24 August 2007
Chromatic
pool
Splendid Geyser
Belgian
Pool
Nice road !!!
Chromatic
pool
Splendid Geyser
Belgian
Pool
Nice road !!!
Saturday August 25, 2007
Old Faithful erupts!
This make take a moment to load. If you have never seen it, the steam is over 200 feet high, it last 3 to 5 minutes depending on how long and how intense the last eruption was.
Old Faithful erupts!
This make take a moment to load. If you have never seen it, the steam is over 200 feet high, it last 3 to 5 minutes depending on how long and how intense the last eruption was.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
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As you are driving along I-395, you see the mountain in the distance.
When Crazy Horse was asked, "Where are your lands now?", Crazy Horse replied,
"My lands are where my dead lie buried."
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He is pointing to his land.
From inside the Visitor Center is this view of what the mountain will eventually look like.
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This picture, in the studio, shows how the completed project will look.
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Korczak Ziolkowski - the sculptor who envisioned the design and began the work. He was invited by Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear to do the carving. He arrived in the Black Hills on May 3, 1947 to accept the Indian's invitation. He started work on the mountain in 1949. He was almost 40 years old and had only $174 left to his name. Over the decades, he battled financial hardships, racial prejudice, injuries and advancing age. He believed in the free enterprise system, he felt Crazy Horse should be non-profit, educational, and cultural; a humanitarian project built by the interested public, and not the tax payer.
Some of the master sculptor's other pieces on display.
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This mahogany horse was carved in nine days.
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This motorcycle was raffled off to raise money. Crazy Horse monument is NOT funded by the government - only private donations keep the project going.
The motorcycle was taken to the top of the mountain for this photograph.
On August 10th, a couple of weeks ago, the winner was announced.
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These beads came from an Italian manufacturer, were transported over the oceans specifically for trading with Indians.
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Some very unique bead work on display.
In the artist's studio, is this Deadwood stagecoach.
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Every night at 9 pm, the park puts on a Laser Show lasting about twenty minutes, rain or shine. We almost didn't go because of all the thunder and lightening that night. But we only had this one chance, and luckily it didn't rain - we enjoyed the show. Came down in buckets five minutes later though, as we were driving back to camp.
Images were displayed on the side of the mountain. We were over a half a mile, maybe a mile away from the mountain. The images were huge. When you consider Mt. Rushmore would be able to fit inside Crazy Horse's head, this will give you some scale as to how large the images were.
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_____________________________________________________
As you are driving along I-395, you see the mountain in the distance.
When Crazy Horse was asked, "Where are your lands now?", Crazy Horse replied,
"My lands are where my dead lie buried."
____________________________________________________
He is pointing to his land.
From inside the Visitor Center is this view of what the mountain will eventually look like.
______________________________________________________
This picture, in the studio, shows how the completed project will look.
___________________________________________________
Korczak Ziolkowski - the sculptor who envisioned the design and began the work. He was invited by Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear to do the carving. He arrived in the Black Hills on May 3, 1947 to accept the Indian's invitation. He started work on the mountain in 1949. He was almost 40 years old and had only $174 left to his name. Over the decades, he battled financial hardships, racial prejudice, injuries and advancing age. He believed in the free enterprise system, he felt Crazy Horse should be non-profit, educational, and cultural; a humanitarian project built by the interested public, and not the tax payer.
Some of the master sculptor's other pieces on display.
____________________________________________________
This mahogany horse was carved in nine days.
_____________________________________________________
This motorcycle was raffled off to raise money. Crazy Horse monument is NOT funded by the government - only private donations keep the project going.
The motorcycle was taken to the top of the mountain for this photograph.
On August 10th, a couple of weeks ago, the winner was announced.
____________________________________________________
These beads came from an Italian manufacturer, were transported over the oceans specifically for trading with Indians.
___________________________________________________
Some very unique bead work on display.
In the artist's studio, is this Deadwood stagecoach.
____________________________________________________
Every night at 9 pm, the park puts on a Laser Show lasting about twenty minutes, rain or shine. We almost didn't go because of all the thunder and lightening that night. But we only had this one chance, and luckily it didn't rain - we enjoyed the show. Came down in buckets five minutes later though, as we were driving back to camp.
Images were displayed on the side of the mountain. We were over a half a mile, maybe a mile away from the mountain. The images were huge. When you consider Mt. Rushmore would be able to fit inside Crazy Horse's head, this will give you some scale as to how large the images were.
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Sunday, August 19, 2007
Our first view of Mt. Rushmore was through a tunnel cut through the rock on Highway 16a. In all, there were a total of 3 tunnels, each with it's own spectacular view.
How was Mt. Rushmore named?
Mt. Rushmore was named after a New York lawyer, Charles E. Rushmore, who was in the Black Hills in 1885 researching mining camps for area mining companies. The official name change occured on July 4, 1930, by the U.S. Board of Geographic names.
Driving for miles along the highway, the monument is visible through trees in unexpected places. You just have to keep an eye out.
You come to an opening, and there it is, in all it's glory.
What are the dimensions of the heads?
Face: Approx. 60 feet from the chin to the top of the head.
Eye: Approx. 11 feet across.
Nose: Approx. 20 feet (except Washington's which is 21 feet).
Mouth: Approx. 18 feet across.
The faces are scaled to a figure 465 feet tall. The full sculpture is 185 feet across and 150 feet tall.
How long did it take to carve the mountain?
The sculpture took 14 years. Work began on October 4, 1927, and ended on October 31, 1941. Considering delays from weather and interrupted funding, the actual time spent working was a total of 6 1/2 years.
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Gutzon Borglum - Sculptor of Mt. Rushmore.
For Borglum, Washington represented the BIRTH of our country, since he was our first president. Jefferson, symbolized EXPANSION, he was largely responsible for the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. The sculptor chose Lincoln to embody the PRESERVATION of the Union of States in confronting the challenges of the Civil War. Theodore Roosevelt represented the DEVELOPMENT of our country with the construction of the Panama Canal.
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Inside the museum are shown various tools and procedures used to create the monument.
Chandelier hanging in the cafeteria shows men in Bosun Chairs doing the carving.
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Lou, bigger than life, camera in hand.
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Quite a splendid walkway they've created, displaying the flags of each of the states.
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As we were leaving, we got another view - the profile of Washington. If you read the plate above, it tells how Jefferson was originally to be on Washington's right side, but due to the poor rock quality, had to be moved to his left side. The work which started on Jefferson had to be blasted away, and as a result, created this unexpected profile of Washington.
The Black Hills are truly beautiful!
____________________________________________________
Our first view of Mt. Rushmore was through a tunnel cut through the rock on Highway 16a. In all, there were a total of 3 tunnels, each with it's own spectacular view.
How was Mt. Rushmore named?
Mt. Rushmore was named after a New York lawyer, Charles E. Rushmore, who was in the Black Hills in 1885 researching mining camps for area mining companies. The official name change occured on July 4, 1930, by the U.S. Board of Geographic names.
Driving for miles along the highway, the monument is visible through trees in unexpected places. You just have to keep an eye out.
You come to an opening, and there it is, in all it's glory.
What are the dimensions of the heads?
Face: Approx. 60 feet from the chin to the top of the head.
Eye: Approx. 11 feet across.
Nose: Approx. 20 feet (except Washington's which is 21 feet).
Mouth: Approx. 18 feet across.
The faces are scaled to a figure 465 feet tall. The full sculpture is 185 feet across and 150 feet tall.
How long did it take to carve the mountain?
The sculpture took 14 years. Work began on October 4, 1927, and ended on October 31, 1941. Considering delays from weather and interrupted funding, the actual time spent working was a total of 6 1/2 years.
____________________________________________________
Gutzon Borglum - Sculptor of Mt. Rushmore.
For Borglum, Washington represented the BIRTH of our country, since he was our first president. Jefferson, symbolized EXPANSION, he was largely responsible for the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. The sculptor chose Lincoln to embody the PRESERVATION of the Union of States in confronting the challenges of the Civil War. Theodore Roosevelt represented the DEVELOPMENT of our country with the construction of the Panama Canal.
____________________________________________________
Inside the museum are shown various tools and procedures used to create the monument.
Chandelier hanging in the cafeteria shows men in Bosun Chairs doing the carving.
_____________________________________________________
Lou, bigger than life, camera in hand.
______________________________________________________
Quite a splendid walkway they've created, displaying the flags of each of the states.
_______________________________________________________
As we were leaving, we got another view - the profile of Washington. If you read the plate above, it tells how Jefferson was originally to be on Washington's right side, but due to the poor rock quality, had to be moved to his left side. The work which started on Jefferson had to be blasted away, and as a result, created this unexpected profile of Washington.
The Black Hills are truly beautiful!
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Yep, we're off to see the gorge and the bridge.
Click any image to see a larger view.
The first view is pretty amazing. We are on the East side of the bridge.
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The first part of our tour started with the
incline,
which descends into the gorge at a 45 degree angle. The
funicular,
uses three rails. Each car uses two of the three until they pass in the middle of the trip, where there are four rails to allow for passing.
It is steep. This photo looks down from the top.
Once at the bottom, you are 1053 feet below the bridge!
Looking North up river.
Looking down river.
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Looking up 1053 feet at the suspension bridge.
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After returning to the top, our next leg of the journey was the Sky tram.
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Arriving on the west side the gorge, Deinna took a breather. She can never find a chair where her feet reach the floor.
I, of course, was busy checking our position.
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This White buffalo (where is Charles Bronson when you need him?) is one of the many animals on display on the west side - along with elk, moose and goats.
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One of the really fun things to do on the west side is the Skycoaster, which hurls you out over the gorge at 50 MPH. I did want
so bad
to do this, but on this particular day, I was wearing the wrong color shorts.
This young lady prepares for launch.
Yes, she was screaming!
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Deinna starts off on the return trip. The bridge is 18 feet wide. You can drive your car , motorcycle, or just walk - there is also a trolley that will take you across both ways.
The flags of all the states are flown across the bridge. Here, I try to hold the Pennsylvania flag still, as the wind is
really
blowing up here.
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Another way to see the gorge is by white-water rafting down the Arkansas river - way down there below the bridge .
And of course, what every good gorge needs is a
great train ride
on the Rio Grand Railroad.
There is a helicopter also available.
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Deinna reaches the center of the span - you can see by how low the cable is to the bridge.
Also at the center, you can see how large the cable is - my hand is next to a splice made in a single strand - there are 2,100 strands in each cable.
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Returning back to the east side, we found the marker that tells some of the history of the gorge.
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The National Park entrance to the Canyon de Chelly (pronounced Shay). A cathedral of towering red cliffs, Spider Rock, the 800 foot free standing spire, and a quilt of colors far below where the ancient Navajo people lived.
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This is a hogan. To the Navajo, this is both a home and a ceremonial place. This is a cribbed log hogan. With a domed, earthen roof, this hogan will remain a cool 50 to 70 degrees even when outside temperatures rise above 90 degrees.
Interior of Hogan
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Our first view of the canyon was from the top of the rim, before we took a tour. This is "Mummy Cave" overlook, where two mummies were discovered. The lack of moisture in the air, and being protected from the elements by the overhangs, contributed to the mumification process. This photo and the next were taken from the same spot, with the same lens. Here, the lens was zoomed to a full 200mm.
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In this view, the lens is at 18mm. We are 600 feet above the canyon floor.
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Horses on the road. This is a common sight in Navajo country. There are NO signs posted telling drivers there might be livestock close-by. Drivers be aware!
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We chose to take a private 3 1/2 hour jeep tour. As we begin, Harris, our Navajo guide, pointed out that, at this point, you can literally step onto the top of the canyon rim, or the canyon floor. The canyon rises from a few feet here, to over 700 feet at some of it's highest points.
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As we venture further into the canyon, you can see how the rim is beginning to rise. No one is allowed to enter the canyon except for the Navajo residents, paying customers on the jeep and the horseback tours, and those with permission on one walking tour. The Navajo people have owned this land and passed it down for generations. Our guide, Harris, will someday own land here, as his grandparents still live here, on their own 40 acres. They live in one of the farthest canyons.
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Pictographs or Petroglyphs? The difference - petroglyphs are chipped into the rocks - pictographs are paintings on the rocks. Here we show petroglyphs chipped into the surface of the red canyon wall.
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Harris is explaining the petroglyphs to Deinna on our first stop.
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This is the White House ruin built by ancient Puebloan people. It is named for the long wall in the upper dwelling that is covered with white plaster. We are standing about 200 feet in front of the ruin on the canyon floor.
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This is another picture of the White House ruin taken from the canyon rim at an elevation of 700 feet. The ruin is located on the left at approximately 10 o'clock at the small break in the tree line, under the rock overhang. Try clicking on the image to enlarge, making it easier to locate.
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Like everywhere else in this area, the horses and cows roam free.
Not that seeing $750,000.00 worth of petrified wood was enough for us at the OK RV Park, we stopped at the Petrified Forest to make a 26 mile detour to see some more dead trees.
The entrance to the Petrified Forest off of I-40.
This is one of the Cadillacs used by "Indian Detours" in the 1930's to give personal tours of the petrified forest to travelers venturing down Route 66.
Tepee Mountains - guess how they got their name.
The many small objects on the valley floor in this photograph illustrate the vast quantity of petrified trees in this National Park. The next photo shows them closer up.
The Agate Bridge
Erosion washed away the soil from under this petrified tree forming this natural bridge. The concrete under the bridge was the result of early preservation efforts.