We are in Grants, New Mexico for the holiday weekend. Staying in our camper at a KOA Campground. The reason for choosing this exciting destination is that Leon is on assignment as a Ranger (filling in for someone on vacation) at El Malpais (Badlands) National Monument (the BLM section, not the National Park section).
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Bird on Lava
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Spending time in Grants, New Mexico is about as exciting as waiting for a bus. (Especially as I had a gout flare up just as we arrived - something that happens once or twice a year at most for no apparent reason except for glucosamine chondroitin (2x) and large quantity of shrimp (once) or possibly dehydration). I ventured out yesterday to the Ranger Station and to see some rocks. The outcroppings are kind of spectacular, or maybe just photogenic. But as with most of the scenery, after you've seen 100 different rock outcroppings, it kind of loses its thrill.
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The Arch - La Ventana
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The Last Cholla Flower
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And as to why 114,276 acres of lava would be declared a National Monument, the only reason I can think of is "What else can you do with 114,276 acres of 3,900 year old lava?" (some is actually 700,000 years old).
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Mount Taylor
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The landscape can be interesting, if monotonous at times. You can drive for hours with only a few changes in the terrain which is vast and intimidating. I cannot imagine the Spanish explorers (plunderers?) arriving at the edge of a lava field that where mountain goat wouldn't go and which stretched as far as one could see.
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Lava Bubble
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Vegetation in the Crevasses of Dry Mud
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It is also "monsoon" season here in New Mexico. We have seen more rain in the past few weeks than in the past six years, and that is not saying much. It is especially dangerous for areas around the "burn scars" of forest destroyed by recent wild fires.
In summary, if I have to vacation in an area that is covered in lava flows, I really think Hawaii would be my first choice.
5 comments:
I love the rocks and cliffs and such.
thanks for the beautiful pictures. It can get monotonous but definitely has a beauty all of its own.
The scenery looks very exotic to a prairie girl like me.
Maybe Leon can ask for a “transfer” to the National Park Service in Hawaii.
Mitchell's got a great idea! Hawaii has real beaches too. And we'll all come visit you then.
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