Wednesday Near Wyoming - November 30, 2022

 

When you think about sand dunes, do you think of Colorado? The National Park Service certainly does. That's because Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is located there.

I was surprised by the height of the dunes (they're the tallest in North America) and was fascinated by the way they are constantly moving, thanks to the wind. Prior to visiting this park, my only experience with dunes had been along the Great Lakes or the Atlantic Ocean. What a pleasant surprise to discover that I only had to travel a couple hundred miles to see them.

If you'd like to learn more about the dunes and the other parts of this park/ preserve, here's the link.

I hope you've enjoyed this month's posts about Colorado. Next month we'll return to Wyoming. 

Wednesday Near Wyoming _ November 23, 2022

 

First question: What are these? 

Answer: Coke ovens. 

Next question: What is a coke oven? 

Answer: A furnace-like device used to "cook" the impurities from coal.

Last question: Why is a coke oven needed?

Answer: Gold and silver weren't the only minerals mined in Colorado. As you've undoubtedly guessed from this post, coal was also mined there. And for some uses, coal needed to be converted to coke. 

That's the short version of the story. For a more detailed explanation, click here.

Wednesday Near Wyoming - November 16, 2022

 

For a fascinating look at what the park's brochure calls a window into the past, you need travel no further than Mesa Verde National Park. 

I was awed by the construction of these cliff dwellings and can only imagine what it must have been like to have lived there. 

If you're planning a visit or if you simply want to learn more, here's a link.

Wednesday Near Wyoming - November 9, 2022

 

No, this isn't a house on stilts. It's one of the buildings left from the heyday of Colorado's silver and gold mining. 

Since mining was the most important industry in the late nineteenth and into the twentieth century, it's not surprising that there are still reminders of the gold and silver rushes that brought so many to the state.

For more information, click here.

Wednesday Near Wyoming - November 2, 2022

 

Did you notice that the title says Wednesday NEAR Wyoming rather than Wednesday IN Wyoming? That's because this month I'm featuring scenes from the neighboring state of Colorado.

If you get a little dizzy looking into this canyon, you're not alone. This is the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, part of a national park with the same name. The steep cliffs and narrow river bed mean that little sunshine makes its way to the bottom of the canyon, giving it its name.

The park is well worth a visit if you're traveling to Colorado. Here's a link for more information.