Life on the Open Road (April 2006 - May 2008)

The continuing saga of a single fulltime RVer who travels the western US. This is part one of my journey, from April 2006, when the blog started, to May 2008, when the blog continues at www.lifeontheopenroad.blogspot.com

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I have been a full-time RVer for 20 years, primarily "boondocking," camping free without hookups, in the Western US. My batteries are charged solely by solar panels. I welcome your comments and emails. I also make trips to other countries, although not usually with the RV.

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Guadalupe Mts National Park


While visiting Carlsbad and Guadalupe Mts National Parks, I stayed on BLM land at MM 5.1 in New Mexico. Texas has NO BLM LAND, so it's going to be tough going across the state. However, you can stay at picnic areas and rest areas for one night.

This is El Capitan, the landmark everyone associates with Guadalupe Mountains. To the right of it is Guadalupe peak, the highest point in Texas.


The Butterfield Overland Mail stagecoaches came through here for a short time, September 1858 to August 1859. This station, called The Pinery, was the highest in elevation of the many stations along the route.


They traveled day and night, carrying up to 9 passengers, baggage, and 12,000 letters.


They had to complete the 2700-mile journey between St. Louis and San Francisco in 25 days as promised in their contract, and they never failed. A passenger going the whole distance paid $150, and a letter cost 10 cents.


While here, I hiked the very pretty trail up McKittrick Canyon to the Pratt Cabin.


Ah, made it. This is the entrance to the cabin area.


Wallace Pratt, petroleum geologist and conservationist, built the cabin as a summer home during the depression.


"The Stone Cabin," as he called it, had stone walls, floor, and roof, made of limestone slabs. He donated the cabin and over 5000 acres of McKittrick Canyon to the National Park Service in 1961. Thanks, Wallace! I really enjoyed it.

2 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I hope you took the next 1/4 mile past the cabin to the grotto. I have had lunch at the grotto a few times and love it. Maybe we will get a report about the Top Of Texas when you walk up Guadalupe Peak.

6:17 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What a beautiful cabin. I bet it was cool in the summer with all that rock.

8:17 AM  

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