Friday, August 22, 2008
Great Basin National Park
Great Basin National Park
The Great Basin is a vast area of sagebrush covered valleys and narrow mountain ranges. The name is derived from a peculiarity of drainage over most of the area. Streams and rivers find no outlet to the sea. Instead, water collects in shallow salt lakes, marshes and mud flats where it evaporates in the dry, desert air. There is not just one basin, but many, all separated by mountain ranges running parallel north to south. This area is from the Wasatch Mountains of Utah to the Sierra Nevadas of California. This is a vast area and as we traveled east to west along Highway 50, it was obvious why Highway 50 is known as the Loneliest Road, rightly named. The mountains are outstanding. In the south Snake Range there are 13 peaks which rise above 11,000 feet.
The Great Basin is a vast area of sagebrush covered valleys and narrow mountain ranges. The name is derived from a peculiarity of drainage over most of the area. Streams and rivers find no outlet to the sea. Instead, water collects in shallow salt lakes, marshes and mud flats where it evaporates in the dry, desert air. There is not just one basin, but many, all separated by mountain ranges running parallel north to south. This area is from the Wasatch Mountains of Utah to the Sierra Nevadas of California. This is a vast area and as we traveled east to west along Highway 50, it was obvious why Highway 50 is known as the Loneliest Road, rightly named. The mountains are outstanding. In the south Snake Range there are 13 peaks which rise above 11,000 feet.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Lehmans Caves, Great Basin NP
Lehmans Caves, Great Basin National Park
This cave extends a quarter mile into the limestone and marble that flanks the base of the Snake Range Mountains. The cave is in the Great Basin National Park on the Eastern edge. We have been in a number of caves but this in this cave you can get very close to the formations themselves. The cave had some interesting formations such as shields and delicate helictites. Helictites are small branching formations that defy gravity. The 90 minute tour that we took gave us ample time to see the various formations up close. The cave is definitely the high point and attraction of this national park. We entered into various different rooms and witness such wonders that one rarely gets to see. We could also take pictures and the ranger was excellent in his explanations and answered any questions we may have had as to what we were witnessing.
This cave extends a quarter mile into the limestone and marble that flanks the base of the Snake Range Mountains. The cave is in the Great Basin National Park on the Eastern edge. We have been in a number of caves but this in this cave you can get very close to the formations themselves. The cave had some interesting formations such as shields and delicate helictites. Helictites are small branching formations that defy gravity. The 90 minute tour that we took gave us ample time to see the various formations up close. The cave is definitely the high point and attraction of this national park. We entered into various different rooms and witness such wonders that one rarely gets to see. We could also take pictures and the ranger was excellent in his explanations and answered any questions we may have had as to what we were witnessing.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Colorado National Monument
Colorado National Monument
Colorado National Monument high country rises over 2,000 feet above the grand valley of the Colorado River. The monument is situated at the upper edge of the uplift of the greater Colorado Plateau. The Rocky Rim Road that travels 23 miles through this camp was built primarily by workers in the CCC camps during the Depression years. We listened to a knowledgeable park ranger who reiterated the history of when and how this road was built by these young men, many like Grampy Sylvester who seeked employment with the government through such a difficult time in our country’s history. This is the same uplift which created the geologic wonders like the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Arches National Parks. It is a semi-desert area with many pinyon pine and Utah juniper trees. It has been quite the experience looking at the formations caused by the great uplift from Northern Arizona through Utah to Colorado. I must say we now know more about geology than we ever expected to learn about. Once we got into the rock formations it was difficult not to keep going and witness these marvels as we traveled through these national parks.
Colorado National Monument high country rises over 2,000 feet above the grand valley of the Colorado River. The monument is situated at the upper edge of the uplift of the greater Colorado Plateau. The Rocky Rim Road that travels 23 miles through this camp was built primarily by workers in the CCC camps during the Depression years. We listened to a knowledgeable park ranger who reiterated the history of when and how this road was built by these young men, many like Grampy Sylvester who seeked employment with the government through such a difficult time in our country’s history. This is the same uplift which created the geologic wonders like the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Arches National Parks. It is a semi-desert area with many pinyon pine and Utah juniper trees. It has been quite the experience looking at the formations caused by the great uplift from Northern Arizona through Utah to Colorado. I must say we now know more about geology than we ever expected to learn about. Once we got into the rock formations it was difficult not to keep going and witness these marvels as we traveled through these national parks.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Rock Mountain National Park
The last time that we visited Rocky Mountain National Park was in 1973 when we had just found out that Sue was pregnant with Amy. This trip to the park was especially nice since Daryl Beffie joined us and is very familiar with the surrounding area and the park itself. When we started in January of this year in Yuma, AZ we saw the Colorado River before it entered into the Sea or Cortez. In the Rocky Mountains we saw where the Colorado River originates. We enjoyed following the Colorado River along the Arizona/California border into Utah and then on into Colorado. I must say that I didn’t realize how important the Colorado River is as a water source until we actually traveled through the arid Southwest. It has been a learning experience on how the desert reacts to what little water is gets from rain and snow and how plants and animals can and do survive in this climate. We know one thing for certain and that is that the desert would not be a place for us ever to settle in. Colorado is a beautiful state with lots of horse farms and agriculture to view as one travels up and down the scenic highways. The rock formations are beautiful too as are the spacious valleys.
The last time that we visited Rocky Mountain National Park was in 1973 when we had just found out that Sue was pregnant with Amy. This trip to the park was especially nice since Daryl Beffie joined us and is very familiar with the surrounding area and the park itself. When we started in January of this year in Yuma, AZ we saw the Colorado River before it entered into the Sea or Cortez. In the Rocky Mountains we saw where the Colorado River originates. We enjoyed following the Colorado River along the Arizona/California border into Utah and then on into Colorado. I must say that I didn’t realize how important the Colorado River is as a water source until we actually traveled through the arid Southwest. It has been a learning experience on how the desert reacts to what little water is gets from rain and snow and how plants and animals can and do survive in this climate. We know one thing for certain and that is that the desert would not be a place for us ever to settle in. Colorado is a beautiful state with lots of horse farms and agriculture to view as one travels up and down the scenic highways. The rock formations are beautiful too as are the spacious valleys.
Visiting with our friend Longmont CO 7/24 to 8/3
Visiting with our friend, Daryl.
Laura Beffie McLarnon was a former work study student at the College of the Holy Cross. Laura and Suzanne became good friends and, in turn, we became friends with Laura’s parents. Our visit to Colorado included seeing Laura’s mom, Daryl, in Longmont, Colorado. Sue and Daryl got to catch up on what is new with the children and grandchildren. Bob was able to help Daryl out by doing some repairs around her home. We both enjoyed listening to Daryl play her piano and Sue got to go to Boulder and listen to her perform in front of an audience.
Laura Beffie McLarnon was a former work study student at the College of the Holy Cross. Laura and Suzanne became good friends and, in turn, we became friends with Laura’s parents. Our visit to Colorado included seeing Laura’s mom, Daryl, in Longmont, Colorado. Sue and Daryl got to catch up on what is new with the children and grandchildren. Bob was able to help Daryl out by doing some repairs around her home. We both enjoyed listening to Daryl play her piano and Sue got to go to Boulder and listen to her perform in front of an audience.
2008 Honda CRV
Honda CRV
The 1997 Chevy S10 finally got tired. It had 100,000 miles on it and probably another 50,000 miles on it traveling behind the motor home. After doing some research on what we could successfully pull behind the motor home we decided on a 2008 Honda CRV. Bob felt like a fool as he did not realize that the Honda that Becky and Chuck have is a CRV. He knew that it was a Honda and he had enjoyed driving it before and they have had good luck with theirs. We had the base plate, wiring and a rear hitch installed in Denver, CO. We bought the car in Colorado Springs. The kayak rides well on the rack on top and the bike rides well on the rear. We have put 1,000 miles on it and so far so good. We did have to do some rearranging since we used the back of the truck for storage in the past but we have managed to put the extra items underneath the motor home.
The 1997 Chevy S10 finally got tired. It had 100,000 miles on it and probably another 50,000 miles on it traveling behind the motor home. After doing some research on what we could successfully pull behind the motor home we decided on a 2008 Honda CRV. Bob felt like a fool as he did not realize that the Honda that Becky and Chuck have is a CRV. He knew that it was a Honda and he had enjoyed driving it before and they have had good luck with theirs. We had the base plate, wiring and a rear hitch installed in Denver, CO. We bought the car in Colorado Springs. The kayak rides well on the rack on top and the bike rides well on the rear. We have put 1,000 miles on it and so far so good. We did have to do some rearranging since we used the back of the truck for storage in the past but we have managed to put the extra items underneath the motor home.
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