Planning: RT08 (Fall 2014) - The Upper Midwest

[Kinless]

I'm guessing that you've already looked through the RTA list routes for that region? If not, take a look at this list...

Yes, I had skimmed through it. 90% of the articles didn't apply, but Peter has paralleled some of our proposed route in ND, SD, and NE so I can show those articles to the folks and see if any keywords turn some lightbulbs on.

Unfortunately Peter's upcoming trip is nowhere close to where we're going.

It is much more than a flag in a field.... and there certainly aren't any trespassing issues.

Nice pics. Usually barbed wire (hooks or not) tells me to keep out. ;) I still have this destination in mind (plenty of time left to decide), but I'm not sure my folks are agile enough to try and bend down to get in between the barbed wire. And again, it's 80 miles off our proposed route, so it may not be feasible this time around, unless I steal a day from Colorado and tack it on to South Dakota. Or if for some reason we forgo the Native American Scenic Byway and use Hwy 85 instead (unlikely), it's definitely a no-brainer to stop there.

BTW, is the center designated at the little marker? Or the actual flagpole? I know we're talking a few inches, but still... forgive my OCD for asking :)

There are never any guarantees that the Trail Ridge Road across RMNP will be open on any particular day, so if it's open when you leave Denver it would be worth considering taking the opportunity to drive it at the beginning of your trip.

Thanks, I'll keep this in mind. We were hoping to bring along mom's friends we're staying with in Colorado Springs and make it a group outing for the day. But if they're unavailable or uninterested, then we can look at other options. Due to hotel reservations (which I don't like risking not having), it's rather difficult to spontaneously decide at the beginning of the trip whether to take the route. It might be a little much to fit that in on the same day of our incoming flight.

Thank you for the other suggestions around Colorado Springs. Definitely things to look into.

[Lifemagician]

BTW, is the center designated at the little marker? Or the actual flagpole? I know we're talking a few inches, but still... forgive my OCD for asking :)

From what I have read, and what it states on the little bronze plague, it is the centre of that plague. But I could be wrong, it could be the flag. Does it matter? To me it mattered just having been there.

As for getting through the fence... at least your parents will have you to help hold the wire up. I was on my own, with all my physical challenges. If I could make it, I see absolutely no reason why your parents could not.

Lifey

[AZBuck]

The brass plate is a United States Coast & Geodetic Survey geodetic marker. It's brass to minimize erosion. The marker is set in a concrete pillar or chiseled into local bedrock to keep it from moving. The cross in the middle of the marker is the actual point of reference. The arrow typically points to the local reference station or triangulation survey marker which was used to determine the position of this particular marker. Just think: you could probably move the flag and pole relatively easily, but how easily are you going to pry that brass marker from its concrete pillar, or dig up the entire pillar (probably several feet deep)?

AZBuck