The Road Less Traveled

This picture inspires me, calms me and centers me.  When I need to relax and dream during a hectic time, I imagine the road less traveled and where I would take it.  Where does the road less traveled take you?

Lesser Prairie Chickens and "The Dance"

What a great way to start a day, visiting a Lek in Colorado.  A Lek is an area where the prairie birds and some animals carry on display and courtship behavior.  There are quite a few leks in Colorado and it is quite an adventure.




When you wake up before dark it makes you wonder what you are doing; as you arrive before sunrise and hear the distinctive bird calls it all becomes clear.   As the sky brightens you can start to make out the birds and at daylight you see "The Dance".




I watch in amazement as the birds bob their heads and then side step to get attention.  Many males dance in front of the female vying for her interest.  Sometimes the females just seem to not care, but the males still dance.  This species is decreasing in number and I feel fortunate that our group got to see 16 birds.

Within an hour or so the female birds fly from the lek and the males just stop where they stand.  What a show!

La Veta, Colorado

La Veta, the vein, served as a vital lifeline a century ago; the town was originally a busy trading center, supplying the nearby area with goods.  Today it is a lovely small town with friendly people and a great place to stop when visiting southern Colorado.

La Veta is surrounded by the Great Dikes.  These volcanic formations are made from granite and radiate out from West Spanish Peaks.  They are about four miles long, one hundred feet high, and vary from 20-30 feet thick.  These Dikes are known as the Devil's Stairstep or Stairway to Heaven.

A must do near La Veta is to take a drive south on Highway 12, a Colorado Scenic Byway called the Highway of Legends.  As you drive this two-lane road, you will pass from small towns to ranches (with free range cattle - watch for them on the road) forests to valleys and beautiful lakes and rock formations.  We saw many bird species attracted to the area by streams and lakes and even saw a black bear, what a nice surprise.

We drove up to Cuchara Pass on the shoulder of the Spanish Peaks and were treated to a fantastic view.   It is a great way to spend some time seeing another side to Colorado.

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

A visit to the Great Sand Dunes is quite an experience.  This park is home to the tallest dunes in North America, rising up to 750 feet from the base.  The sand covers about 30 square miles nestled at the bottom of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range.

One of the unique activities offered in the park is sand boarding or sand sledding on the dunes.  Keep in mind that in the summer months it is very hot and that it takes approximately an hour to climb up the dune for the ride, make sure to dress properly.



Medano creek, which runs along the southern edge of the dunes, can provide a welcome place to splash and cool off.  Check with the website to get flow readings,  in the hot months this creek may not exist.



In the picture above you can get an idea of just how massive this area is; there are three groups of people walking to the dunes.



With the backdrop of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and fertile San Luis Valley nearby this is a great place to take photos.  If you are traveling in a 4x4, take a drive on Medano pass road for even more picture taking opportunities.  Again, check the website for current road conditions.

http://www.nps.gov/grsa/index.htm

Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde National Park, located in Southwestern Colorado, is an amazing link to the past and a peek into the lives of the Ancestral Puebloans who lived there.  This park was established in 1906 to "preserve the works of man."  The work continues today with over 4,700 archaeological sites being studied and preserved.

In the photo below you can see a column of indentations, known as hand and foot holds, these are the "stairs" from one level to the next in the cliff dwellings.

The park is famous for the 600 cliff dwellings in the area but there are numerous mesa top sites as well.  Current archeological work is being done throughout the park, (above) they are excavating and cataloguing the ruins at The Far View complex.  It is believed that the Ancestral Puebloans lived at Far View for 200 years before the building of the cliff dwellings and continued occupying it after as well.

If you would like more information about the research being conducted visit:

http://www.visitmesaverde.com/vacation-attractions/archeological-sites.aspx

Canyon de Chelley National Monument - Step Back in Time

If you find yourself in Northeast Arizona, a must see is the Canyon de Chelley NM.  For the ultimate experience I recommend taking horses and riding into the canyon.  If horses are not your style they have jeep tours also. 

The only access to this wonderful place is with a Navajo Guide and it is a step back in time.  

This area is Navajo country and many of the families call this place home.  Ranching and farming are a way of life and the preservation of their ancestors traditions are passed down from generation to generation.  As you wind through the canyon, your guide will relay the meanings of the petroglyphs and places that were important with day-to-day living.  One of many fascinating things we learned was the communication areas where messages were relayed.  The acoustics in these areas allowed the sound to be amplified by bouncing off the rock formations.  It was also fun to hear your voice echo miles through the canyon and up to 9 times, fun!

Along side the locals are signs of the past.  If you look carefully (above), you can see cliff dwellings under the rock ledge.  These are located throughout the canyon and were a great preview of things to come...Mesa Verde National Park. 

Grand Canyon National Park

Williams, Arizona, Gateway to the Grand Canyon, is a very picturesque mountain town with Route 66 as the Main Street!  It is about 60 miles south of the Grand Canyon on Highway 64 and provides the closest lodging to the Grand Canyon without staying in the National Park itself.


From Williams, a short 59-mile drive north will put the splendor of the Grand Canyon before your eyes. Once there, you'll grasp why this 190-miles long, one-mile deep mammoth formation covering 1,900 square miles is hailed as one of the world's seven natural wonders.


We biked on the south rim where no hikers or cars are allowed and it was magnificent.  It was along this route that I saw my first California Condor and it was so exciting!  We were able to find one of the nest sites and see two of them flying over the Canyon....a birder's dream.

The Ghost Town that's Still Alive - Chloride, Arizona

This is the view from Chloride, Arizona "the land of far horizons" and you can see why.  The name of this town came from the silver chloride found and mined in the hills.  It is a great place to stop and see how the locals live among the "ghosts".  There are many trails nearby to hike, bike and walk and even some petroglyphs above town - ask a local about them.  A visitor center is located in the Mine Shaft Market and is a great way to learn about the area.

Wildlife was a little scarce in the heat of the desert but we had many Jack rabbits and California Quail to keep us entertained.

Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve in Nevada

This little Jewel in the desert outside of Las Vegas is a nature lovers paradise and a great getaway if the strip becomes too much.  Located in Henderson, Nevada, about 40 minutes south of Las Vegas, the Preserve centers around the City's Wastewater Reclamation Facility.  The location is on the eastern edge of the Pacific Flyway and with it being the third largest body of water in Southern Nevada makes this an ideal place for migrating birds as well as a variety of native birds.

The preserve is 140 acres and is comprised of 9 ponds making access easy to view the birds.  Take advantage of the tower to see the preserve from above and get an idea of where to go.  Make sure to check in at the Nature Center for the list of special sightings and interesting finds for the day.

For more information go to: http://www.cityofhenderson.com/parks/parks/bird_preserve.php

Yosemite National Park is Calling Me Again

I find myself in Yosemite National Park for the third time and am entranced by its beauty.  This trip I went to Half Dome, El Capitan and the falls but really wanted to spend more time at the south entrance of the park in Mariposa Grove near Wawona, CA.  This grove is comprised of 500 Giant Sequoia trees that can be as much as 3,000 years old.  The famous Grizzly Giant is estimated to be 2,700 years old, has a diameter of 30 feet, a circumference of 90 feet and stands 209 feet tall.  This tree is a must see when visiting the park.  Note the size of the visitors compared to the tree....wow!

There are numerous trails throughout the area and when "getting off the beaten path" I found some large trees and interesting sights.  One of the trees had been struck by lightning and was completely gutted and yet still alive, large enough for me to stand in and see to the sky, quite an experience.

If you too find yourself in Yosemite NP, try to make a visit to Mariposa Grove and the land of Giant Sequoias.

Countdown to the Bird Count

The 16th Annual Great Backyard Bird Count is coming!  Mark your calendar for February 15-18, 2013.

Guides-To-Go would love to have you on their team to count the birds on Saturday, February 16, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
 
North Shields Ponds in Fort Collins, CO.

Join Guide Dee DeJong to view a short presentation about the GBBC and go over some bird identification tips. Then take an easy, 1.5 mile walk to count the birds. Dress for the weather and bring your own binoculars and water. We’ll return, get warm and enjoy refreshments as we create a report to submit to the GBBC website. 
Cost: Free, donations welcome; Ages: 6 through adult (children must be accompanied by an adult). Limit: 12. 

Please RSVP to save a spot! 
Contact: Dee DeJong (720) 838-3277 or guidestogo2003@gmail.com.

Alcatraz – Not just a Prison but a Sanctuary

When I think about Alcatraz it makes me think of negative things: prison, cold, dark, criminals and yet I had to see it. As we ferried the half hour to get to the island, my mind was racing with thoughts. The prisoners who tried to swim in these rushing eddies of water to escape, the fog surrounding the buildings and how painfully lonely it must have been, the dock for arriving prisoners who may never step foot on it again. I envisioned myself never getting off this island, sobering.

As I toured and learned more about this place my thoughts began to brighten. I learned about the waterbirds of Alcatraz. Long before this place became a prison it was a sanctuary for the birds. In fact, Alcatraz comes from the word, alcatraces, which means seabirds. After the prison was closed in 1963, without the human disturbance once again, the birds returned. The island is a safe place for over 5,000 nesting birds including Pigeon Guillemots, Brandt's Cormorants and Western Gulls. In the gardens near the parade grounds, a beautiful Anna's Hummingbird was flitting about, drinking from the plants nurtured by volunteers.

If you have the opportunity to see this National Historic Landmark in the bay of San Francisco, enjoy the rich history as well as the birds.

I did step on the dock again and as the island receded from my view, I was left with the happy memories of seeing those wonderful waterbirds of Alcatraz.

Participate in the 16th Annual Great Backyard Bird Count on February 16th in Ft. Collins!

Here's your chance to count local and migrating birds on Saturday, Feb. 16th, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. with expert naturalist Dee DeJong, Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) and founder of Guides-To-Go, Nature Where You Are. DeJong is conducting the bird count in your "backyard" (North Shields Pond Natural Area, 1333 North Shields Street, Fort Collins) in conjunction with the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC). The GBBC is an annual 4-day event that engages birdwatchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are.

You'll learn how to identify birds, why it's important to count birds, and much more in this fun and educational event. You'll take an easy, 1.5-mile walk to count the birds, so dress for the weather and bring your own binoculars and water. Afterward, you'll enjoy refreshments (and get warm) at Guides-To-Go headquarters while helping create a report to submit to the GBBC.

This event is free, but donations are welcome. Birdwatchers of all skill levels are invited. Children aged 6 and up must be accompanied by an adult. This event is limited to the first 12 participants, so RSVP to save your spot by Friday, Feb. 15th, by calling 720-838-3277 or emailing guidestogo2003@gmail.com.

The GBBC is a joint project of The Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Audubon Society. For more information, visit http://www.birdsource.org/gbb.

Happy New Year from Guides-To-Go!

This 2013 remember to get outdoors and get a breath of fresh air now and then. Here are some easy and free ways to take advantage of our wild places this year in Colorado. See you out there, GTG

www.guides-to-go.blogspot.com

U.S. National Parks: Fee Free Entrance Days in 2013 (Nationwide)
Every year, the National Park Service selects days to offer fee free entrance to over a hundred national parks that normally charge a fee to visit. There are so many different parks to choose from, I’m sure you will find one near you. Fee waiver includes: entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees.

The dates for 2013 include:

January 21 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

April 22-26 - National Park Week

August 25 - National Park Service Birthday

September 28 - National Public Lands Day

November 9-11 - Veterans Day weekend

http://www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm

Passport to the Natural Areas in Fort Collins, Colorado

Celebrate 20 years of natural areas with the new Passport to the Natural Areas! It is a checklist of natural areas to visit and free activities. Complete your passport for a prize and to be entered into a drawing for a backpack full of outdoor supplies. To learn more email naturalareas@fcgov.com or call the Natural Areas Department at 970-416-2815.

http://www.fcgov.com/naturalareas/

2013 SCFD Free Days Denver, Colorado
These organizations provide free admission to Colorado residents on select days of the year. 
Free Days 2013 is funded, in part, by the citizens of Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield,
Denver, Douglas and Jefferson counties via the SCFD 0.1% sales and use tax.

Denver Botanic Gardens:

January 21

February 18

March 27

April 22

July 9

August 27

October 7

November 2

Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield:

January 4
February 1
March 1
April 5
May 3

June 7

August 2

November 1

Denver Zoo:

January 11

January 12

January 23

February 3

February 4

February 21

November 4

November 15

November 21

http://www.scfd.org/?page=home&sub=4

WHAT IS THERE TO DO?

Amazing FREE Live Music all Weekend (two tents)

Coffin Racing

Costume Polar Plunging

Frozen T-shirt Contests

Ice Turkey Bowling

The Blue Ball (live band)

Dead Guy Tours

Brain Freeze Contests

Parade of Hearses

Frozen Salmon Toss

Snowy Beach Volleyball

Snow Ball Quick Draw- NEW this year!

http://frozendeadguydays.org/