RV Travel: The Fence That Won The West

Above, barbed wire fence next to Six Mile Canyon Road in Jamestown, New Mexico. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Barbed wire. Where I live in New Mexico there's plenty of it around.

There's cattle pastures near our community, especially along Six Mile Canyon Road that takes people to Six Mile Canyon of the Cibola National Forest. 

The reason I am mentioning barbed wire is that RV Travel posted an article on the "devil's rope." They also call it "the fence that won the West." 

The article begins with:

Mention the words “barbed wire,” and I immediately envision growing up on our Iowa farm. Those barbs snagged my chore clothes countless times!

I didn’t fully appreciate barbed wire as a child. Nor did I know then what I now know: There are two (yes, two!) museums dedicated to barbed wire—one in Kansas and one in Texas—and both have become popular roadside attractions for RVers who enjoy discovering America’s history.

You may not have a high interest in or memories of barbed wire, like me. However, the museums dedicated to this invention are worth a stop along your way.

To read more, go here. 

RV Travel: Barbed Wire Tamed The Wild West

Above, barbed wire fencing along Six Mile Canyon Road. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since I moved to New Mexico five years ago, when driving around in and near the Six Mile Canyon area of the Cibola National Forest, I've noticed barbed wire fencing of different types. I have been to museums where many kinds of it are on display.

Chuck Woodbury at RV Travel has an article on "The Fencing That Tamed The Wild West".

It begins with:

 One of my favorite things to do when traveling with my RV is to visit rural pioneer museums.

Most are not very exciting—old photos, antique plows, a replica of a kitchen from 100 years ago, maybe an old dentist chair complete with barbaric-looking tools that always scare the pee out of me just looking at them.

But at many museums, you can learn a lot about things you might never think much about otherwise. For example, I once visited the Barbed Wire Museum in La Crosse, Kansas. Now, maybe you think that barbed wire is a boring subject. Well, I beg to differ with you! When you drive around the rural American West, you see it everywhere. But what you may not know is how important barbed wire was to the development of the modern West and the end of the cowboy era.

To read more, go here. 

Some Fence-Mendin' Needed

Above, a cut section of barbed wire fencing next to a locked gate next to Six Mile Canyon Road. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This afternoon, I spent my time wandering around the area in the Jeep.

First, I drove up Maverick Road in the new Mesa Ridge Ranch subdivision to see if there were any more construction going on. There was none.

Above, at Maverick Road and Cow Trail in Mesa Ridge Ranch. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Then, I headed to Six Mile Canyon Road to where the road turns south towards the canyon in Cibola National Forest. The canyon will be closed for the winter on December 15, one month from tomorrow.

Above, downed barbed wire fencing next to Six Mile Canyon Road. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I stopped and looked at the downed barbed wire fencing along Six Mile Canyon Road that is not far from Interstate 40. It looks like whoever owns it has some fence-mending to do. The posts looked pretty weather-beaten.

Above, the Jeep at the cut fence section next to a locked gate. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There is one small section of fencing that appeared to have been cut by someone. It is right next to a locked gate. Having a locked gate is useless if the fencing it is connected to is cut.

Above, the mesas from Six Mile Canyon Road. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I figured I'd do some driving today as I have things to do in Gallup tomorrow.

Above, Jamestown from Six Mile Canyon Road, looking east. Photo by Armand Vaquer.