Flying

The Eagle screamed to be let out.  We let him fly us north on I 25 through Raton Pass to explore a bit of the Colorado wilderness.

We circled around Trinidad then followed the Legends Scenic Byway (Rt 12) west toward the snow capped Spanish Peaks

with the north fork of the Purgatoire River for company.

Onward we flew enjoying the beautiful scenery, the winding roads bringing us ever closer to the mountains.

We passed Monument Lake

jig-jogged around North Lake 

then soared upward

gaining altitude

until we topped out at Cuchara Pass.

Down we we went, gently gliding around graceful curves

lower and lower

until we leveled out in this beautiful valley, 

 floating along enjoying wonderful rock formations.  

Leaving the Spanish Peaks behind we flew east on SR 160

to Walsenburg where we stopped to feed ourselves while the Eagle rested.

Outside Walsenburg we flew straight south on I 25, looking for but not finding any pronghorns.

On the southern edge of Trinidad we stopped to feed the Eagle

and enjoy one last view of the Spanish Peaks.

Gliding once more through Raton Pass, New Mexico again welcomed us

and we were back in Raton.

The Eagle settled back into his cage, content once again.

 At least for now.

Louise and Duane

Words Can't Describe

I was very excited about our visit today.

There are several hikes at this monument, but the two that I selected started on top of the cone.

  

Up we drove, 1300 feet,  winding around and around the volcano

  

on a steep narrow road with no berm, to the top of the cone--8182' above sea level. 

Info boards at the top of the drive explained how volcanic activity formed the surrounding area.  I found this very interesting because the stuff described is what is happening now in Hawaii.

Facing the other direction we learned how this cone was formed.  

This why I was very excited about our first hike;  we were going to stand inside an actual volcano!  How cool is that!!!

In a few minutes we would be on that little light squiggle just right of center!

A few minutes later here we were looking back up at where we started.  I found this very extraordinary,  and more fascinating that the Aztec ruins in Mexico.  

After the initial blowup,  molten rock, cinders and ash dropped down from the sky and formed the cone.  Other lava flowed out weak spots in the newly formed cone.

On our way out I found this lizard.  This pic isn't black and white.  These are the actual colors of the lizard and the rock.

Back up we went and kept on going up to the crater rim for a walk around the top of the volcano.

 As Lonesome Dove fans we found this information interesting.

We could see the plain below covered with thousands of cattle.  

From the top we could see for miles.  That faint black mesa on the left is in Oklahoma.  

We could see tiny toy vehicles driving along the road. 

A little further along the trail we could see the parking lot.

We also saw a dirt driveway running back into the hills for about a mile to a cluster of red roofs on the right.  Now that is living out in the middle of nowhere!

 Back at the parking lot we picked up the truck for the ride back down.

We retraced our route through open range

and home.

We enjoyed our hike and plan to return later to explore more of the lava fields.

Not tomorrow, though.

Louise and Duane

Short Ride, Small Museum

The NRA Whittington Center in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains just south of Raton, NM is one of the largest and most comprehensive shooting facilities in the United States.  10% of the 33,300 acre site has been developed to include fifteen shooting ranges, an administration building, museum library, classrooms and 175 site full hookup rv park .  The remainder of the site provides wildlife habitat from above 6300 feet with primitive campgrounds and remote back-country cabins for hunting, birding, wildlife viewing, photography, hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. All of the facilities and activities are open to the public.

The driveway is lined with all 50 US state flags.  All of the shooting ranges are located against the mountain to the right of the right of the main building, with the rv parking in the rear.

The right wing of the center includes classrooms,  and administrative offices.  The left is a small museum.  Inside the main door we entered

a rotunda with

this big fella.

Walking straight through the gift shop

we found the library.  On the wall is a series of paintings depicting the settlement of New Mexico.  Various sculptures were scattered around.  In the flat drawers were different kinds of ammo

It takes books to make a library.  These included subjects like hunting, fishing, the outdoors, travel, and history.

 Beyond the library was a conference room.  

To the left of the gift shop is this museum.

It highlighted firearms changes in design and use from the coming of the Spanish to New Mexico 

through the mountain man period,

and several wars

to modern competitive shooting.

Displays also showed the distinctly American influences.

Other displays included a mural around the room.  I particularly liked the contrasts here between the Native American horseback traveler and the pioneer wagon traveler, and between shipping by ox drawn wagons and shipping by train. 

Two old saddles were also on exhibit.

There were several taxidermied animals including this bear.  Yes I really am afraid of bears, but only the living kind.  Check out those claws!

Leaving the museum we drove around the area behind the center past the different kinds of shooting ranges

and the rv camping

and the group cabins.

That was our tour of the day.

Louise and Duane