SOCIAL MEDIA

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In the Footsteps of the Ancients

Thursday, September 30, 2010

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As mentioned a couple of days ago, while at Bandelier National Monument, we hiked a second trail located in a detached unit of the park known as Tsankawi (roughly 11 miles north of the main entrance).Some of the highlights of the 1.5-mile Tsankawi Loop along the high mesa top are the cavates (small rooms) and numerous petroglyphs left behind by the Ancestral Pueblos.The people who lived here during...
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Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail to reopen Saturday

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

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If all goes as planned, the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail just outside of Gatlinburg will reopen to visitors on Saturday.The road has been closed since February as crews resurfaced the road, parking areas, trailheads and roadside pullouts. They also paved gravel pullouts, made other road repairs, and rehabilitated/reconstructed stone masonry structures along the one-way road.Several trailheads that...
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Viva La Vega

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

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The Santa Fe National Forest in Northern New Mexico is a gigantic 1.6 million-acre playground that offers hikers, horseback riders and mountain bikers more than 1000 miles of trails.With so many hiking choices, we decided upon one of the local favorites, a destination known as La Vega, or “The Meadow”. The hike starts from the Winsor Trail (254) trailhead near the Santa Fe Ski Basin roughly 15 miles...
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Chimneys Picnic Area to close on Thursday

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

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The Great Smokies has a blurb on their website stating that the Chimneys Picnic Area will be closed on September 30 due to the installation of a new vault toilet.JeffHikingintheSmokys....
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Star Gazing Program in Cades Cove

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park will offer a 2-hour stargazing program in Cades Cove on Saturday, October 2, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in cooperation with the Smoky Mountains Astronomical Society. Experienced astronomers and numerous telescopes will be on hand to provide a discovery of the autumn sky’s position of stars, galaxies, and constellations, including the Milky Way. In case of rain or cloud...
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Santa Fe: The City of Holy Faith

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

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Over the centuries the history and culture of the city of Santa Fe has been profoundly influenced by the Catholic faith. Embedded in that history are the Spanish missions and churches in the old town plaza and surrounding region.Below are a few photos and short explanations of the historical significance of the most important churches in Santa Fe.San Miguel Mission:The San Miguel Mission is considered...
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MST to dedicate 25 new miles

Monday, September 27, 2010

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The Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail will be dedicating 25 brand new miles this Saturday, October 2nd.The 25-mile section, located in Ashe, Watauga, and Wilkes counties, will be officially dedicated at a ceremony at E.B. Jeffress Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway (near Deep Gap, NC at milepost 272).After the ceremony there will be a lunch, followed by hikes to explore the new section of trail.Once...
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The Ghost Ranch

Monday, September 27, 2010

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Where I was born and where and how I have lived is unimportant. It is what I have done with where I have been that should be of interest.-- Georgia O'KeeffeIn the early-to-mid Twentieth Century, the Ghost Ranch near Abiquiu was used as a summer home by Georgia O'Keeffe, an artist best known for her paintings of flowers, rocks, shells, animal bones, and landscapes, in particular, those of Northern...
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The Cerro Grande Route

Sunday, September 26, 2010

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Roughly 45 miles northwest of Santa Fe are the ancient ruins and deep canyons of Bandelier National Monument. Designated as a national monument in 1916, Bandelier preserves the homes of the Ancestral Pueblo people.Archeological surveys show that the Ancestral Pueblos began building permanent settlements in Bandelier by 1150, but had moved to new homes along the Rio Grande by 1550.The main portion...
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Santa Fe: “The City Different”

Saturday, September 25, 2010

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Although we seldom travel to urban areas as a vacation destination - simply because we prefer the great outdoors - Santa Fe is a notable exception. Being a history buff, a bit of a foodie, and an obvious outdoor lover, Santa Fe is ground zero for all three pursuits. It’s from among these qualities that earned the city its nickname; “The City Different”.The 2010 TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Awards...
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New Rules announced for NC National Forests

Saturday, September 25, 2010

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On Thursday of this week the USDA Forest Service for National Forests in North Carolina announced new rules that will impact the Nantahala, Pisgah, Croatan and Uwharrie National Forests.Oddly, it states that the rules went into effect this past April, but are scheduled to be in place until April of 2015.The first new rule states that it's now illegal to store geocaching equipment, or any equipment...
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Smokies Rangers take control on the Spur

Friday, September 24, 2010

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Here's a report published today on the NPS Digest about the recent law enforcement operation on the Gatlinburg Spur leading into the Park:Each April and September, the city of Pigeon Forge hosts a car show know as the Rod Run. This traditionally has increased the volume of traffic into the park, specifically on a section of US 441 commonly referred to as the Spur.In past years, rangers have seen an...
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755 Feet below the ground

Friday, September 24, 2010

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At the northern end of the Guadalupe Mountains in New Mexico, and lying more than 750 feet below the surface of the ground, is Carlsbad Caverns National Park.Ansel Adams said that Carlsbad Caverns is “something that should not exist in relation to human beings. Something that is as remote as the galaxy, incomprehensible as a nightmare, and beautiful in spite of everything.”Will Rogers called it the...
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Peter Barr completes the Appalachian Trail

Friday, September 24, 2010

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Last weekend I received an email from Peter Barr, author of Hiking North Carolina’s Lookout Towers, stating that he had recently completed his trek across the entire length of the Appalachian Trail.Peter began his hike from Springer Mountain in Georgia on March 22nd:Along the way he averaged about 15 miles a day - excluding rest days. He saw 10 bears, one moose, one bobcat, and one skunk - inside...
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The Top of Texas

Thursday, September 23, 2010

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After staying in Van Horn the night before, we made the 60-mile drive north in the early morning darkness. My goal was to arrive just outside of Guadalupe Mountains National Park in order to a get a photo of El Capitan just as the sun begins to shine on the dramatic rock face of the mountain that stands at the southern terminus of the Guadalupe range. With an elevation of 8,749 feet, Guadalupe Peak...
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