trails – Snapping The Globe

Adventures in New Mexico Part 3-The Cat’s Meow

What’s the saying…when something is very appealing?

It’s the Cat’s Meow!

With all there is experience in New Mexico, I can say that phrase it is most appropriate.

After the long drive to Chaco Canyon, you would thing that we would have wanted to sleep in on the next morning. No way! There was too much to see and do and then, we needed to get to Santa Fe!

Rising early, we packed up, check out and headed to Petroglyph National Monument, one of the largest petroglyph sites in North America. Since there are four different trail systems, we chose the trail that appeared to offer the most petroglyph viewing, Piedras Marcadas Canyon. Parking in the adjacent lot, we grabbed out water and headed out onto the trail.

*Petroglyph National Monument, Piedras Marcadas Canyon Trail*

The path was easy and flat, marked with guide lines on either side, to keep hikers off of the fragile desert growth. Before long, we found ourselves alongside the rocky hills that arose from the desert floor. It took a few moments to decipher what we were supposed to be looking for but we soon began to spot the images carved into the rocks.

The petroglyphs we spied were created by the ancestors of modern Pueblo people as far back as the year 1300, by carefully removing the desert varnish with hand-held stone tools to expose the lighter color of the basalt’s interior. Centuries of weathering cause the older petroglyphs to oxidize and darken. As we now knew what to look for, it soon became easier to spot the various human figures, animals and geometric designs along the one and a half mile route.

*Roadrunner petroglyph and real roadrunner perched on the rocks*

All in all, we spent about an hour and a half out and about before completing the circuit. Deciding that there was not enough time to do another trail, we moved on.

Next up was Old Town Albuquerque.

The downtown area is comprised of approximately 150 individually owned and operated businesses, situated around the main plaza, the square and birthplace of the city in 1706. This plaza reminded me so much of the ones found in many Latin American countries with numerous people lounging on the benches around the gazebo. With so many shops, restaurants and galleries in the immediate area, we took our time doing a little shopping, grabbing a bite to eat and taking lots of photos.

One of the places I wanted to see most was San Felipe de Neri Catholic Church, one of the oldest surviving buildings in the city and the only building in Old Town dating back to the Spanish colonial period. The current church replaced the original which collapsed during the winter of 1972. I would imagine the interior exhibited European qualities, but sadly it nor the museum were not open during our visit.

San Felipe de Neri Catholic Church

Keeping an eye on the clock as we were heading to Santa Fe, we found one more place of interest, the Breaking Bad Store ABQ. Although I had no knowledge of the television series, I thought that maybe there would be some interesting souvenirs for my sons. What we discovered, however, was that this was not only a store, but a small museum of sorts dedicated to the series Breaking Bad and its follow up, Better Call Saul. While most of it didn’t resound with me, it meant a lot for my son to see mementos and set props from the show. Recently, when my husband and I finally watched all five seasons of the series, it was fun to pull out the photos and understand what all of it meant. My favorite photo? Me dressed in the Los Pollos Hermanos uniform posed behind the restaurant counter!

With our time in Albuquerque coming to a close, we headed out to the highway, making our way to Santa Fe.

When my son had mentioned to his friends that we would be visiting New Mexico, the unanimous suggestion was to visit a place with a very strange name…Meow Wolf.

Meow Wolf, a relatively new experience in Santa Fe (established in 2016) is one of three similar interactive experiences located in the United States. Along with the other two, in Denver and Las Vegas, the explorable art encounter beckons visitors to explore rooms of immersive art. Santa Fe’s version, entitled House of Eternal Return offers 70 rooms which I could only describe as a mix between an art exhibit, escape room, a fun house and a maze.

As we parked, we glimpsed what we thought we might experience with its giant metal spider, robot and of course, wolf, in the parking lot! Although we had not purchased tickets prior to our arrival, we learned that we were lucky since it was a weekday that we were able to gain entry, not usual on busy weekends.

We began our explorations in the front part of the House, trying to read every piece of paper and attempting to decipher clues. There was a strangely dressed man standing in the stairway talking about missing children and we deduced that children from the storyline were missing. We also heard other speaking about finding hamsters. We did discover a few hidden in various places, but then we never quite understood what to do with this information.

Finally, we just decided to have fun and explore all the nooks and crannies. Once we relaxed about the whole affair, it was a great deal of fun just enjoying the unique and unusual artistry.

It was great fun to discover hidden passageways in refrigerators, fireplaces closets and clothes dryers. After exploring both floors of the house, we discovered in the living room a fish tank on a shelf and then a tunnel through the fireplace which led to a life size fish tank which we could walk through! This led to other parts of the exhibit where we encountered a giant neon dinosaur skeleton whose bones made music when you hit upon them, a forest with giant mushrooms and creatures that appeared to be out of the book Where the Wild Things Are, the crazy clown room decorated with recycled bottle caps, cans, compact discs and clown videos, a Chinatown alleyway and the “black and white room” complete with a monster under the sink! There was abstract art and abstract rooms, interactive games hidden away in dark corners and an EDM music room. There was a band playing in the back and walkways overlooking their stage. Everything was dark and bright at the same time and neon and black lighting was everywhere!

It is one of the hardest things to explain and one of the most unique places I have ever visited! I will definitely have to visit the ones in Denver and Las Vegas which are differently themed.

We realized that if this was our introduction to Santa Fe, we were in for a treat! Meow Wolf was definitely the Cat’s Meow or maybe you could say, the “Wolf’s Meow”!

For more pictures check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

Petroglyph National Monument

https://www.nps.gov/petr/index.htm
Address: Visitor’s Center, 6510 Western Trail, Albuquerque, NM 87120. Boca Negra Canyon, Atrisco Drive, NW, Albuquerque, NM 87120, Rinconada Canyon, 7601 St. Josephs Avenue, Albuquerque, NM 87120, 87114 Unnamed Cul de Sac, Albuquerque, NM 87120, Piedras Marcadas,
Address: Visitor’s Center, 6510 Western Trail, Albuquerque, NM 87120. Boca Negra Canyon, Atrisco Drive, NW, Albuquerque, NM 87120. Rinconada Canyon, 7601 St. Josephs Avenue, Albuquerque, NM 87120. Piedras Marcadas Canyon, 87114 Unnamed Cul de Sac, Albuquerque, NM 87120. Volcanoes Day Use Area, Western Trail NW, Albuquerque, NM 87120.
Hours: Boca Negra Canyon, 0830-1630. Rinconada Canyon 0800-1700. Piedras Marcadas Canyon, Sunrise to Sunset. Volcanoes Day Use Area, 0900-1700.
Admission: free

Old Town Albuquerque

https://www.albuquerqueoldtown.com/
Address: Old Town Road NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104
Hours: Most businesses open Monday-Saturday, 1000-2000, Sunday, 1100-1900. Most restaurants seat until 2100.
Admission: free

San Felipe de Neri Catholic Church

https://sanfelipedeneri.org/
Address: 2005 North Plaza NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104
Hours: 0900-1600, daily (unverified). Gift shop and museum, open from 1000-1630. Museum may not be open due to lack of docents.
Admission: free

The Breaking Bad Store ABQ

https://www.breakingbadstoreabq.com/
Address: 2047 South Plaza Street Northwest, Albuquerque, NM 87104
Hours: 1000-1700, daily. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Years Day.
Admission: free

Meow Wolf Santa Fe

https://meowwolf.com/visit/santa-fe
Address: 1352 Rufina Circle, Santa Fe, NM 87507
Hours: Sunday, Monday and Thursday, 100-2000, Friday and Saturday, 1000-2200. Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Admission: Adults (ages 14 and up), $35, Children (ages 4-13), $20, Children (under 3), free, Seniors (ages 65 and up), $25, Military, $25.

Adventures in New Mexico Part 2-Chaco Canyon

Chaco Culture National Historic Site bears a unique title, one of the 20 least visited national parks in the US!

So why were we up early, making a three hour drive through unmaintained roads to hike through its boundaries?

For one, Bandolier National Park was closed due to the wildfires raging in the northern part of the state and Taos Pueblo had still not reopened since Covid restrictions were lifted. After spying pictures of this park and noticing its remoteness, I decided that it would be a perfect photo opportunity, make for an interesting blog post and a way to learn about the ancient Chacoan culture in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This national park gives insight to the engineering abilities of the ancestral Pueblo people of the southwest. The structures located in the park were built between 850 and 1250 in a remote canyon cut by the Chaco Wash. The structures were constructed of quarried sandstone bricks and timber hauled from great distances and during this time frame, the area was a major center of culture for the Puebloans. Fifteen major complexes make up the area and what remain are the largest building ever built in North America until the 19th century.

Our original plans had us spending this day in the Albuquerque area and driving to Chaco Canyon the next day, to hike and sight see before continuing on to Santa Fe. As I awakened early, however, I burrowed under my hotel sheets and pondered this agenda. We wanted to make it to Santa Fe in time to visit the new attraction Meow Wolf. There is nothing I hate more than not having enough time at an attraction and having to leave before I’m ready in order to meet a timeline and I was afraid that I wasn’t allowing enough time in Chaco Canyon. And…if we were not to make it to Meow Wolf, we would miss our opportunity since it was closed on the next day. After doing a bit of reading, I realized that there was much to see and do in Chaco Canyon that a couple of hours was not adequate.

A change of plans was in order.

This journey was beckoning our adventurous sides. It did not matter how long or hard! If the Chacoans could do it without modern conveniences, we could too.

Jumping into the shower, I informed my son of our new plan. Thankfully, he’s a flexible travel companion, quick to get ready, and we were soon on the Interstate 25 heading north.

The further we traveled, through desert and mountainous regions, cell service became more spotty and obsolete at times. Before all was lost, we made a call to the National Park for some specific directions, since we were a little unsure of the roads in this area. This proved to be a smart move! The ranger gave us detailed directions and even the good advice to fill up our car and purchase snacks at the nearby gas station before leaving the paved roads.

While I had anticipated rough roads, I wasn’t quite prepared for what we encountered. Twenty-one miles on a paved highway would take approximately 15-20 minutes, however, dirt, loose gravel, potholes and uneven surfaces kept us at about 20 miles per hour…you can do the math!

Finally, after the grueling, steering-wheel-clutching, teeth-gritting-when-we-hit-the-potholes drive, we spied the National Park entrance sign ahead and a paved road leading into the park. Success!

*Entering the park, views of Fajada Butte*

First stopping into the Visitor’s Center, we purchased a America the Beautiful Annual Parks Pass. As we would be visiting other parks within the state, it would definitely pay for itself. Quizzing the ranger for helpful advice, we then headed out to the parking lot to fill our water bottles at the cisterns and began our explorations along the Una Vida trail leading from the lot.

Una Vida, only a mile long, gave us our first look at the type of structures and petroglyphs that we would be encountering throughout the park.

Refilling our water again, we headed out on the nine-mile loop road to the next stop, the Hungo Pavi trail. More structures dotted the landscape, but it was on the trail that we would find the Chacoan Great House (occupation AD 1000-1250s). Paved and dirt pathways ran throughout the site and we were able to examine these dwellings from extremely close proximity. This monumental public building is a good example of what Chacoan sites look like without excavations, covered in windblown sand and native vegetation, and consists of over 150 rooms, a great kiva (space used by Puebloans for rites and political meetings) and an enclosed plaza.

Our next stop was the Chetro Ketl trail, home to the second largest Chacoan great house, covering more than three acres and containing a great kiva and elevated kivas. The structures consists of two and three stories and an elevated plaza that stands twelve feet above the canyon floor. Along the way we also followed the Petroglyph trail which spanned the bottom of the cliff face between Chetro Ketl and Pueblo Bonito. Here, we spotted many petroglyphs etched onto the walls, some low and some so high it made you wonder how they reached these soaring elevations.

The Pueblo Bonito trail is named after the beautiful structure located within its confines. This large complex, where we headed next, was unearthed between 1920 and 1927 by seven expeditions of the National Geographic Society and the Smithsonian Institution. According to the sign on site, over one hundred thousand tons of rubble and wind blown sand were removed to accurately reconstruct parts of the destroyed walls and match the ancient masonry. Located approximately 4.5 miles from the Visitor Center, it is the most important site in the canyon and worth the 0.6 mile roundtrip hike. Constructed from AD 850 to AD 1150 it was the center of all of the Chacoan universe.

A much larger compound than we had encountered thus far, we walked around its perimeter, comparing its size to the massive boulders that had fallen from the mesa beyond. Climbing these boulders, we had a bird’s eye view of the interior of Pueblo Bonito.

*View of Pueblo Bonito Ruins from top of boulders*

Along this trail, we encountered a sign directing us to the Wetherill Cemetery. While from this point, it was only a quarter mile hike, we learned later, that there was a parking area up the road which would have provided a much shorter walk. Only one grave was located here, that of Richard Wetherill, an amateur archaeologist who discovered, researched and excavated sites associated with the ancient Pueblo people. Fascinated by the ruins and artifacts of the Southwestern United States, Wetherill was credited with the excavation of Pueblo Bonito. He was murdered during a mysterious circumstances by a Navajo in Chaco Canyon in 1910.

Returning to Pueblo Bonito, the trail brought us around to the front of the complex and through parts of its interior. Judging by the small doorways, these ancient people must have been of a smaller stature and we were mesmerized for the still intact wood beams still in place. The most interesting part of the entire complex was an interior room with its wooden walls and ceiling still unscathed.

*Pueblo Bonito Ruins* *with original wood walls*

Skipping Casa Rinconada, we next headed to Pueblo del Arroyo, about a mile up the road. The 1/4 mile roundtrip trail brought us to another Chacoan Great House (occupation 1075-1250s). Planned and constructed in two stages, the architecture found here lacks a great kiva and earthen mounds, however, typifies the pueblo architecture found throughout the area.

It was now getting to be late afternoon and there was still so much more to see. Realizing that we had made the correct decision to devote this entire day to Chaco Canyon, I quickly calculated that although making it a long day, we could conceivably depart from the park between 6:00 and 6:30pm, have dinner along the way and still make back to our hotel at a semi-decent hour.

There was still a trail that we wanted to follow, but we were concerned about making it back in time to follow our new itinerary. This trail passed near Kin Kletso, another great Chacoan House (occupied from AD 1100 to 1150s). There were some interesting petroglyphs here, but we hesitated for a moment because to take this trail up to the top of the mesa, we needed to register. After talking with another couple of hikers, who assured us that we had enough time and that we could register at the top of the trailhead, by filling out a form, leaving half in the box and half on the dashboard of our car, we set off.

Heading on the Pueblo Alto trail, we hoped to reach the Pueblo Bonito Overlook. The trail, a total of 2.6 miles, reaches the overlook at .75 mile. If we could reach the overlook, we would then recalculate our time. But first, the beginning of the trail had me rethinking if I was capable of making it to our destination. The trail wound up the side of the cliff, giving us great views of Kin Kletso, but I was a little hesitant of looking anywhere but in front of me. Next, we discovered that we had to make our way through a narrow path, between the cliff walls, straight up. Not wanting to let my son down, I persevered and even enjoyed myself, discovering the beautiful flowers, fossils embedded in the stone, shrimp burrows and other landmarks along the way. From the top of this mesa, the view of the canyon was stunning.

*Pueblo Alto Trail, overlook to Kin Kletso (middle left and bottom right), trail through slot canyon (top right)*

*To the end of the Pueblo Alto trail and views of Pueblo Bonito*

*View of Pueblo Bonito from Pueblo Alto trail*

When we reached the Pueblo Bonito overlook, I had to admit that it was worth the intimidating climb! With Pueblo Bonito spread out below us, it was much easier to see from above what we could not fathom while walking through the complex!

Checking our watches, we discovered that we had actually made pretty good time, so we decided to follow the Chacoan Road for a little ways. There were two additional structures that we were able to spot from afar, but sadly, if we were going to make our departure window, we had to turn back. Along the cliff’s edge we retreated, back through the narrow canyon, gingerly stepping from one rocky stair to another, past Kin Kletso and back to the cool confines of our car.

*Back thru the slot canyon and to the main road*

Another quick trip to the Visitor’s Center to grab more water and we were on our way back to Albuquerque. While the trip on the unpaved roads seemed shorter as we were now familiar with its length, it was still harrowing, praying we didn’t pop a tire or break an axle. As we approached paved roads and civilization, the late summer sun was illuminating the nearby mountains, giving us quite the show of fiery reds and oranges!

As we arrived back to Albuquerque close to 9:00 p.m., during the midst of a lunar eclipse, I realized that while we were extremely tired from the six hours we had spent in the car, the sun and all of the hiking in the park, we had made the right decision.

Chaco Culture National Historic Site absolutely warrants enough time to see everything that if offers. Maybe it is one of the least visited, but we can say we did!

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

Chaco Culture National Historic Park

https://www.nps.gov/chcu/index.htm
Address: Mailing address, PO Box 220, Nageezi , NM 87037
Hours: 0700-sunset, daily
Admission: Vehicle entrance fee, $25.00 USD for 7 days (includes all persons traveling in one private, non-commercial vehicle (car/truck/van). Motorcycle entrance fee, $20.00 USD for 7 days. Individual entrance fee, $15.00 for 7 days.
- Getting There: https://www.nps.gov/chcu/planyourvisit/trafficandtraveltips.htm Calling ahead for travel conditions is advisable.

America the Beautiful Park Pass

https://usparkpass.com/?msclkid=93b48013494c171633b4e37a00f1093a

Not So Bad

The Badlands.

One of the world’s richest geologic deposits lies east of Rapid City. Ancient animals once roamed the land and today a wide array of wildlife can be spotted throughout the area.

I will just put it out there…the Badlands wasn’t a national park that I had aspired to visit. Although I had heard of it, it wasn’t one that I was familiar with. But hearing others insist that I make the drive and spend the day there, was enough to make me take some time to research how best to see it in its entirety while in South Dakota.

It had snowed a bit the night before and I was shocked to see those speeding along the interstate, trying to maintain the 80 mph speed limit. Creeping along at a tortoise-like speed, I spotted quite a few vehicles being pulled from the ditches and I wondered if I was making this long drive on the wrong day.

After a quick stop to see the famous Wall Drug and pick up lunch, I headed to the entrance of the park, first making a pitstop at Prairie Homestead, the place to be if you want to learn about the pioneers and first homesteaders. Though it was closed for the season, it seemed like a great place to see one of the last remaining original sod homes intact today. Many pieces of farm equipment were on display, but the best part was the many little prairie dogs running around on the premises. These were quite different than the ones I saw near Devil’s Tower…they were white! After many photos and a walk around the premises, it was time to head toward the park’s gates.

Although it was quite cold out and there was a light dusting of snow on the ground, I learned another great reason for visiting during the off-season…no entrance fee! Though I later learned that entrance fees are collected year round, maybe this was the day that someone decided to call in sick and there was no one to man the booth. Nevertheless, it was my good fortune to not have to pay the thirty dollar entrance fee!

Driving along, I was filled with anticipation because I really had no knowledge of what I would experience. A little was gleaned from looking at a map of the park, but I was excited to see what it consisted of in person. Not long after my entrance, I encountered a parking lot at the Big Badlands Overlook area. Parking my car at the base of some high geologic formations, I exited my car and walked around, following a sign pointing in the direction of the Door Trail. I made my way onto the boardwalk marveling at the large, rocky spires rising up on each side of me. The end of the boardwalk offered spectacular views over the landscape and I noticed where you could venture off of the boardwalk and make your way onto the cracked earth, riddled with gulleys and small hoodoos. Reading the directions on the posted sign, I learned that it was recommended to bring water, even during the winter, and follow the yellow trail markers along the half mile hike. Although I was alone, I decided to follow in the footsteps of two other guys who had departed just before me. Sometimes it was a bit difficult to spy the next marker, but as I stood in this foreign landscape, I likened it to being on another planet. Making it to marker 5, I decided that I had reached my limit, especially when I spotted the Beware of Rattlesnakes sign!

Finding the path back to the boardwalk, I made my way towards my car, but not before crossing the road to check out the entrance to the Castle Trail, which leads to other parts of the park. Heading back onto the Badlands Loop Road, I marveled at the stunning views that I passed, pulling over at every overlook that I came across. For once, I was thankful that no one was with me to complain about the constant breaks in my progression through the park…I simply could not help myself! It reminded me of the last time I had driven through the Valley of Fire in Nevada when each new perspective outdid the last!

Just past the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, which was closed, I spotted the Cedar Lodge, also locked down for the season. At Cedar Pass, I parked in the adjacent lot, followed the path to the boardwalk and leisurely made my way along its duration, all the while admiring the mountains that towered over me.

Back on the road, I delighted in the lack of traffic and the beauty of the day. Bright blue, almost cloudless skies hovered above me and when I came across the parking area at Saddle Pass Trail, which leads to Castle Trail, I decided it was time to take another walk and see nature’s artistry up close.

Continuing on, I drove through Norbeck Pass which is the transition zone between the upper and lower prairie environments separated by the famed Badlands Wall. It was truly amazing to almost have the park to myself. I could only imagine the amount of traffic that usually courses through the park during its peak season between Memorial Day and Labor Day. At first, I would pull over to admire the overlooks, however, when I realized that no one was ever behind me, I basically stopped in the road to take one of the thousands of pictures that I took that day.

The Fossil Exhibit Trail was next on the itinerary and I followed the boardwalk, reading the signage interspersed along its length. I gradually learned about the multitude of fossils discovered here and the animals that once called this area home.

Across the road was the opposite end of the Castle Trail that I had investigated earlier. I took a short walk along its length to check out an unusual geologic formation that I spotted from the distance.

A quick stop was made at the White River Valley Overlook and taking a look at my map, I realized that if I wanted to make the drive throughout the entire park, I would have to step it up. Finally around Burns Basin Overlook, I spotted horns sticking up from the grassy area along the road. Further up the road, I spotted Big Horn sheep grazing along the rocky shoulder making me realize that I had never seen Bison.

Thankfully, I had cell service and did a quick search on the best places to see bison in the park. I was directed to the western side of the park near Roberts Prairie Dog Town. So, I hadn’t missed them after all!

The beautiful Yellow Mound Overlook with its multicolored geology caused me to pull over once again. Yellow, purple, gray and striped reddish hills make for one of the most spectacular and colorful views in the entire park. Could this be the inspiration for the line in the song “America the Beautiful”? O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties, Above the fruited plain!

I scouted more overlooks…the Ancient Hunters Overlook, the Pinnacles Overlook… and then, just past the Hay Butte Overlook, I finally saw my first bison. A group was situated in the grassy area on my right, a couple of adults and a calf. Pulling my car over to the shoulder of Sage Creek Rim Road, I grabbed my camera and walked to the rear of my car. Dark, beady eyes watched me carefully, making sure that I was no threat to its child. I didn’t dare go any closer, but when one of the adults got to its feet and turned its head towards me, I knew it was my cue to leave. How on earth would I explain to my car rental company how a bison dented my car?

A little further up on the road, I spotted a dark figure on the edge of a precipice. How nice of them to place a bison statue on the edge of the cliff! Yet as I drove closer, I realized what I was seeing was not a statue but a real live bison, standing still, alone, watching over its domain. I shot it as best I could with my camera, but if I could have been closer or had a better telephoto lens, this would have been the money shot!

Continuing on, I found this lone creature’s herd. An extremely large group of bison spread across the road and in the fields on either side. While extremely moving to be in such close proximity, it was also a bit disconcerting. Again, I worried that they might become excited and stampede. Under their watchful gaze, I drove slowly through the group until I reach Prairie Dog Town.

Much like the Prairie Dog Town I had observed near Devil’s Tower, I watched fascinated as they ran to and fro, freezing now and then to judge my presence and then duck down into their burrow. These rodents, whose name dates back to the 1700s, derive their moniker from their warning call that sounds much like a dog’s bark. Indeed, I must have been perceived as a threat, as I heard their communications from quite some distance.

Finally, as the sun was dipping down lower, I decided that it was time to call it a day. Knowing that I didn’t want to encounter bison on the roads after dark, I headed for the Pinnacles Entrance and on to Wall, where I merged on to the interstate.

For having no prior knowledge of this spectacular national park, I was so thrilled that I learned about it from a nice hunter in the airport gatehouse. It was possible that I would have learned about it simply from scouring a map or reading one of the brochures in my hotel lobby, but it could have been possible that I might have deemed another close attraction, like Bear Land, more enticing. Thankfully, I have learned to accept advice from other travelers!

So how would I rate my experience? Travel to the Badlands on icy roads during the winter months, but having the park to myself? I’d say it wasn’t so bad!

I would do it again in a heartbeat!

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

Prairie Homestead

http://www.prairiehomestead.com/
Address: 21070 Sd Highway 240, Philip, SD 57567-7006
Hours: Unknown
Admission: Unknown

Badlands National Park

https://www.nps.gov/badl/index.htm
Address: 25216 Ben Reifel Rd, Interior, SD 57750, United States
Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week
Admission: Private vehicle, $30.00 (for 7 days), Individual (Hiking, Bicycling, etc…for 7 days), $15.00, Motorcycle, $25.00 (for 7 days), Commercial Sedan, 1 to 6 passenger capacity, $25.00, Commercial Van, 7 to 15 passenger capacity, $50.00, Commercial Minibus, 16 to 25 passenger capacity, $60.00, Commercial Motorcoach, 26 or more passenger capacity, $150.00. Badlands National Park Annual Pass, $50.00.

Finding the Falls

Sometimes you feel as if you have seen all there is to see in a city, even though you haven’t.

Take the time to move on for a while and come back later.

Maybe because I always seem to be in Zurich on Sundays, when everything is closed, is why I always feel as if there is nothing to do. So, sometimes, I dread my trips to the Swiss city if I will be there on the seventh day of the week. Not to say that there isn’t more to see, I just never seem to be there when it is available.

Having explored much of the city near the lake and the Old Town, I had grown a little tire of that area (Gasp…yes, I said that!) and was interested in finding another part of the city (or even country) to investigate.

Since I was going to have some time in Zurich during the beautiful crisp days of Fall, I decided that I was going to venture out of the city to see what I could find.

A friend of mine from Schaffhausen suggested that I take the train to the Rhine Falls if the weather was nice.

Arriving to bright sunshine, I decided to forego my nap, head to the train station and find my way to what is described as the largest waterfall in not only Switzerland, but Europe!

Located on the High Rhine, the falls are 492 feet wide, 75 meters high and were formed approximately 14,000 to 17,000 years ago by erosion-resistant rocks narrowing the riverbed.

Deciding to make a connection in Wintertur in order to keep the ticket price a bit lower, I boarded the train and watched the rolling hills fly by until I arrived in my connecting station. As luck would have it, my connecting train was on the next track and I was quickly on my way to my final station.

About an hour after I departed, I was arriving in Schloss Laufen am Rheinfall.

Since I had arrived on the southern bank (the paid side), I purchased my ticket using the automated machine and passed through the turnstile making my way down the shady path. The sound of the water guided me along the trails and at each viewing platform, I relished the beautiful views, each one surpassing the previous.

As I made my way toward the falls, I was thrilled to discover an opening in the rocks, leading to a cave opening up directly to the falling water…the air moist and the roar of rushing water deafening in the small space! Despite the low lighting, it was an amazing photo opportunity and a unique perspective of the natural phenomenon.

Following the winding path back toward the way I had come, I continued onward until reaching the boat dock. Here I analyzed the different boat tours offered. The first option a 15 minute ride would bring me right in front of the falls (7.00 CHF) and the second, a 30 minute minute ride provided a stop at the tall rock in the center of the falls with a viewing platform at the top (20.00 CHF). Since I was toting my expensive camera and didn’t want to get wet on the cool afternoon, I opted for the short tour.

Boarding a boat (included in tour price), I crossed the Rhine and disembarked on the other side, moving to the boarding area for Tour 4, with the boat captain calling for boarding a few minutes later.

Pulling away from the dock, we sailed away into the river, along north bank and passed so near the falls that the mist descended upon us quickly. Despite getting a little wet, however, the views from this vantage point were remarkable, exhibiting the magnificent power of the raging waters.

During my fifteen minute expedition, we cruised back and forth in front of the falls allowing me to get some amazing photos and also see what I missed by not venturing to the top of the rock in the middle of the river. Everyone at the top of the rock was wearing ponchos and their hair was quite damp! It made me (and my camera) glad that I chose the shorter (and cheaper) boat tour.

As the boat deposited me back at the dock, I decided to walk along the shore and see what else was offered.

There were food trucks and restaurants offering a vast array of food and drink and a beautiful path along the waterway. Meandering slowly so that I could enjoy the views and the sunshine, I soon shed my coat and took a seat on one many benches placed strategically so that visitors could relax and enjoy the spectacle that the falls offer.

Continuing on my way, I came to the 17th century mill, which once contained a blast furnace for smelting iron ore in the limestone. In operation until the first half of the 19th century, it now offers beautiful photo opportunities though nothing more.

Once again, on my way, I discovered pathways leading both into the town of Schaffhausen and up the steep embankments toward the railway bridge leading back to the Schloss Laufen. Since I wasn’t sure how to retrace my steps back to Zurich from the Schaffhausen train station, nor whether my ticket would be valid, I headed toward the bridge, positive that it would take me back to the station in which I had arrived.

The pathways were shady and well kept with many overlooks offering outstanding views of the falls from different perspectives and I took my time to enjoy them all. Finally, I arrived at the railway bridge and happily found a pedestrian walkway leading toward Schloss Laufen.

The castle, a seat of the barons of Laufen has a rich history including the ownership by grand nobility. Once operating as a wine tavern, the castle has also offered rooms as a youth hostel since 1946. Though I didn’t venture inside, I did walk the grounds of the castle, the cemetery and the nearby church, even poking my head in for a quick prayer for a safe trip back to Zurich.

Heading back to the platform, it was time to make the hour’s journey back to Old Town and a warm dinner, despite the exhaustion I was starting to feel due to lack of sleep.

So…was heading out of the city to the Rhine Falls worth the hour’s journey?

Absolutely!

Witnessing nature’s beauty first hand…so worth the lack of sleep!

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

Rhine Falls

https://rheinfall.ch/en/
Address: Rheinfallquai 32, 8212 Neuhausen am Rheinfall
Hours: Northern banks, Neuhausen am Rheinfall/Schaffhausen, free access 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Southern banks with Schloss Laufen, Dachsen/Zurich, viewing platform access open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Souvenir Shop/Ticketing/Historama, June, July and August, 0800-1900. September, October, April and May, 0900-1800. November, February and March, 0900-1700. December and January, 1000-1600.
Admission: Northern banks with Schlössli Wörth, Neuhausen am Rheinfall/Schaffhausen, free admission. Southern banks with Schloss Laufen am Rheinfall, Dachsen/Zurich, 5.00 CHF per person. Included in the ticket price, access to the Historama and the viewing platforms. Children, ages 6-15 years, 3.00 CHF. Groups, 15-29 persons, 3.00 CHF per person. Groups, more than 30 persons, 2.00 CHF. Prices, 1 CHF is equal to 1 USD.
Boat Tours: Short Tour, 15 minutes, Adults, 7.00 CHF, Children, ages 6-16, 4.00 CHF. Long Tour with stop at the rock, 30 minutes , Adults, 20.00 CHF, Children, ages 6-16, 15.00 CHF. Audioguide Tour, 30 minutes, Adults, 10.00 CHF, Children, ages 6-16, 7.00 CHF
Getting There: Direct trains are available from Zurich HB to Schloss am Laufen and Schaffhausen. Connections can also be made in Wintertur (prices lower with connection). When arriving in Schaffhausen, the Rhyfall Express train runs between the historic old town and the falls and takes approximately 20 minutes.

Schloss Laufen

http://www.schlosslaufen.ch/en/

Hang’em High, Hang’em Low

Adventure…its everywhere in Costa Rica!

Just around the mountain from our hotel, outside La Fortuna, was a park full of adventure…Mistico Hanging Bridges Park.

The park’s main attraction is its swinging bridges, high above the rain forest, but the park also has other types of adventurous activities. Afraid of heights? You can stay closer to the ground…say, on horseback.

Mistico Hanging Bridges Park was once a vast area of farmland. At the beginning of the 20th century, the proprietors of the acreage, husband and wife, Landelina Rodriguez Sánchez and Adrian Castilla, realized the value of their land and its natural resources. Deciding to keep the wooded portion of the mountain intact, they decided to open the forest sanctuary to the public at the beginning of the 21st century. Development of the hanging bridges and trails followed which would allow visitors to enjoy the forest’s beauty comfortably and safely while protecting the flora and fauna.

As we arrived at the park, the rain was coming down at a steady rate, but it was to be expected…it is a rain forest after all and the area receives between 74 and 178 inches annually. Donning our rain jackets, we grabbed an umbrella, paid our admission and waiting for our admission time. (Admission times are spaced to avoid congestion on the trails and bridges).

By the time our admission time had arrived, the rain had stopped, leaving everything damp and fresh. We followed the wet paved trail into the park, admiring the delicate flowers and plants still covered in water droplets. Following the colorful map provided by the park, we first found ourselves in the Rufous Gardens, a level circuit with exquisite flowers, trees and places to rest and enjoy the view.

Leaving the gardens, we made our way on to the main trail, winding our way steadily up the mountainside, crossing a few fixed bridges along the way. A short time later, we found our way to the first hanging bridge. A bit of a back log had us waiting a while to pass over…workers monitor the bridge and allow a limited number to cross the bridge at one time. Unfortunately, there are those who are not as considerate of other’s time and paused one to many times to take selfies and pictures of the surrounding area.

Finally, we made our way as steadily as possible across the shaky span, marveling at the clouds swirling around the treetops. From the bridges and the higher parts of the trails, epiphyte plants, birds, mammals and butterflies can be observed up close. Some of the high altitude birds include the bell bird and the Emerald Toucanette, while at lower elevations, toucans and turkey hens can be spied along with migratory birds of prey during the months from November to February. High altitude trees include Yema Huevo, Cirri and Pilon trees and in the lower regions, Caobilla, Fruta Dorada and Maquenque trees. Keep an eye out for frogs, snakes, lizards and mammels such as kinkajous, raccoons, margays, ocelots, pumas, jaguars and tapirs.

The trail spans almost two miles and can be covered in about two hours. Six more hanging bridges are spaced out on the trail, along with a waterfall and viewing area and a tunnel. Each of the bridges vary in length and believe it or not, after the first bridge, the crowds thin. Maybe visitors decide that one is enough. Maybe they think they are too shaky or they run out of time, but at the end of the trail, the last few bridges have no one on them, allowing ample time to enjoy the views from the center of the bridge.

If the trail only whets your appetite for the area, there are many other tours and activities offered by Mistico Park such as horseback riding, and canyoneering in Spider Monkey Canyon. There is also a restaurant on the premises if you need a bite to eat between adventures!

There are other similar parks in Costa Rica offering hanging bridges and nature trails. Though we didn’t visit them and can not offer a comparison, we thoroughly enjoyed our time in Mistico. With so many things offered in the well-manicured park, I would definitely consider visiting again in the future and sampling the other offerings.

For more pictures, check out Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

Mistico Hanging Bridges Park

https://misticopark.com/
Address: 1.5 miles over the cobblestone road next to the Lake Arenal Dam in La Fortuna de San Carlos, Alajuela, Costa Rica
Hours: 0730-1630, daily
Admission: Hanging Bridges Self-Guided Tour, $26 per person. Natural History Walk, $38 per person. Birding Tour, $49 per person. Night Walk, $49 per person. Arenal Volcano Expedition, $75 per person. Spider Monkey Canyon, $75 per person. Paco’s Horses, $55 per person. Hours for each activity vary, check website.