The short-grass prairie of the Pawnee Grasslands flows in waves of green hills interrupted by winding cottonwood stands along streams and in low areas. In some places there are more conspicuous bluffs and small buttes intersecting with the skyline and forming landmarks in an otherwise similar environment. The Pawnee Buttes stand out in relief against […]
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Set in the emptiness of southern Wyoming is a beautiful land of rounded rocks and cliffs. Vedauwoo is from the Arapaho word, “bito’o’wu,” meaning “earth-born.” The higher rocky hills seem to have given birth to many boulders, small to huge, set throughout the area. A beautiful spring day was perfect to explore this area from
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Red Wash Canyon is a surprising gem of a hike with an unusual slot canyon, an incredible palette of colors, and a fascinating petroglyph rock in a pass high above the Rio Chama. Kelly’s thoughts… Red Wash has much to offer. Near the trailhead, off to the side, is an unusual slot canyon. I’m always
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A low hill, visible from miles around, and with spectacular panoramic views of central New Mexico, has been the perfect place for people to display rock art for many years. Very ancient artwork had additions over generations, including vandalism and graffiti from recent times, as well as recent artwork including a baby deer and a
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A remote ruin in northern New Mexico is a last remnant of the Gallina people, a Pueblo tribe that disappeared before Europeans arrived in the region. A hike up a beautiful canyon and a stiff climb up the canyon side led us to a hidden cliff house tucked away in a secluded corner of the
New Mexico is an amazingly rich world of geology. Mountains, crystals, landforms and fossils are everywhere and there for the exploring. Our adventure involved a hunt for staurolite crystals… stauros, meaning “cross,” and lithos, meaning “stone”… “cross stone.” The unique shape of these crystals, often “twins” at 60 degree angles, makes them truly unique. There
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This was our second trip to our beloved Bisti Badlands in a couple of weeks. But this one was our first adventure with a mix of kiddos from our two families. Tori (Riki’s daughter) and Josey (Kelly’s son) are our youngest kids, and it was wonderful to finally get them together in the Wild. Although it
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Riki’s Random Ramblings I am making a list of things to do. This is normal for me. Getting them all done is not normal for me. Sometimes, when I look at the list at the end of the day, I have to write down some of the things I did that weren’t originally on my
A remote wonderland of geology, the Bisti De-Na-Zin Wilderness is one of our favorite places in the world. With vast collections of hoodoos and amazing rocks and fossils, there are endless opportunities for the imagination. The weathering of the interbedded slate, sandstone, mudstone, and soils has resulted in a fantasy land of scenery. Kelly’s thoughts…
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We love the southwest… its hoodoos and arches and canyons, its vistas and solitude. The Chiracahua Mountains have been on our list for a while, and they didn’t disappoint in the least. Kelly’s thoughts… We don’t often visit national parks or monuments, not because they don’t have cool nature or culture, but because they have
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