Mogollon, New Mexico

Mogollon, NM – Welcome To Mogollon N.M. Ghost Town

After locating zero elk from the north side of 16B we packed up camp & decided to move southward to check other areas. Heading west on NM-159 there’s a cool little mining ghost town called Mogollon, New Mexico. Evidence of the old mining operations are scattered about town and include mine/cave entries like this one … Read more

2020 Elk Hunt @ New Mexico Gila Wilderness

Looking north across Snow Lake from the Continental Divide Trail

Finally I had arrived in New Mexico’s Gila Wilderness! It was a long drive and I completely underestimated how long the final stretch would take but I made it in one piece. Had to take a few glamour shots of the new-to-me Toyota Tacoma that handled the terrain like a champ. These photos were at … Read more

Capulin Volcano National Monument [Failed]

Capulin Volcano National Monument

My final stop before reaching the Gila Wilderness was at Capulin Volcano National Monument, a large extinct cinder cone volcano that you can drive up to in Capulin, New Mexico. My only mistake was stopping at the entrance sign to get these two photos. Trucks for scale. See that red truck in the first image? … Read more

Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site

Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site - Stone Arch Entrance Sign

Getting closer to New Mexico and the miles are flying by. Needed another distraction on a rather boring drive in SE Colorado. Interestingly enough I stopped at Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site which has connections to my last stop at Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site. Gaining access is quite easy – just park … Read more

Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site

Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site - Entrance Sign

Starting my final day of driving towards New Mexico, I found myself crossing southeast Colorado. Not much out this way but I did spot the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site on my map and decided that I’d give it a go. This is a very remote site and out of my way but not … Read more

Mount Sunflower

Mount Sunflower - Sunset at the Highest Point In Kansas

Final stop today and last stop in Kansas for this leg of the journey. Once again I ended up in the middle of nowhere but exactly where I planned to be. Checking off another highpoint at Mount Sunflower, the highest point in Kansas at 4,039 feet above sea level. Fun fact: also not a mountain. … Read more

Nicodemus National Historic Site

Nicodemus National Historic Site - First Baptist Church

A little less than 100 miles from my last stop I made a point to visit Nicodemus National Historic Site in Nicodemus Township, Kansas. Why? Nicodemus is the only remaining western town established by African Americans during the Reconstruction period. Quite simply, this is a living & breathing town that irrefutably proves Black lives and … Read more

The Geographical Center of the Lower 48 United States

Geographic Center of the Contiguous United States - Marker monument with flagpole on top

So, so, so many boring miles driving across Nebraska that I want to cut my eyeballs out. Lucky for me even the tiniest distraction was enough to take a break. One lone sign on the shoulder of the interstate made me detour into Lebanon, Kansas to visit The Geographic Center of the Contiguous United States. … Read more

Homestead National Historical Park

Homestead National Historical Park - George Palmer cabin exterior

Sometimes visiting a place leaves you angry, upset, but ultimately glad it exits as a record of horrible things from the past. That’s pretty much how I felt after visiting Homestead National Monument today on a dreary and gray-skied morning in Beatrice, Nebraska. [Update: It appears the name has changed now to Homestead National Historic … Read more

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site - Gravesite

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic my travels in 2020 were nearly non-existent until August when I would launch a road trip to New Mexico for a socially-distanced elk hunt with my father. I drove nearly straight through but did find time for a few distractions along the way to break up the monotonous 1,700 mile … Read more