDvyULVmvcZ_vTuwk1GbetBNDyAPg/s1600/Mesilla+-20151009_06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53CxEVDLfrQpw501p6ujgPzNQF0szXKiKj_eTIMnREfTFBYQQR7p1VOeP9OS-3fBo7eHPRlfBB67bN5sT-DgiQx-xI3nH6AGFqxHO18aX8faSCcxDvyULVmvcZ_vTuwk1GbetBNDyAPg/s400/Mesilla+-20151009_06.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Day Five: </span></h4>
<span style="font-size: small;">Roof rafters stabilized and all secured with hurricane clips</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1yMhPetV0GPdacfLrQRgI4RO0_ZKWViI-1mfXWziLtHfH10IDtuOqTuTHMevGYRmk27eHUCDkOS6o4itfMDQ2yRQ3iuBb1fHDcatIwNc89qI6ie3XNg5k9mC2d5xYMEsyz1AOcdGUk80/s1600/Mesilla+-20151009_07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1yMhPetV0GPdacfLrQRgI4RO0_ZKWViI-1mfXWziLtHfH10IDtuOqTuTHMevGYRmk27eHUCDkOS6o4itfMDQ2yRQ3iuBb1fHDcatIwNc89qI6ie3XNg5k9mC2d5xYMEsyz1AOcdGUk80/s400/Mesilla+-20151009_07.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td center="" class="tr-caption" text-align:=""><h4>
<span style="font-size: small;">Day Five Continued:</span></h4>
<span style="font-size: small;">Interior walls all built and readied for next week's </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">roof sheathing.</span></td></tr>
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The weather has been cooperating with temperatures in the 80's. More of the same is expected next week, but by the end of October temperatures will drop into the 70's and 60's. No matter the temperature, Care-A-Vanners keep building.<br />
<h3>
</h3>
<h2>
</h2>
<h2>
Week Two</h2>
After a well deserved three day weekend (normally only two days) we got back to work on our crew's first two houses on this street.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuOsVpOfT2Zpapzicny1MbM_GeSs-m_Mc78BAtqF8UJm_F_xVUd76etMlzaxD_WHNh98RFOVaeP8pp_CLw9GQJVLngZxtCGwJUKfpooZg_uoDc10NA2u0DbSLuFNp0pID2W-ynJMv7I98/s1600/Mesilla+-Wk210132015_06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuOsVpOfT2Zpapzicny1MbM_GeSs-m_Mc78BAtqF8UJm_F_xVUd76etMlzaxD_WHNh98RFOVaeP8pp_CLw9GQJVLngZxtCGwJUKfpooZg_uoDc10NA2u0DbSLuFNp0pID2W-ynJMv7I98/s400/Mesilla+-Wk210132015_06.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: leeft;"><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<h4>
<span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">Day Six: </span></h4>
<span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">All the exterior sheathing, roof decking, and some of the </span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">roof's drip edging was installed. On the inside of the </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">building assorted framing details were completed in </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">anticipation of contractors arriving the next day to begin </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">their work.</span></div>
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<h4>
</h4>
<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMqew9MNdcsdUuSGYDHeePvRHKXITPA8Hisl9e1Li9k7gJwggyK5ztZwXBId8dtF49cxCqIvolCGClgY265IwB2mIsIBYoab2g8rFgcJAyE6ikFLJcu1TOO2LulLHcCE2uw_CbwXT_k4/s1600/Mesilla+-Wk210142015_08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMqew9MNdcsdUuSGYDHeePvRHKXITPA8Hisl9e1Li9k7gJwggyK5ztZwXBId8dtF49cxCqIvolCGClgY265IwB2mIsIBYoab2g8rFgcJAyE6ikFLJcu1TOO2LulLHcCE2uw_CbwXT_k4/s400/Mesilla+-Wk210142015_08.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><h4 style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />Day Seven:</span></h4>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;">
The windows arrived from the supplier and they<br />
installed carefully to prevent air infiltration.<br />
Soffits previously painted and continuous soffit vents<br />
were installed and cardboard baffles were placed to<br />
allow the free flow of air from these vents above the<br />
insulation that will later be installed in the ceiling.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsvqmUex9_NczFrB6zj0PAqg2sdXeBawbgjUySvReGsCrsG0M4K-3rJiDsWqeGe9c2dfS-BrtEusHO_bY0G7fOab5HWkridEaeN6A6rBPcq9ey2A8rDYtL4_dLDko1VJGDPi1vnMHILiU/s1600/Mesilla+-Wk210142015_07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsvqmUex9_NczFrB6zj0PAqg2sdXeBawbgjUySvReGsCrsG0M4K-3rJiDsWqeGe9c2dfS-BrtEusHO_bY0G7fOab5HWkridEaeN6A6rBPcq9ey2A8rDYtL4_dLDko1VJGDPi1vnMHILiU/s400/Mesilla+-Wk210142015_07.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />Day Eight: </span></h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">In many builds specialty crafts such as electrical and </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC)
work is </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">contracted out to private companies or it is
donated by </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">area firms. Today the private HVAC crew
began the </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"rough-in" of the ductwork and piping.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">The role of private contractors varies at each Habitat <br />build site. At this affiliate, the following crafts are contracted:<br />Concrete, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, insulation and the <br />finishing of drywall joints. Code requirements and finances<br />usually dictate how much work is done by outside contractors.</span></div>
</div>
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<div>
<br /></div>
<h4>
</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLKnAZ887c6PNiGgScxaxQ9pc1C3gbRktimbxK09hWj2f_CzBVWsQE04Eq5bh7Dy-hTYDvKgr8S1xuRzbAMlzTarruuySnFEKCC0p4y56nk0bI7xRr0dCg4wPXE_uXe22oyA406vqKy8/s1600/Mesilla+-Wk210152015_12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLKnAZ887c6PNiGgScxaxQ9pc1C3gbRktimbxK09hWj2f_CzBVWsQE04Eq5bh7Dy-hTYDvKgr8S1xuRzbAMlzTarruuySnFEKCC0p4y56nk0bI7xRr0dCg4wPXE_uXe22oyA406vqKy8/s400/Mesilla+-Wk210152015_12.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The HVAC and plumbing contractors completed </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">their rough installation of all the ductwork, air registers </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">and grills, plus air conditioner plumbing and electrical </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">control cabling, plumbing vent pipes, and exhaust vents.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpCcqDITTtfemo-YdJo_D1z9IWg0DOM7kO1Sdkc5-H8owLdTOZ_X38_kZTFikFtsJcQxP8VGlmdyVdLBItagmqaHjGfEqrXXFkpjt-0uQFKEkH8RsiqdCwJc-Yfw0AMldUitYSJzuXro/s1600/Mesilla+-Wk210152015_13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpCcqDITTtfemo-YdJo_D1z9IWg0DOM7kO1Sdkc5-H8owLdTOZ_X38_kZTFikFtsJcQxP8VGlmdyVdLBItagmqaHjGfEqrXXFkpjt-0uQFKEkH8RsiqdCwJc-Yfw0AMldUitYSJzuXro/s400/Mesilla+-Wk210152015_13.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-align: left;">The concrete slab has drawn on it the locations of all the</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-align: left;">walls, </span></span><span style="font-size: small;">s</span><span style="font-size: small;">tuds, doors and windows. These dimensions were all </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-align: left;">transferred to the preservative treated wooden floor plates </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-align: left;">and </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-align: left;">top wall plates.With these templates workers are then </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-align: left;">able to </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-align: left;">build </span></span><span style="font-size: small;">assemble all the parts and bolt the wall to the floor.</span></td></tr>
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<h4>
</h4>
<h4>
</h4>
<h4>
</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZbQnTkDvXlbcouA-4KBTPM9ZCXyrwdyM12MMLnkcJC1V1Tk4TkJd7zBo2g3n1KtkvuQDZwymipd5XoqsFWkdi_cxWx2nuAQ-F56rwCfXaqcEVcLf40F90tteYii1l72LL_26eLiqAkJw/s1600/Mesilla+-Wk210162015_16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZbQnTkDvXlbcouA-4KBTPM9ZCXyrwdyM12MMLnkcJC1V1Tk4TkJd7zBo2g3n1KtkvuQDZwymipd5XoqsFWkdi_cxWx2nuAQ-F56rwCfXaqcEVcLf40F90tteYii1l72LL_26eLiqAkJw/s400/Mesilla+-Wk210162015_16.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><h4 style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
Day Nine</span></h4>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Roof shingling was started on the left house after the drip <br />edge was </span><span style="font-size: small;">installed and most of the volunteers began to erect</span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-size: small;">house #2's walls.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-size: small;">In this particular two week build this was last day for </span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Care-A-Vanners who need to return to their </span><i style="font-size: medium;">other</i><span style="font-size: small;"> lives <br />or travel to a different Habitat build. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Tomorrow we will be down by six Care-A-Vanners, </span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-size: small;">but two replacements will step-up to carry on the work <br />starting next Tuesday. That means we won't be quite as <br />productive in the next two weeks, but according to our <br />site supervisor we are about four days ahead of schedule</span></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
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<h4>
</h4>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXAjHUn7HYJWRkKowq3XafwOR8mw3TM0HkNjU5D4as3AdMJphzqzo8l2VPEf2h4jBt7q_dHEZY9M4FuJF0tOQU-w-bCuCW1GFEj-ldmCMiGNn4avlNif1dwd_51mGIMUp_6UuFA4q3ZM/s1600/Mesilla+-Wk210172015_18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXAjHUn7HYJWRkKowq3XafwOR8mw3TM0HkNjU5D4as3AdMJphzqzo8l2VPEf2h4jBt7q_dHEZY9M4FuJF0tOQU-w-bCuCW1GFEj-ldmCMiGNn4avlNif1dwd_51mGIMUp_6UuFA4q3ZM/s400/Mesilla+-Wk210172015_18.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><h4 style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></h4>
<h4 style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Day Ten</span></h4>
<div start="">
<span style="font-size: small;">On Saturdays at many builds it is common to have</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">organized groups of volunteers from community</span><span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;">businesses or organizations to come "learn by doing"</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;">in building whatever is needed that day. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;">We had a dozen </span><span style="font-size: small;">volunteers from First New Mexico Bank </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;">supplement </span><span style="font-size: small;">our Care-A-Vanners this week. They helped <br />build walls, </span></span><span style="font-size: small;">apply </span><span style="font-size: small;">sheathing to the now fully erected exterior <br />walls of </span><span style="font-size: small;">house #2, and install house #1's roofing underlayment<br />and </span><span style="font-size: small;">shingles to get the house dry for interior construction</span></div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;">projects. Care-A-Vanners built the front and </span><span style="font-size: small;">back porch </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;">columns and support beams</span><span style="font-size: 13.6px;">.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: 13.6px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Next week we will complete the walls, roof, and windows<br />of house #2 and move on to drywalling</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you have any questions about the role Care-A-Vanners </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;">play in Habitat projects or anything about the construction <br />process, please ask.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">
</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4 style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
</h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597512763861703389.post-6418385334610093422015-10-10T21:57:00.000-07:002015-10-10T21:57:11.667-07:00Pollution Pays Off<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.durangoherald.com/img/special_sections/animasbeforeafter.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.durangoherald.com/img/special_sections/animasbeforeafter.png" height="340" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: Durango Herald</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Travelling by RV through the Rocky Mountains is a visual treat. Awesome vistas, towering peaks, wildlife unique to the intermountain west, abundant springs, waterfalls, raging rivers, and a rich history of stalwart pioneers, mountain men, and miners all looking for the motherlode.</div>
<br />
Hidden from view are toxic threats almost too numerous to count and comprehend. Two months ago I wrote about the Gold King "<a href="http://www.toadhaulmanor.com/2015/08/desecrators-of-wild-rivers.html" target="_blank">mine spill</a>" into the Animas River near Silverton, Colorado. The river no longer runs with the dirty yellow color, but the toxic threat remains. I drove to the area last month to get a better sense of the disaster's impact. On the surface things looked normal for a tourist mecca: lots of traffic, no apparent business closings except a temporary shutdown of the river rafting companies. The community seemingly dodged the silver bullet. I spoke to an RV campground owner about the impact and was told that the day after the spill, he received eighteen reservation cancellations, but that business was mostly back to normal for now.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“The West has 550,000 abandoned and inactive mines; 10,000 miles of degraded rivers and streams; hundreds of polluted lakes and reservoirs; and, more than 50 Superfund sites,” according to the <a href="http://www.nevermined.org/" target="_blank">Center for Environmental Equity</a>.</i></blockquote>
There are at least <a href="https://www.hcn.org/articles/five-western-waterways-worse-than-the-orange-animas" target="_blank">five sites</a> with pollution problems worse problem than the Animas River.<br />
<br />
The pollution remediation to the Gold King mine "accident" is well underway at a cost to taxpayers of about $1,000,000 per year. This is just a temporary fix to the widespread problem of abandoned hard rock mine acid drainage. It would likely take $50 BILLION to address all the existing mine leaks.<br />
<br />
Knowing now the toxic threats throughout the West it's hard to look at the Rocky Mountains with the same sense of awe that I had as a child first travelling to the mountains. Me: innocence lost and rage increased.<br />
<br />
What can be done about the situation? Well Congress could fix the problem of new sources of pollution by eliminating the General Mining Law of 1872 that enables any person or corporation to stake a claim and start polluting. <a href="http://www.nevermined.org/reform.shtml" target="_blank">See how easy it is to become a permitted polluter</a>!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/The-General-Mining-Act-of-1872-has-left-a-legacy-1056919.php" target="_blank">Republicans have long fought reform efforts</a> to protect the environment, and specifically the General Mining Law of 1872. With the current unmanageable, Republican dominated house of Representatives, little hope exists for progress. The <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/indusclient.php?id=E04" target="_blank">mining lobby</a> spent almost $23 million dollars last year influencing industry favorable legislation.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Durango, CO, USA37.27528 -107.8800666999999937.1741945 -108.04142819999998 37.376365500000006 -107.71870519999999