Gulf Oil Left Shiprock, New Mexico

Above, the Gulf station in Shiprock, New Mexico four years ago. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Four years ago, a friend and I were heading back to Jamestown, New Mexico after a camping vacation trip to Durango, Colorado and Mesa Verde National Park.

Along the way we drove through Shiprock, New Mexico and noticed a Gulf gasoline station. It had been decades since we've seen a Gulf station as they left the California (where I used to live) market. I took some pictures of it.

Yesterday, I took the same route while on my way home. I needed gasoline for the motorhome and I was thinking about going to the Gulf station in Shiprock. I didn't see it.

I stopped at a McDonalds in town for a snack and asked one of the workers which way was is the Gulf station. He said they are no longer there and the station has changed to a Shamrock gasoline station. 

As all gas stations in Shiprock were selling gas for around $3.359/gallon, I ended up getting gas at a Marathon gas station. 

Good thing I took some photos of the Gulf station four years ago since it is now history.

Guide To Mesa Verde National Park For First-Timers

Above, Square Tower House at Mesa Verde National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Living in the Four Corners region of the U.S. (where Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico meet) gives me easy access to places such as Durango, Monument Valley, Petrified Forest National Park and Mesa Verde National Park. Each are roughly a 3-hour drive from home.

Mesa Verde National Park is situated near Cortez, Colorado. I have been there several times, including camping there twice. My most recent visit was four years ago.

For those who have never been there, Lonely Planet has posted a guide for first-timers.

It begins with:

Around the year 550 CE, the Ancestral Pueblo people began settling in what is today southwest Colorado. Here, on a slightly sloping section of the Colorado Plateau, they farmed, made pottery, wove baskets, and built sprawling villages within the canyon walls.

Then, around 1300 CE, they moved away and never returned. It’s not clear why the Ancestral Pueblo deserted the place that had been their home for roughly 700 years. But they left behind many clues about their rich cultural heritage, which today’s archaeologists are still eagerly studying.

Recognizing the value of the Ancestral Puebloan’s artifacts and cliff dwellings, President Theodore Roosevelt created Mesa Verde National Park in 1906. It was the first national park to “preserve the works of man,” as Roosevelt said, in addition to natural resources. The park protects nearly 5000 archaeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings.

Mesa Verde is one of four national parks in Colorado. Though it’s the farthest from Denver, this archaeological marvel is well worth the extra drive time. Here’s what to know as you start planning your first visit.

To read more, go here. 

Spruce Tree House Stabilization Plan Identified

Above, Spruce Tree House in September 2020. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Spruce Tree House in Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado has been in a precarious state for the past several years. The arch above it has become destabilized due to weather and erosion and has been closed to the public since 2015.

A plan to stabilize the arch has been decided by the National Park Service. All that is needed are funds to implement the plan.

According to National Parks Traveler:

While the National Park Service has identified a plan to allow Spruce Tree House at Mesa Verde National Park to be stabilized and reopened to the public, funding for the work has not yet been identified.

The popular attraction, which houses the third-largest cliff dwelling in the park in western Colorado, with 130 rooms and eight kivas, has been closed to the public since October 2015 because of concerns that layers of sandstone could peel away from the arch at any time and fall on bystanders below. Spruce Tree House may be seen, however, from an overlook near the Chapin Mesa Museum. 

Back in 2016, the Park Service pointed out that "[E]arly stabilization work was performed (on the arch) in the 1940s, with additional stabilization work completed in the 1960s. Natural erosion processes, including the settling of the arch, have been affected by the early stabilization work, so that modern engineering techniques may be necessary to ensure continued stability of the arch."

To read more, go here. 

Government Shutdown Averted Until Nov. 17

Above, Mesa Verde National Park will be open for eclipse watchers. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The impending government shutdown has been averted, at least for 45 days.

According to the Associated Press (via AOL):

WASHINGTON (AP) — The threat of a federal government shutdown suddenly lifted late Saturday as President Joe Biden signed a temporary funding bill to keep agencies open with little time to spare after Congress rushed to approve the bipartisan deal.

The package drops aid to Ukraine, a White House priority opposed by a growing number of GOP lawmakers, but increases federal disaster assistance by $16 billion, meeting Biden’s full request. The bill funds government until Nov. 17.

The national parks will remain open. Some, like Mesa Verde National Park, will be open for eclipse viewers on October 14.

To read more, go here. 

Colorado's National Parks May Stay Open

Above, Mesa Verde National Park may stay open if Colorado foots the bill. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Steps are being taken by the state of Colorado to keep its national parks open in the event of a government shutdown.

That is, if the state is willing to foot the bill.

From CPR News:

It looks like Colorado's four National Parks may stay open through a shutdown, even if it means the state ends up footing the bill.

Entrances to national parks will be blocked and thousands of park rangers will be furloughed if Congress doesn’t reach a budget agreement this weekend, the Department of Interior said Friday, with visitors encountering locked gates starting on Monday.

However, the department also noted the director of the National Park Service can enter into non-reimbursable arrangements with state, tribal or local governments, or third parties for donations to fund park operations and keep gates open.

Gov. Jared Polis is taking steps to do that. 

On Thursday, he issued an executive order for the Colorado Department of Natural Resources to develop a plan to keep the parks and other federal land in the state open, and to look for state money to do it with.

The neighboring states of Arizona and Utah are also looking into keeping their national parks open during a government shutdown.

To read more, go here. 

Mesa Verde Eclipse Viewing Information

Above, Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park will be closed due to tribal eclipse rituals, the next best place to view the annular eclipse on October 14 in the Four Corners would be Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado.

The path of the eclipse will take it over the park.

However, there's just one problem: if there's still a government shutdown on October 14, Mesa Verde National Park will be closed. That's unless the state of Colorado pays to keep it open.

In case there's no shutdown on that date, The Denver Post has an article on everything one needs to know about viewing it at Mesa Verde.

They begin it with:

NASA personnel will soon be in Colorado for a celestial event that hasn’t been visible from North America in more than a decade.

On Oct. 14, Mesa Verde National Park in Southwest Colorado will be almost directly in line with the annular solar eclipse. During this type of event, the moon comes between the Earth and the sun and blocks most of the light.

Because the moon will be at one of its furthest points away from the Earth, the moon will appear smaller than the sun and not block its light completely. Instead, the moon will appear as a black dot surrounded by what’s called a “ring of fire.”

It’s a stunning sight – one that can only be viewed safely with the aid of protective eyewear, according to NASA. That’s why Mesa Verde is expecting robust crowds during the otherwise sleepy shoulder season.

“This event might be pretty huge compared to an average October day,” said Eric Sainio, supervisory park ranger at Mesa Verde. “NASA has told us that in former annual eclipses, they’ve seen crowds something like a busy summer day plus 50%. For us, that might mean around 6,000 people.”

The last time an annular solar eclipse was visible from North America was in 2012. Here’s what you need to know if you’re thinking about making the trek to Mesa Verde to witness the event.

Note: These details may be affected by the federal government shutdown. Visit nps.gov for the latest information about park closures.

To read more, go here. 

Colorado Plateau: 7 Most Scenic Road Trips

Above, the Mesa Verde National Park Loop is a recommended drive. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Southwest has plenty to see and do for vacationers, especially the Colorado Plateau.

There are scenic highways to drive, some of which are in the mountains and some are in national parks. World Atlas has listed seven of the most scenic road trips one can make. I have driven five of them.

They begin with:

The following picturesque road trips highlight the Colorado Plateau's jaw-dropping natural vistas and historical attractions which overflow with activities and landmarks for travelers to discover. These trips provide deep insights into the region's diverse tapestry, from twisting routes through red rock canyons to motorways connecting to ancient Native American sites. Discover impressive rock formations, colorful desert vistas, spotless national parks, and important historical sites, all while taking advantage of the ample possibilities for hiking, photographing, and engaging with the Colorado Plateau's cultural and natural legacy. 

To read more, go here. 

11 Unique Landmarks In Colorado

Above, Mesa Verde National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Living where I do in northwestern New Mexico outside of Gallup is handy for making trips into surrounding states that make up the Four Corners.

The following states are within a day's drive: Arizona, Colorado and Utah.

Colorado has been (seemingly) more of a focus these past couple of years as I have been there several times for camping and recreation. 

There are a number of landmarks within Colorado that TheTravel feels that one "needs" to see. They posted an article listing eleven of them.

They begin with:

Many ask why Colorado is so popular. To those people, this is because the state is endowed with so many things people love to see. Colorado has mountains, rivers, museums, forests, wildlife, and many more interesting things. But besides all these, the state also has some pretty unique landmarks most of which are historic, scenic, and adventurous. For those visiting Colorado next, here are 10 of the most unique landmarks in the state you should make out time to visit.

To see what they are, go here. 

Photos and VIdeos In National Parks May Require Permits

Above, the entrance sign to Mesa Verde National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

These are weird times we're living in.

Suppose you go to Grand Canyon National Park on vacation and shoot videos or still photographs of your visit and post them on YouTube or some other social media that's monetized, you could be busted by the National Park Service and fined for not obtaining a permit to do so.

Sounds bizarre, right?

RV Travel posted an article stating that this is the case.

They start it out with:

Do you film videos for your YouTube, TikTok, or other social media site? If you shoot video on property managed by the National Park Service and your site is monetized, look out! Ditto for still photos that you end up posting. A recent court ruling says anyone who has the “intent of generating income” from video shot in national parks—and other lands managed by the Service—must receive advanced permission to do so. Shoot without a permit and post it, you may find yourself in the crosshairs of the law.

"The simple act of photographing or videotaping a funny animal in, for example,Yellowstone, and then posting it online may once again be illegal just because a permit was not obtained beforehand."

To read more, go here. 

Snow Closes Mesa Verde National Park

Above, the deck furniture this morning. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The snow continued overnight here in Jamestown, New Mexico.

The Four Corners region got snow of varying amounts. Looking at the yard, it looks like we got about 1-2 inches of it. But further north of here (166 miles) is Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. The park got so much that it had to close.

From The Journal:

Southwest Colorado saw heavy snow overnight and caused the closure of Mesa Verde National Park.

The park closed for the day because of impassable roads, said the park’s deputy superintendent, Bill Nelligan. The Visitor and Research Center, lodges and restaurants are closed for the day.

Morefield Campground got 10 inches of snow overnight, Nelligan said.

One of the park’s two heavy-duty snowplows is broken down, making it more challenging to get ahead of the snow as it piles up, Nelligan said.

Above, the front porch. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The snows will continue over the New Year's weekend and into next week.

To read more, go here. 

Best Places To Visit In Colorado

Above, Mesa Verde National Park is one of the best places to visit. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Living within a "stone's throw" of the Four Corners in the Southwest U.S. provides plenty of places to see and things to do.  

One of them is the state of Colorado, which is about three hours (or less) away.  If one enjoys camping, Colorado has plenty of places to camp at.

I have been to Colorado several times during the past four years, most recently in September to see the John Wayne Cancer Foundation's half marathon runs near Ridgway (where scenes in True Grit (1969) were filmed. 

The Planet D has an article on 29 best places to visit in Colorado.

They start it with:

It is no exaggeration to say that there are hundreds of amazing places to visit in Colorado. Colorado is an incredible US destination, with some of the best outdoor activities. You could head to a mountain town and enjoy activities like hiking, horseback riding, fly fishing, rock climbing, and mountain biking. Or, head to one of Colorado’s amazing cities. Colorado has plenty of cultural activities as well.

So, where are the best places to visit in Colorado? Sure, visit famous destinations like Rocky Mountain National Park, but this guide includes a mix of the popular and lesser-known. We’ll introduce you to the top 29 places to visit in Colorado – let’s dive straight in.

To read more, go here. 

What To See From Durango To Mesa Verde

Above, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

With less than a month of summer vacation left, people may be scrambling to travel somewhere.

If those reading this are in this category, here's a suggestion. Visit Durango, Colorado and Mesa Verde National Park along with points in-between.

I recently took a trip to Durango and rode the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Along with riding the train to Silverton, we also went to the Bar D Chuckwagon and Show in Durango.

Above, yours truly stepping out of the historic Strater Hotel. It is number 10 on the list. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

There are other things to see and do in the southwest corner of Colorado and The Travel lists ten of them.

They begin with:

Traveling from Durango, Colorado, to Mesa Verde National Park will take around an hour by car – it’s so quick that most people just pass by some interesting attractions between these places. Travelers will pass by the communities of Hesperus and Mancos, plus the ghost town of Mayday. A driving tour from Durango to Mesa Verde will let guests enjoy the breeze of the La Plata Mountains and the towns' hospitality.

The adventure starts in tourist-friendly Durango, where a couple of attractions can be seen. The small town of Hesperus follows, famous for its ski area. Next is Mancos, dubbed the “Gateway to Mesa Verde.” That’s more than 50 miles of satisfying Colorado memories.

To read more, go here. 

Experiencing Mesa Verde National Park In An RV

Above, Square Tower House. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Mesa Verde National Park is located in the southwest corner of Colorado. The nearest towns are Cortez and Mancos. 

It is a national park whose focus is on manmade dwellings by ancient Native Americans instead of natural features. I was last there two years ago.

TravelAwaits has posted an article with eight tips on visiting Mesa Verde National Park in an RV.

The article makes one error. It states there's no concessionaire there and to bring your own food and beverages. Aramark is the concessionaire and there are restaurants and snack bars in Mesa Verde.

Above, at camp at the Cortez KOA Kampground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

That aside, the article does provide some useful information including restaurants and campgrounds in nearby towns. We stayed at the KOA Kampground in Cortez.

The article begins with:

Mesa Verde National Park is found on Colorado’s Western border and is one of the most unique parks in the collection. You’ll discover, among other amazing sights, the amazing and sacred Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings, where the ancient Indigenous people lived for over 700 years, from A.D. 550 to 1300. 

The park consists of 52,073 acres of federal land. Totally deserted by A.D. 1300 (no one knows exactly why, but warfare seems to be a factor), President Teddy Roosevelt made the pristine landscape a national park on June 29, 1906.

Mesa Verde National Park is within an hour’s drive from Durango and Dolores, both of which make excellent home bases for your RV travels. Here are some tips for visiting the park in an RV, plus suggestions for where to stay and eat along the way.

To read the full article, go here. 

To access the National Park Service's official website for Mesa Verde National Park, go here.

Best Ways To Explore Mesa Verde National Park

Above, Spruce Tree House. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If one finds themselves in the Four Corners region of the Southwest, a visit to Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado is a must.

It is a national park not highlighting unique terrains, but ancient history of Native Americans.

The Travel has posted an article on the eight best ways to explore Mesa Verde National Park.

They begin it with:

Mesa Verde national park is one of the best places to enjoy an exciting archaeological experience and some adventures as well. The unique landscape was inhabited more than a thousand years ago by an ancient community of people known as the Ancestral Pueblo people and much of their amazing deeds can still be seen to this day. The park covering an area of 52,485 acres is endowed with some of the most important archaeological sites in the United States as well as unique cliff dwellings of these Ancestral Pueblo people. Exploring this region full of history requires a lot of time and these are the best ways to begin that exploration. 

To read more, go here. 

National Parks Remained Popular During Pandemic

Above, I visited Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado during the first year of the pandemic. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is no secret that during the pandemic people craving getting out from the four walls headed out into the great outdoors, especially to a national park.

In fact, the national parks maintained their popularity during the pandemic.

According to TravelPulse:

National Parks continued to be popular with U.S. travelers during the pandemic.

Data from ValuePenguin shows that these treasured spaces recovered 91 percent of their pre-pandemic visitation in 2021 despite COVID-19. In fact, some places out-performed their previous numbers, likely due to the fact that spending time outdoors became even more popular with the spread of the coronavirus.

To read more, go here. 

Colorado Outdoor Adventures "Bucket List"

Above, Square Tower House at Mesa Verde National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Now that the airlines have messed up holiday travel, one can bet that more people will shun flying during vacation season and take to the road instead.

The Gazette has posted an article of a "bucket list" of 8 great destinations in the state of Colorado. 

Granted, while the 8 items are worthy of consideration, the list hardly scratches the surface of things to see and do in Colorado.

They start it with:

The past two years, due to day-to-day changes brought on by the pandemic, many Coloradans have found more time and freedom to cross off their outdoor bucket list.

But the opportunities are endless in every colorful corner of this state. Some ideas for your new year:

To read more, go here.

Saving Mesa Verde's Spruce Tree House

Above, Spruce Tree House at Mesa Verde National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last year, I paid a visit to Mesa Verde National Park in southwestern Colorado. During the visit, one of the ancient cliff dwellings visited was Spruce Tree House. It is one of the more popular cliff dwellings in the park due to its easy access.

However, a big slab of sandstone rock above the cliff dwelling is on the verge of collapse. Park officials have been trying to figure out how to stabilize the rock and save Spruce Tree House.

The Durango Telegram reported:

It’s not going to be easy: Mesa Verde National Park is about to try and stop a massive slab of sandstone from collapsing and destroying one of the most prized cliff dwellings in the park, Spruce Tree House.

In October 2015, park officials were forced to close Spruce Tree House to visitors after a series of rock falls made it too dangerous for people to enter the iconic alcove. Mesa Verde is home to some of the most notable and best-preserved cliff dwellings in the world, but Spruce Tree House, the third-largest cliff dwelling in the park, is by far the most visited because of its easy access.

The ancestral Puebloan people built these massive and thriving communities between the years 900-1250 in protected alcoves – large, arched recesses in the cliff wall. But, over the years, park officials have been concerned the rock structures above and around the alcoves are increasingly at risk of erosion and other geological forces.

For the past six years, Mesa Verde has undertaken an exhaustive effort to figure out how best to stabilize the failing sandstone above Spruce Tree House – not just to make it safe for the public, but also to save the cliff dwelling underneath. Those plans are coming together, said project manager Allan Loy, but there’s still a ways to go.

To read more, go here. 

10 Places To Visit While RV Camping In Colorado

Above, Anasazi cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last September, Mitch Geriminsky and I took a camping trip into Colorado. While there, we rode the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, visited Silverton, Ouray, Ridgway, Cortez and Mesa Verde National Park.

Thankfully, there weren't any crowds to contend with as we went during the early off-season. There are many more things to see and do in Colorado for RV campers and RV Life has posted ten of them.

They begin with:

Colorado is a beautiful state and on the bucket list of many travelers. From towering majestic mountains to charming small towns, this state is a mecca for the outdoor enthusiast, foodie, or cultural diva.

The next time you are RV camping in Colorado, check out these 10 destinations for great hiking, historic sites, and more. Plan your travels with RV Trip Wizard and the RV LIFE App to find more campgrounds, RV parks, and other points of interest along the way.

To see what places they recommend, go here. 

National Park Service Waiving Entrance Fees Tomorrow

Above, entrance fees to Mesa Verde National Park and other national
 parks are to be waived tomorrow only. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If you have some free time tomorrow, you may want to take a trip to a national park and get in free.

The National Park Service is celebrating its 105th birthday tomorrow and entrance fees are to be waived in celebration. That means all national parks, monuments, historic sites and other parks that the National Park Service administers.

This is a one day only fee waiver.

Things To Do In Cortez, Colorado

Above, Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last September, Mitch Geriminsky and I took a camping trip around southwest Colorado. 

Some of the places we visited were Durango, Ouray, Ridgway, Silverton and Cortez.

While staying at the KOA Kampground in Cortez, we took a daytrip to Mesa Verde National Park. Also, while in Cortez, we did some exploring of a big antique store called the Antique Corral. 

Above, a big collection of yard statuary at Antique Corral. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There are other things to do in and near Cortez and TravelAwaits posted an article on them.

They begin with:

At the foot of the unmistakable silhouette of the Mesa Verde land formation, the small town of Cortez in Colorado lies among the richest archaeological centers of the U.S. Southwest. Steeped in the history of the Ancestral Puebloan people, Cortez offers a glimpse into their lives through the surrounding sites, from the world-famous Mesa Verde to Crow Canyon, and small sites you’ve never heard of.

In the center of it all, Cortez offers the best base for exploring them while learning about the ancient people who lived in the Four Corners area. Though I have visited the area often over the years, I still find new things to discover every time.

To explore the ancient sites surrounding Cortez, you’ll need at least a few days. But if you enjoy the archaeology of the Southwest, you might stay longer or return over and over. You can start with the following things to do in and around Cortez. 

To read more, go here.