Road trip 5/13 - 5/17/16
Sugarite; Bandelier; Sand Dunes
Sugarite Canyon NM State Park 5/13
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| Just south of the New Mexico border, two small lakes, some interesting cliffs and old foundations from a historic coal mining town. |
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| Late dinner on a cloudy evening. Our the campground where we have a reserved a space is a bit close but we discover a newer much nicer, non reservation area higher on a mesa with no water or electricity but we don't need it. |
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| In spite of or maybe because of a recent fire some of the surrounding area is lush meadow. |
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| More wild iris than we've seen anywhere else. |
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| Willow catkins, too! |
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| Sugarite includes two small, dammed lakes with picturesque spillways. |
Bandelier National Monument 5/14 -16
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After Sugarite's crowded, little campground we're happy for some elbow room. By the 2nd night the spaces were only about 10% occupied!
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| WIFI access or ranger talk amphitheater -- you choose. Either way, it's raining. |
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| Spotted Towhees are as noisy here as back in Colorado Springs |
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| We hike down the Frey Trail from Black Bear CG on the mesa to Frijoles Canyon and get a shuttle bus ride back up at the end of the day. |
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| Cliffs are mostly volcanic ash with lots of pockets |
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| Nicely understated visitor center. |
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| In addition to canyon floor dwellings there are numerous habitations along the cliff base that take advantage of the porous rocks for rooms and beam holes |
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| Zoom view of the classic, round settlement from the mesa. |
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| In fact, the original Apple Store was located here. |
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| Plenty of ladders and steps--my kind of site |
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| Just up canyon from the habitations there is a different kind of historic remains |
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| Yikes! |
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| Remnants of old volcanoes above the canyon. |
Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge 5/16
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| This Yellow-headed Blackbird is hunkered down to be out of the extreme wind that arrived with us |
Great Sand Dunes National Park 5/16 - 17
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| Arriving just after hail |
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| Emerging from our cozy home |
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| Like the rest of us this humming bird is fluffed up |
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| Medano Creek at full flow and odd as ever with it mini-surges |
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| Ready to head home |
