Grand Canyon RV Park Remains Closed Due To Water Issues

Above, RV camping at Trailer Village at the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Somehow, the closure of Trailer Village at the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park eluded me. This blog post ought to rectify that.

Yes, the Trailer Village has been closed since August due to water issues. It may remain closed through the autumn months.

I camped at Trailer Village in 2017 and enjoyed it as it had full hook-ups at every site.

RV Travel reported:

Grand Canyon National Park’s water crisis could disrupt RV camping well into the fall. The South Rim’s full-hookup RV park remains closed, other campgrounds have restricted water service, and park officials say restoring water distribution may not begin until Thanksgiving.

The National Park Service announced September 19 that it hopes to begin pumping water from Bright Angel Creek to a new treatment plant by November 16. Distribution to South Rim residents could begin by Thanksgiving, November 26, allowing concessionaires to resume overnight guest services in phases.

Those dates are tentative. The park has not announced when Trailer Village RV Park will reopen.

Where can RVers camp?

Trailer Village, the South Rim’s only campground with full RV hookups, has been closed since August 31. The park lists it as closed until further notice.

Mather Campground remains open and is accepting reservations through Recreation.gov. However, it’s operating as a dry campground under Stage 4 water restrictions. Drinking-water spigots, regular restrooms, showers and laundry facilities are unavailable. Portable toilets are provided.

The campground has no RV hookups. The nearby Camper Services building, which normally provides showers and laundry facilities, is closed.

To read more, go here. 

RV Lengths That Work Best In National Parks

Above, camping in Joshua Tree National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the things I am glad I did when I bought a motorhome 11 years ago was to get one under 25 feet long. Most national park campsites easily can accommodate this size. 

The first trip that I camped in a national park was Joshua Tree National Park. The RV fit just fine. The next trip to camp in a national park was at Yosemite National Park. Again, the site I picked accommodated it just fine as well. 

RV Travel posted an article on what RV length works best for national park trips.

They begin it with:

Visiting and camping in America’s national parks is near the top of most RVers’ bucket lists. One crucial factor that can make or break an RVer’s camping experience is whether an RV will fit into a campsite. Let’s explore what size RV is ideal for national park camping, and what you should expect when trying to find a spot.

To read more, go here. 

More Rain This Week

Above, rain clouds are coming in. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The monsoon season started late this year, but when it finally kicked in, we've gotten a lot of rain.

It rained all last week in the Gallup/Jamestown, New Mexico area and it is continuing this week. Today is the first full day of autumn, by the way.

According to the National Weather Service:

Today

Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. High near 59. Southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tonight

Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 9pm, then a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday

A slight chance of showers between 9am and noon, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 67. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Thursday Night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Friday

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.

"Godzilla Minus Zero" Gets 'R' Rating

This is a first in the storied history of Godzilla movies, Japanese and American.

Toho Co., Ltd.'s Godzilla Minus Zero garnered a 'R' rating.

According to Dark Horizons:

The MPA has handed out an R rating for the upcoming “Godzilla Minus Zero,” the sequel to Toho’s highly acclaimed, internationally successful, and Oscar-winning “Godzilla Minus One”.

It marks the very first time in the history of the “Godzilla” franchise that a film in the series has scored an R rating. Here, the rating was given for “some violent content/bloody images.”

To read more, go here. 

7 Rifles That Changed Hunting Forever

7 Rifles That Changed Hunting Forever (The History Nobody Tells You) video from Outdoor Arms 360°.

Summary:

These are the 7 rifles that changed hunting forever — not because they sold the most, but because each one solved a mechanical problem nobody else could and forced the entire industry to follow. This is the real history of the hunting rifle, from the Hawken brothers' oversized plains rifle in 1823 to Roy Weatherby's nine-lug magnum action in 1957. Along the way we break down exactly how Mauser 98 controlled round feed works and why it's still the gold standard for dangerous-game hunters, why Winchester split its own history into pre-64 and post-64, and how Savage solved the problem that kept lever-action rifles from ever using a pointed bullet. If you've ever wondered where your modern bolt-action rifle's safety, extractor, or magazine design actually came from, this is that story.

Rifles covered: Hawken Rifle, Winchester Model 1894, Mauser Model 98, Savage Model 1899, Remington Model 8, Winchester Model 70, Weatherby Mark V.

 

These 7 Lever-Action Rifles Beat the AR-15

Why These 7 Lever-Action Rifles Beat the AR-15 When Survival Matters video from Arms Advisor.

Summary: 

Every survival list puts the AR-15 on top, but there is a reason ranchers, guides and remote cabin owners still reach for a lever gun instead. Today I am counting down 7 lever-action rifles that beat an AR-15 where it truly matters. Number 1 broke every rule I thought I knew about survival rifles.

 

Autumn Starts This Evening

Above, it won't be long that we'll be seeing snow on the mesas if
 we have a normal snow season this year. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This evening, we can bid Summer 2026 a fond farewell. 

The autumn equinox in 2026 takes place on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 5:05 p.m. PDT (8:05 p.m. EDT). It will reach here at 4:05 p.m. MDT.

I already noticed that it is a little cooler outside and the night temperature is reaching down into the 40s. 

It won't be long that we might get a snow flurry or two when we are in October and November. This has occurred a few times over the years since I moved to New Mexico. It won't be long I'll have to bring the snow shovel out of the garage.

Blog Hits 15 Million Page Views!

We've reached another milestone here at the ol' blog.

The blog recorded over 15 million page views overnight. Accordingly, I have updated the header reflecting the new number. 

Here it is:

 

Idaho Voters To Choose State Gun In Election

Above, the Winchester 94 is one of six guns on the Idaho ballot. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I've posted about this before, but as the November 3 election looms, Idaho voters have an interesting ballot question to vote on.

It is a question on what gun should be designated as the official state gun. Currently, 10 states have official state guns.

According to MyNorthwest: 

Idaho voters will choose an official state gun this November after Gov. Brad Little signed legislation placing a nonbinding advisory question on the general election ballot.

House Bill 932, which passed the House 68-0 and cleared the Senate before Little signed it into law on April 2, asks voters to select one of six firearms to be designated as Idaho’s official state gun. The results will guide future legislative action but do not carry the force of law on their own.

The ballot question will read: “Which of the following guns should be designated as the state gun of Idaho?”

The six choices are:

• Winchester Model 1894 (.30-30)
• Winchester Model 1873 “Gun that Won the West” (.44-40)
• 1873 Colt Single Action Army Revolver “Peacemaker” (.45 Colt)
• M1 Garand rifle (.30-06)
• Colt M1911 .45 automatic Colt pistol (.45 ACP)
• Remington Model 700 bolt-action rifle (.30-06)

To read more, go here.

20 Shocking Winchester Model 94 Secrets Every Owner MUST Know

20 Shocking Winchester Model 94 Secrets Every Owner MUST Know video from Ivan's Journal.

Summary:

There's a good chance the plainest rifle in your family's closet is worth more than the fanciest one sitting right next to it, and the reason is stamped on the gun in a spot almost nobody looks. Two Model 94s side by side on a bench, same caliber, same barrel length, same lever-gun silhouette every American knows on sight, and one is worth a few hundred dollars while the other is worth thousands. Most owners never learn to tell them apart. They inherit one, call it a thirty-thirty, lean it in the corner behind the coats, and either sell it for gas money or overpay for one at a show. Number eight is the single year that split every Model 94 ever made into keep versus shooter. Number one is why the ugliest, most beat-up gun in the room might be the winner.

 

Where To Safely Buy Silver

Above, 2024 American Silver Eagles. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It has been a while since I last posted about silver coins, particularly silver American Eagles and Morgan silver dollars.

So, with that in mind, I found that USA Today posted on where to buy silver coins and bars safely.  

They start with:

Buying silver is easier than ever. Investors can purchase physical silver from online
dealers, local coin shops or precious-metals IRA providers, with options ranging from one-ounce coins to large silver bars.

Before you buy, it’s important to understand pricing and find a reputable dealer that fits your needs. This guide explains how to buy silver and key factors to consider before making a purchase. 

The current Comex silver spot price is around $66.00.

To read more, go here.

RVers Paying $100, $150—Even $200 A Night To Camp

Above, Route 66 RV Resort near Albuquerque charges over $80/night. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Remember the days when campsites at an RV park or commercial campground cost less than $50 a night? Strange as it may seem, it wasn't all that long ago.

The cost of a one night's stay at an RV park has gotten more expensive. $80 per night isn't unusual nor campsites over $100 per night is getting less rare these days.

Even thought prices have shot up, are you getting your money's worth? That is something that RV Travel took a look into in an article.

They begin with:

Remember when $50 seemed like a lot of money for an RV campsite? For plenty of RVers, it still is. But look around popular destinations today, and you’ll als

o find campsites advertised for $100, $150, and $200 or more per night. Go after a premium waterfront site at a high-end RV resort during peak season, and we’ve found published rates of $300, $400, and even close to $600 for a single night!

And to that, we ask: What in the world are you getting for all that money?

We dug into current 2026 campground pricing and looked at what some of the country’s more expensive RV resorts actually include. The answer isn’t quite as simple as “campgrounds have gotten ridiculously expensive.”

To read more, go here. 

7 Forgotten American Guns That Are Secretly Worth A Fortune

7 Forgotten American Guns That Are Secretly Worth a Fortune You Might Own One video from Dale Defense Gear.

Summary: 

That night I stood in Dale's hallway looking at an empty gun rack, and I learned the hard truth this whole video is built on: the model name on your gun means almost nothing, but a piece of paper you probably threw away decades ago could be worth six figures.

I walk you through seven forgotten American firearms — the Winchester Model 1894, the Model 1886, the Colt Single Action Army, the Colt Walker, and the Smith & Wesson 357 Registered Magnum among them — and show you exactly why an "ordinary" one sells for $500 while an identical model with the right documentation sells for $1.6 million at Rock Island Auction Company. You'll learn what a factory letter actually is, why the gun a thief grabs is almost never the valuable one 🔫, and the one document you can order this weekend for less than a box of ammo that separates a $7,000 revolver from a $1,500 paperweight. I also walk through the exact door hardware failure that let a thief into my neighbor's house, and the $0, 11-minute fix I made that same night 🔩.

If you've had guns sitting in a safe or a closet for years without ever checking what's actually behind them, this is the video where you finally go look. Grab a coffee, watch the whole thing, and go check your own rack this weekend — you might be sitting on more than you think.

Dale Defense Gear breaks down the real dollars-and-legality side of gun ownership so you're never the guy who sold history for scrap price.

Classic Rock Music Monday

The stuff that now passes as "music", particularly rock 'n roll, leaves me cold. So, to start off the week, here's a video of a classic rock artist.

To start off the week we have Nick Gilder with his 1978 hit, "Hot Child In The City." 

From Wikipedia:

Nick Gilder is a British-Canadian musician who first came to prominence as the frontman for the glam rock band Sweeney Todd. He later had a successful solo career as a singer/songwriter.

 

7 Legendary Classic Hunting Rifles That Defined Deer Hunting

7 Legendary Classic Hunting Rifles That Defined Deer Hunting | Winchester, Marlin, Savage Ranked video from Scoper 360°.

Summary:

Ranking the best classic hunting rifles that shaped North American hunting traditions. From the Winchester Model 1894 to the Remington 700, we tested which lever-action and bolt-action rifle earned number one for versatile hunting performance across terrain, distance, and game type.

 

Stupid School Principal

My "honorary sister" sent me this yesterday.

The original post was posted on Reddit and it involves a principal at a school regarding a 4th grader's parent wearing a Godzilla t-shirt.

Here's what the parent posted: 

Was wearing this tshirt when I picked up my 4th grade son from elementary school. Principal pulled me aside and said it's inappropriate. "It implies violence and destruction." and said I should exercise more caution when choosing what I wear to an elementary school.

Here's the shirt:

 

I've always felt that many people involved in our educational system, including teachers and administrators, lacked common sense and some are just plain assholes. This has to be another good example.

Some of the comments at the original post are hilarious.

Trump Returned To White House in an Emergency Right Now

Something is happening in regards to the Iran war causing President Trump to return from Camp David to the White House.

Benny Johnson posted a video on this development:

Ruger 10/22 Years to Avoid

Ruger 10/22 Years to Avoid — and the Exact Year the Quality Died video from Ivan's Journal and Ivan Jackson.

Summary:

I've watched guys walk into a gun store, point at a 10/22 on the rack, and say "just give me that one," like every year of that rifle came off the same line with the same attention and deserves the same price. Some of them are right. Some are paying twenty or thirty percent too much. And a few, the ones who know to look, are walking right past early production examples that have quietly become desirable on the used market without anybody making an announcement about it.

10 SHOCKING Facts About the Ruger 10/22

10 SHOCKING Facts About the Ruger 10/22 Most Owners DON’T KNOW video from Gun Go.

Summary:

10 SHOCKING Facts About the Ruger 10/22 Most Owners DON’T KNOW

 

Gerrit Graham Dies At 77

Sad news from Hollywood.

Actor Gerrit Graham has passed away at age 77.

According to The Hollywood Reporter:

Gerrit Graham, the interesting character actor who appeared in Phantom of the Paradise and three other early films for Brian De Palma and wrote the Grateful Dead song “Victim or the Crime” with Bob Weir, has died. He was 77. 

Graham died Tuesday in an assisted living facility in Rhinebeck, New York, his ex-wife, Dede Taylor, told The Hollywood Reporter. The cause was complications from lung disease.

Graham also portrayed an aspiring country singer in Paul Bartel’s Cannonball! (1976); a computer nerd opposite Julie Christie in Demon Seed (1977); the abusive boyfriend of Susan Sarandon’s character in Louis Malle’s Pretty Baby (1978); one of the scheming salesmen in Robert Zemeckis’ Used Cars (1980); and the foster father of Alex Vincent’s Andy Barkley in Child’s Play 2 (1990).

Used Cars has to be one of the funniest movies from the 1980s. If you have never seen it, I recommend finding a copy. The movie stars Kurt Russell and Jack Warden.

To read more, go here.

Here's the trailer for Used Cars:

Power Outage

Last evening, we had an area-wide power outage that lasted for several hours. It may have been weather-related as we had a thunderstorm last evening.

I went to bed about 45 minutes earlier than usual and when I woke up, the power was on.

According to the McKinley County Sheriff, who posted this on Facebook:

All of Gallup is without power. We believe this is a PNM feeder issue. We do not have an estimated time to restoration.

We will update this post when more is known.

We have received reports that Thoreau, Jamestown, and Gamerco are also without power.

Thoreau is about 15 miles east of Jamestown.

I joked on our Jamestown Community Facebook page that the dilithium crystals failed. (Trekkers would know about dilithium crystals.)

This is an area map of the outage:

Jamestown is not shown on this map. 

Continental Divide Electric Co-Op reported at 10:20 that power had been restored.

RV Travel Poll: Do You Own A Cowboy Hat?

Above, wearing my Stetson at the El Rancho Hotel restaurant.

In some regions of the U.S. law enforcement officers sport cowboy hats. 

In the Gallup, New Mexico area, many (including me) have cowboy hats. I have two, with one being a Stetson. Since I live at 7,000 feet above sea level, the air is thinner and those hats offer protection against the sun's rays. They offer more protection than do baseball caps. It is interesting that quite a number of the area's Native Americans also wear them.

RV Travel asked in a poll article, "Do you own a cowboy hat?" As of this writing, 59% of the responded with yes.

The article begins with:

The University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) police department updated their uniform policy awhile ago and it’s drawn quite a bit of attention. This change allows on-duty officers to sport cowboy hats, aligning them with the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, which permitted the iconic hats earlier.

Now, the officers proudly showcase their cowboy hats on social media. That caught the eye of none other than Deion Sanders, the famous football coach and avid cowboy hat enthusiast. Sanders was so impressed that he offered to cover the cost of hats for the entire staff. However, Police Chief Mahoney clarified that officers would continue to buy their own hats, as these are considered optional accessories.

While the hats add a stylish touch to the officers’ uniforms, their purpose goes beyond fashion. Chief Mahoney pointed out that the wide brims provide excellent protection from the sun, which is especially beneficial during outdoor events like football games and concerts.

To read the full article and participate in the poll, go here. 

Trash From Yellowstone Thermal Areas Sets New Record

Above, record amounts of trash has been recovered from
Yellowstone's thermal areas like this one. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yellowstone National Park has been enjoyed by visitors for generations. 

Where else can one see beautiful vistas, animals, waterfalls, geysers and thermal areas? Unfortunately, some people have no common sense or respect for the natural wonders.

Trash has been recovered from thermal areas that people carelessly tossed in. The park has broken it trash cleanup record this year.

According to an article in RV Travel:

Yellowstone National Park has set a new record for trash recovered from its geysers and hot springs. And the park’s geology team has some remarkable additions to its collection of lost and discarded belongings.

Last September, RV Travel reported that park workers had recovered more than 13,000 pieces of trash, 4,000 rocks and sticks, and 300 hats from Yellowstone’s hydrothermal areas.

This year, the trash count has soared.

By early September, workers had collected more than 20,100 pieces of trash, 5,600 rocks and sticks, and 280 hats. The U.S. Geological Survey calls 2026 a record-setting year for debris removal.

To read more, go here. 

Jim Carmichel’s ‘Favorite’ Deer Rifles

Above, my 1962 vintage Winchester 94. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Everyone (well, almost everyone) has favorite guns, including favorite deer rifles.

Outdoor Life posted an article on Jim Carmichael's (former shooting editor for Outdoor Life) favorite deer rifles. It was originally published in Outdoor Life in the November 2002 issue.

It begins with:

I don’t have a favorite deer rifle, but I used to. It was a Model 94 Winchester that I got in a trade when I was 14. All the cowboys in the movies had lever-action Winchesters, so that was reason enough to want one. I can’t remember all the details of the deal, but the kid I swapped with drove a hard bargain. Among other valuable items he skinned me out of were a pocket watch that didn’t work and a model airplane engine that wouldn’t run.

The rifle was in pretty sad shape. It came with three cartridges, one of which I fired to make sure the gun would shoot. Actually, the rifle’s rusty metal and battered wood were among the reasons I wanted it. Even at that tender age I was a budding do-it-yourselfer and had visions of renewing the rifle to gleaming steel and glistening hand-rubbed wood.

What I mostly learned from that enterprise was that lever rifles are a lot trickier to reassemble than they are to take apart. When I finally got it back together it didn’t look much better than before and was certainly not what I had envisioned. But l had a deer rifle and it was my favorite, even though I never shot a deer with it.

To read the full article, go here. 

Rep. Melanie Stansbury: Witch Hunts Will Return If Democrats Control Congress

Democrats plan on returning to having witch hunts against President Trump and administration officials if they gain control of congress following the November 3 election.

Rep. Melanie Stansbury let these plans slip to supporters.

The Pinon Post reported:

Democrat U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico is openly telling supporters that House Democrats are already preparing for “in-depth oversight and impeachments of administration officials” next year if voters hand the party control of the U.S. House in November.

The comments came in a video circulating on X this week, in which Stansbury tied Democrats’ ability to pursue the plans directly to the outcome of the Nov. 3 midterm elections.

“We in the House are gearing up in terms of our planning for oversight,” Stansbury said in the video. “I know many of you are deeply frustrated that this administration is not being held accountable under the law.”

She continued: “We are gearing up for next year and the President is damn right that we are going to be conducting in-depth oversight and impeachments of administration officials next year. So we are in the process of planning for all that.”

Stansbury did not identify in the clip which Trump administration officials Democrats are considering for impeachment, nor did she specify potential articles or alleged impeachable conduct.

What she did make explicit was that the plans depend on Democrats winning control of the chamber.

To read more, go here. 

Range Report: Winchester Model 1894

Range Report: Winchester Model 1894 - An iconic .30-30 lever action rifle video from Texas Gun Vault.

The video was filmed two years ago.

Summary:

In this Range Report, I have the opportunity to shoot and review a truly iconic piece of American firearms history, the Winchester Model 1894 chambered in .30-30 Winchester. Opportunities to spend time with rifles like this do not come around very often, making this a particularly special experience.

The Winchester 1894 is one of the most influential lever-action rifles ever produced and played a significant role in American hunting and firearms history. As someone who appreciates historically significant firearms, I was excited to get this rifle out to the range and see how it performs more than a century after it was built.

Despite being an antique, this rifle continues to function remarkably well. Its reliability, smooth action and surprising accuracy are a testament to the quality of its design and craftsmanship. Join me as I take this classic Winchester to the range and see why it remains one of the most celebrated lever-action rifles ever made.

This video documents my personal thoughts, opinions and experiences with this firearm. Yours may vary.

NOTE: The rifle shown was made in 1912.

No Plinking This Week

Above, Six Mile Canyon Road yesterday. Photo by Nandoh Munoz.

The plan for this week was to take out my Ruger 10/22 out to the shooting area to adjust the rifle scope. But the week's weather wasn't cooperating.

The idea was to go either on Monday or Wednesday to do the shooting. Larry Lucier was going to come along.

The rains started on Monday and continued everyday since. More is expected today. The area where the shooting area is located is now a swamp.

We would drive out there in Larry's bus, but the dirt roads would be muddy messes and the chances of getting the bus stuck in mud would be high. Even Six Mile Canyon Road, the main road for getting to the shooting area is a muddy mess. It flooded two days ago with the culverts overflowing. I wouldn't even attempt driving in those conditions with the Jeep.

Larry's wheelchair would also probably get stuck in the mud at the shooting area. As things turned out, his wheelchair broke yesterday, so it if broke in muddy conditions at the shooting area, that would be a double whammy.

I guess things will have to wait.

Dirt Cheap Lever Action Rifles Every Survivalist Needs

Top 10 Dirt Cheap Lever Action Rifles Every Survivalist Needs Before 2027 video from GUNS360.

Summary:

You don’t need an expensive tactical rifle to put together a practical survival setup.

Lever-action rifles have been hunting game and serving outdoorsmen for generations, and some of the most useful models are still surprisingly affordable.

In this video, we’re counting down 10 budget lever-action rifles worth knowing before 2027, from inexpensive .22 LR camp rifles to .357 Magnum and .30-30 Winchester centerfire options.

The lineup includes the Rossi Rio Bravo, Henry H001, Rossi R92, Heritage Settler, Henry Big Boy Steel, Mossberg 464, Browning BL-22, Winchester 9422, Rossi R95, and Citadel Levtac-92.

Some prioritize cheap ammunition and small-game utility. Others give you centerfire hunting capability, compact dimensions, dual-caliber flexibility, or modern optics-ready configurations without pushing into premium custom-rifle territory.

We’ll break down what each rifle offers, including weight, capacity, action design, caliber choices, optics compatibility, field practicality, and approximate pricing.

Whether you prefer a traditional walnut lever gun or a modernized tactical-style carbine, the goal is the same: get maximum practical value without spending premium money.

Which budget lever action would you choose?