Inner US Loop - Fall 2014

[Pmount]

Several factors caused us to miss such important stops in Hutchison, KS;
1. Cell service was excellent in KS, better than 1995.
2. Our plain white van does not attract much attention.
3. Food was more important.
4. We saw no sign or advertising about the space collection, anc it was Sunday AM.
So much to see and do, always a reason to keep exploring!
- Pat

[Pmount]

Monday, October 20

Start: Hasty, CO
Finish: Lathrop Park State Park, near Walsenburg, CO

Mornings are getting cooler, 38 degrees this morning, even though days are in the upper 70s. With a little bit of backtracking we arrived at Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site. This type of site is always difficult for me to process, the massacre of innocent humans. I am appreciative that our country preserves and interprets sites that may not be pleasant to visit, but are important to share an honest history. A new, but enthusiastic ranger met us as we drove into the parking lot. We talked with her quite a while before we walked out to the overlook of the Cheyenne and Arapaho village along Sand Creek, the site of a massacre by a volunteer Cavalry from Fort Lyons on November 29-30, 1864. Local Native Americans placed a memorial stone in the 1950s at the overlook, each year a memorial service is held on November 29.

Overlook at Sand Creek Massacre NHS


Driving west on CO 96 we saw this sign several times


Today was the day to achieve the goal I had set for this trip - visit all of the NPS sites in the Lower 48. I accomplished that by arriving at Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site (yes, there is also a new fort on private land close to where we camped last night). This was a major trading location along the Santa Fe Trail. It burnt down in the 1800s, but was rebuilt in the 1980s, from plans detailed during the time the fort was active. From the parking lot you walk a distance (or call for a shuttle) to enter the fort and are met by a ranger in period costume. You can wander all over the fort, even up along the 2nd story. Back in a corner is an excellent bookstore with more items than typically seen at NPS sites, a lot of 1800s reproduction items. While there I completed and received the Santa Fe Trail Junior Ranger badge.

View of Old Bent's Fort from the upper area


Trading room, with modern-day cat


Arch erected by DAR in 1930


We continued west to Walsenburg, CO on CO 10 and stopped at Lathrop Park State Park, just west of town. Finally seeing mountains, or what we call 'geographic relief'. Good to be back West - even saw snow on the surrounding mountains.

Passport Stamps
Sand Creek Massacre NHS- Eads, CO
Sand Creek Massacre - 150th Anniversary 1864-2014
Bent's Old Fort NHS - LaJunta, CO
Santa Fe NHT
- Commanche National Grassland,CO
- La Junta, CO


Bonus
Dinosaur - Commanche National Grassland - Colordo
Elk @ Commanche NG office in LaJunta, CO

Wildlife Sightings
Prairie Dog
Cottontail Rabbit

Ferruginous Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Mourning Dove
Northern Flicker
Canada Goose
American Crow
Black-billed Magpie

[Mark Sedenquist]

Wow.... So how many total NPS sites are there in the lower 48 states?

Great Achievement.

Mark

[Pmount]

There are 372 sites administered by the National Park Service in the Lower 48 which I have now visited. I have also been to all of the sites in Hawaii and nine in Alaska. There are a total of 401 NPS sites, the remaining 17 are 'too rich' for our travel budget. They are in Alaska, Guam, American Somoa, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. (Note: the math is a bit fuzzy, a couple of Lower 48 sites are also part of the non-Lower 48 sites)
We are satisfied to have visited these 372 sites and will continue to revisit, I will be doing Senior/Junior Ranger programs as well as enjoying these places again and again.
-Pat

[Midwest Michael]

Wow, that's an impressive feat. Congratulations.

Although, I'll say, a trip to Puerto Rico is something I'd recommend. San Juan NHS is pretty neat, and airfare to the island usually isn't too expensive (although I'm sure it's more from AZ than the eastern US).

[Mark Sedenquist]

Does this include National Monuments or are these National Historic Sites?

Because there are two brand new National Monuments -- one in California and another in Arizona....

Mark

EDIT: I think that 401 number is no longer valid -- time to get back on the road....

Did you obtain that number from Wikipedia? If so, it lists 79 National Monuments and in reality there are now 110 National Monuments. I think you may still have a few more you can reach in the lower 48.... Happy Hunting. Or do you have a list that you can post?

Visiting 372 NPS sites is pretty impressive -- but.... just saying....

[Southwest Dave]

Yes that's quite remarkable, well done you !!

Dave.

[Pmount]

401 is valid for NPS administered sites which includes parks, monuments, historic, etc. The 2 new sites are administered by USFS, which we also visit, as well as those administered by BLM & Fish & Wildlife. Clear as mud???
The Lower 48 award is sponsored by The National Park Travelers Club which specifies the NPS sites. Basically any site any of the agencies administer will always be a stop along our route.
-Pat

[Pmount]

Tuesday, October 21
Start: Walsenburg, CO
Finish: Espanola, NM

Nice treat for breakfast, there is a golf course at Lathrop Park SP with a restaurant where we enjoyed a nice hot meal. The skies were clear, the mountains to the south, Sangre de Cristo, had snow up on the peaks - Fall in Colorado is here!

A favorite NPS site is Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve, near Alamosa, CO on US 160. This was my first visit in the Fall and a perfect day to be here. This site has a Junior Ranger program with an adult section, Park Explorer. Within the booklet several activities are designated with a binocular icon. The five activities could be completed within a two hour visit. The exhibits in the visitor center are limited, but very well done. They give lots of information in a small area.

Great Sand Dunes NP & P


We continued west on US 160 to Alamosa where we stopped at the San Luis Valley Refuge Headquarters for the Blue Goose stamps for their 3 refuges, Alamosa, Monte Vista & Baca. In town we got gas, a snack and found several letterboxes.

From there we headed south on US 285 into New Mexico. This was a new route for both of us, very nice road with great views out of the San Luis Valley and heading into Carson National Forest. It was late afternoon and we drove through several rain showers.

This road passes through Ojo Caliente, the several roadside restaurants were closed on Tuesday. We drove over to the Ojo Caliente Hot Springs and Spa resort which appeared to be busy, based on the parking lot and people in the area. The cottonwoods in the area were spectacular.

Fall cottonwoods


We continued south on US 285 to where it joined US 84 near Hernandez, NM. Stopped at a wonderful roadside restaurant, Socorro's, for a tasty dinner. We stopped for the evening at a motel in Espanola. The weather was getting cooler and wetter so we decided to stay in a motel.

On this trip, almost 6 weeks long, besides 6 nights with family, we had only stayed in a motel one other night. The beds in our van are very comfortable, plus the natural setting and ease of fixing meals makes camping our first choice. The cost factor, alone allows us to take these extended trips which we realize is not the norm for most travelers, but we are thoroughly enjoying.

Passport Stamps
Great Sand Dunes NP & PRES - Mosca, CO
Old Spanish National Historic Trail - Mosca, CO
Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area - San Luis Valley

Bonus
Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge (egret image)
Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge (sandhill crane image)
Baca National Wildlife Refuge ( American bald eagle image)

Smashed Pennies
Great Sand Dunes NP & Pres, @ visitor center - 4

Wildlife Sightings
Mule Deer
Cottontail Rabbit

Black-billed Magpie
American Crow
Common Raven
Canada Goose
Northern Flicker
American Coot

[Pmount]

Did you obtain that number from Wikipedia?

No, I use nps.gov

This list breaks out the different types of sites. Looking through the list I've been to all in the Lower 48, Hawaii and 7 out of 16 in Alaska. Looking back over the list it brings back lots of memories and stories.

Pat