Vol. 3: Pg. 6

Columbus, NM

Columbus was established in 1891 just across the Mexican border from Palomas, Chihuahua, and named after 15th-century explorer Christopher Columbus. On March 9, 1916, on the orders of Mexican revolutionary leader Pancho Villa, Colonel Francisco Beltrán, Colonel Candelario Cervantes, General Nicolás Fernández, General Pablo López, and others led 500 men in an attack against the town, which was garrisoned by a detachment of the 13th Cavalry Regiment. Villa's army burned a part of the town and killed seven or eight soldiers and 10 residents before retreating back into Mexico. United States President Woodrow Wilson responded to the Columbus raid by sending 10,000 troops under Brigadier General John J. Pershing to Mexico to pursue Villa. This was known as the Punitive Mexican Expedition or Pancho Villa Expedition. The expedition was eventually called off after failing to find Villa, who had escaped. The Pershing expedition brought prosperity and international attention to Columbus and a realization that war had come to the border of the United States.

Map to General Area

Vol. 3: Pg. 7

Tombstone, AZ

The spirits of Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and the Clanton Brothers live on in the authentic old west town of Tombstone, home of Boothill Graveyard, the Birdcage Theatre, and the O.K. Corral. After getting its start as a silver mining claim in the late-1870s, the settlement grew along with its Tough Nut Mine, becoming a bustling boomtown of the Wild West. From opera and theater to dance halls and brothels, Tombstone offered much-needed entertainment to the miners after a long shift underground. In 1886, the mines flooded and hit rock bottom, and the miners moved on to the next claim.

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Vol. 3: Pg. 8

Bullhead City, AZ

With over 59 square miles, Bullhead City is the largest city in Mohave County in terms of total land area. Bullhead City is a city located on the Colorado River in Mohave County, Arizona, United States, roughly 90 mi south of Las Vegas, Nevada, and directly across the Colorado River from Laughlin, Nevada, whose casinos and ancillary services supply much of the employment for Bullhead City. Bullhead City is located on the southern border of Lake Mohave.

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Vol. 3: Pg. 9

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, AZ

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument preserves over 330,000 acres of green, living desert that is yours to explore and get to know. Because of its amazing biodiversity, this place is considered a mecca for Sonoran Desert Research and is honored with a designation by UNESCO as an International Biosphere Reserve. Each of the plants have learned tricks and techniques to survive heat and drought, as well as freezing temperatures and floods. This is a land of extremes when it comes to plant life.

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Vol. 3: Pg. 10

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, NM

For thousands of years, groups of nomadic people used the caves of the Gila River as temporary shelter. In the late 1200's, people of the Mogollon Culture decided it would be a good place to call home. They built rooms, crafted pottery and raised children in the cliff dwellings for about twenty years. Then the Mogollon moved on, leaving the walls for us as a glimpse into the past. The monument is surrounded by the Gila National Forest and lies within the rugged Gila Wilderness, the nation's first wilderness area.

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Vol. 3: Pg. 11

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, NM

For thousands of years, groups of nomadic people used the caves of the Gila River as temporary shelter. In the late 1200's, people of the Mogollon Culture decided it would be a good place to call home. They built rooms, crafted pottery and raised children in the cliff dwellings for about twenty years. Then the Mogollon moved on, leaving the walls for us as a glimpse into the past. The monument is surrounded by the Gila National Forest and lies within the rugged Gila Wilderness, the nation's first wilderness area.

Map to General Area

Vol. 3: Pg. 12

Glacier National Park, MT

Glacier Park's varied climate influences and its location at the headwaters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Hudson Bay drainages have given rise to an incredible variety of plants and animals. Both Glacier National Park and Waterton Lakes National Park, across the border in Canada, were designated International Biosphere Reserves and together were recognized in 1995 as a World Heritage Site. Glacier National Park is a 1,583-sq.-mile wilderness area in Montana's Rocky Mountains, with glacier-carved peaks and valleys running to the Canadian border. It's crossed by the mountainous Going-to-the-Sun Road which was used in the opening scene of the film, The Shining.

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Vol. 3: Pg. 13

Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO

Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain National Park's heavily traveled highway to the sky, inspired awe before the first motorist ever traveled it. "It is hard to describe what a sensation this new road is going to make," predicted Horace Albright, director of the National Park Service, in 1931 during the road's construction. "You will have the whole sweep of the Rockies before you in all directions." But for all its harshness, the Trail Ridge tundra is a place of vibrant life and vivid colors. Pikas, marmots, ptarmigans and bighorn sheep are commonly seen. About 200 species of tiny alpine plants hug the ground. Despite a growing season that may last just 40 days, many bloom exuberantly, adorning the green summer tundra with swatches of yellow, red, pink, blue, purple and white. Forested moraines, great heaps of earth and rock debris left behind by melting Ice Age glaciers, rise above lush mountain meadows. The Continental Divide, where streamflows are separated east from west, is crossed at Milner Pass, located at a surprisingly low 10,758 feet elevation. Moose munch greenery in the upper reaches of the Colorado River, which flows through the scenic Kawuneeche Valley. Grazing elk greet sunrise and sunset in many of the forest-rimmed meadows found around the park. Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous highway in the United States, climbing over the Continental Divide.

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Vol. 3: Pg. 14

Lava Beds National Monument, CA

Lava Beds National Monument is a land of turmoil, both geological and historical. Over the last half-million years, volcanic eruptions on the Medicine Lake shield volcano have created a rugged landscape dotted with diverse volcanic features. More than 800 caves, Native American rock art sites, historic battlefields and campsites, and a high desert wilderness experience await visitors to this remote part of California. During the Modoc War of 1872-1873, a small band of Modocs used their knowledge of the homeland's terrain to their tactical advantage. This area is still infused with cultural and spiritual importance for many modern people of Modoc and Klamath descent.

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Vol. 3: Pg. 15

Salt Lake City, UT

Salt Lake City is the world headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The city was founded in 1847 by followers of the church, led by Brigham Young, who were seeking to escape persecution they had experienced while living farther east. The Mormon pioneers, as they would come to be known, entered a semi-arid valley and immediately began building, planning, and extending an extensive irrigation network which could feed the population and foster future growth. Salt Lake City's street grid system is based on a standard compass grid plan, with the southeast corner of Temple Square (the area containing the Salt Lake Temple in downtown Salt Lake City) serving as the origin of the Salt Lake meridian. Due to its proximity to the Great Salt Lake, the city was originally named Great Salt Lake City. In 1868, the word "Great" was dropped from the city's name. Immigration of international members of the LDS Church, mining booms, and the construction of the first transcontinental railroad initially brought economic growth, and the city was nicknamed the Crossroads of the West. It was traversed by the Lincoln Highway, the first transcontinental highway, in 1913. Two major cross-country freeways, I-15 and I-80, now intersect in the city. The city also has a belt route, I-215. In the modern day, Salt Lake City has developed a strong tourist industry based primarily on skiing and outdoor recreation.

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Vol. 3: Pg. 16

Turner, OR

This county was originally named the Champooick District, after Champoeg (earlier Champooick), a meeting place on the Willamette River. On September 3, 1849, the territorial legislature renamed it in honor of Francis Marion, a Continental Army general from South Carolina who served in the American Revolutionary War. Marion County is part of the Salem, OR Metropolitan Area. It is located in the Willamette Valley and is primarily used for agriculture, wineries, farms and recreation.

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Vol. 3: Pg. 17

Bullhead City, AZ

With over 59 square miles, Bullhead City is the largest city in Mohave County in terms of total land area. Bullhead City is a city located on the Colorado River in Mohave County, Arizona, United States, roughly 90 mi south of Las Vegas, Nevada, and directly across the Colorado River from Laughlin, Nevada, whose casinos and ancillary services supply much of the employment for Bullhead City. Bullhead City is located on the southern border of Lake Mohave.

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Vol. 3: Pg. 18

Columbus, NM

Columbus was established in 1891 just across the Mexican border from Palomas, Chihuahua, and named after 15th-century explorer Christopher Columbus. On March 9, 1916, on the orders of Mexican revolutionary leader Pancho Villa, Colonel Francisco Beltrán, Colonel Candelario Cervantes, General Nicolás Fernández, General Pablo López, and others led 500 men in an attack against the town, which was garrisoned by a detachment of the 13th Cavalry Regiment. Villa's army burned a part of the town and killed seven or eight soldiers and 10 residents before retreating back into Mexico. United States President Woodrow Wilson responded to the Columbus raid by sending 10,000 troops under Brigadier General John J. Pershing to Mexico to pursue Villa. This was known as the Punitive Mexican Expedition or Pancho Villa Expedition. The expedition was eventually called off after failing to find Villa, who had escaped. The Pershing expedition brought prosperity and international attention to Columbus and a realization that war had come to the border of the United States.

Map to General Area

Vol. 3: Pg. 19

Champoeg, OR

This is the site where Oregon's first provisional government was formed by a historical vote in 1843. A thriving town of 200 was established, only to be washed away during a great flood in 1861. This rich history earns the area’s placement on the National Register of Historic Places. A diversity of activities exist today. Enjoy walking or biking on the paved trails that pass historical landmarks and hug the river. Play the 18-hole disc golf course under the oak trees, relax at the multitude of scenic picnic areas, go wine tasting, or fish or kayak from dock on the Willamette River. The ecologically rich landscape is home to more than 130 bird species, including seasonally nesting western bluebirds and acorn woodpeckers.

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Vol. 3: Pg. 20

Petaluma, CA

Petaluma is the location of many distinguished, well-preserved pre-1906 buildings and Victorian homes on the western side of the Petaluma River. The downtown area has suffered many river floods over the years and during the Depression commerce declined. A lack of funds prevented the demolition of the old homes and buildings. In the 1960s there was a counter-culture migration out of San Francisco into Marin County and southern Sonoma County, looking for inexpensive housing in a less urban environment. The old Victorian, Queen Anne and Eastlake style houses were restored. Historic iron-front buildings in the downtown commercial district were also rescued. Traffic and new home development for the most part was rerouted to the east of downtown by the construction of the 101 freeway. The downtown Petaluma Historic Commercial District is on the National Register of Historic Places.

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Vol. 3: Pg. 21

Sonoma Coast State Park, CA

The property lies along State Route 1 and consists of a number of named beaches including Arched Rock Beach, Gleason Beach and Goat Rock Beach. The ecosystem consists of alternating sandy beaches and rocky shoreline, with a marine terrace extending above the entire extent with an upland California coastal prairie habitat.

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Vol. 3: Pg. 22

Santa Rosa, CA

Santa Rosa (Spanish for 'Saint Rose') is a city and the county seat of Sonoma County, in the North Bay region of the Bay Area in California. With 176,753 people, Santa Rosa is the largest city in California's Wine Country and Redwood Coast, as well as the fifth most populous city in the Bay Area after San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, and Fremont.

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Vol. 3: Pg. 23

Portland Women's Forum State Scenic Viewpoint, OR

No trip to Vista House is complete without a stop at Portland Women’s Forum for a stunning view of the historic landmark framed by the Columbia River Gorge. The same view that attracts visitors from around the globe inspired the visionaries of the Historic Columbia River Highway, built in 1918 as the first road linking Portland and The Dalles. This small park’s namesake organization, the Portland Women’s Forum, was active in preserving the natural beauty along the Gorge and donated the land to the state. This is one of the most popular viewpoints for photographing Vista House.

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Vol. 3: Pg. 24

City of Rocks State Park, NM

City of Rocks gets its name from the incredible volcanic rock formations found here. The park encompasses a one square mile area in the scenic Chihuahuan desert region of southwestern New Mexico at an elevation of 5,200 feet. The “city” is a geologic formation made up of large, sculptured rock columns, or pinnacles, rising as high as 40 feet and separated by paths or lanes resembling city streets. These rocks were formed about 34.9 million years ago when a very large volcano erupted. Then, erosion over millions of years slowly formed the sculptured columns seen today, creating a stunning, otherworldly landscape.

Jody’s note: I hadn’t planned on visiting this place, but decided the name was just too intriguing. My side trip turned into an extended stay as I fell in love with the area. Hiking through the rocks really is like navigating a complex city. You can get lost, but not worry as a trail circles the formations. On one hike, I found a rabbit with its head missing, which shows that there are sizable predators in the area.

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Vol. 3: Pg. 25

Old Mesilla, NM

The heart of the picturesque village of Mesilla is much the same as it was one hundred years ago. Thick walled adobe buildings, which once protected residents against Apache attacks, now house art galleries, restaurants, museums and gift shops. Today, tourists stroll on the peaceful plaza and imagine life as it might have been many years ago. Mesilla's most notorious resident, Billy the Kid, was sentenced to death at the county courthouse, but escaped before the sentence was carried out. Legendary hero Pat Garrett eventually tracked down and killed the Kid; later, Garrett was mysteriously murdered in an arroyo just outside of Las Cruces. He is buried in a local cemetery.

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Vol. 3: Pg. 26

Lassen National Park, CA

Steaming sulphur vents, splattering mud pots, boiling springs—these feisty hydrothermal features prove that the earth is very much alive. Lassen Volcanic National Park’s signature volcano, Lassen Peak, blew its top in 1914 and its outbursts continued for three years. Now it’s dormant, and trails and overlooks let you explore geological wonders amid a tranquil landscape of dense woods and sparkling lakes. Feel the heat at Sulphur Works or Bumpass Hell and then climb a cinder cone.

Map to General Area

Vol. 3: Pg. 27

Blackrock, CA

This area of rural Inyo County hosts a rest area off highway 395 and spectacular views of the Eastern Sierra Nevadas in California.

Map to General Area

Vol. 3: Pg. 28

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, CA

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park’s rugged landscape formed largely by the forces of erosion attacking the uplifted mountains. The higher the mountains rise, the more vigorously they are attacked by rain, snow, ice, and wind, as they yield to the constant pull of gravity. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is the largest state park in California. Five hundred miles of dirt roads, 12 wilderness areas and many miles of hiking trails provide visitors with an unparalleled opportunity to experience the wonders of the California Desert. The park is named for Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza and the Spanish word borrego, or bighorn sheep. The park features washes, wildflowers, palm groves, cacti and sweeping vistas. Visitors may also have the chance to see roadrunners, golden eagles, kit foxes, mule deer and bighorn sheep as well as iguanas, chuckwallas and the red diamond rattlesnake.

Jody’s note: This bighorn sheep was two mountains away, but I somehow spotted her on the ridge and used my best telephoto lens to try and capture the moment.

Map to General Area

Vol. 3: Pg. 29

Christmas Tree Pass, NV

Christmas Tree Pass is a pass that leads over the Newberry Mountains in southern Nevada. The road that crosses the pass is called, appropriately enough, Christmas Tree Pass Road. The road begins just outside the town of Laughlin off of NV Highway 163, and ends to the south of the tiny town of Searchlight, NV, on highway 93. This scenic drive is twelve miles in length. The road itself is gravel and is generally in good condition. However, in a few places the road can be a bit rough and steep, particularly right below the pass on the eastern side. Although some careful and slow driving will allow a passenger car to traverse the occasional deep ruts and holes that form here—a high clearance vehicle can be quite helpful. The trip over Christmas Tree Pass is very enjoyable. You get some fine views of the Colorado River valley down below, where Laughlin is located. And you get sweeping views into Arizona. And once you reach the western side of the pass…the sprawling Mojave Desert just goes on and on.

Map to General Area

Vol. 3: Pg. 30

Oatman, AZ

Oatman might have suffered the same fate as many Arizona mining towns and faded into a ghost town if not for Route 66 nostalgia and nearby casinos. The town prides itself on maintaining a Wild West feel, down to the wooden sidewalks, staged shootouts and kitschy shops. (You can even adopt a wild burro and take it home!) Clark Gable and Carole Lombard allegedly honeymooned at the 1902 two-story adobe Oatman Hotel after marrying in nearby Kingman. Some say the lovebirds’ spirits as well as other former lodgers still vacation there. The hotel remains open as a museum and restaurant. Oatman is surrounded by Bureau of Land Management wilderness, which is also home to desert bighorn sheep. Outdoor activities include hiking, camping, hunting, photography, and rock climbing.

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Vol. 3: Pg. 31

Ajo, AZ

Ajo is surrounded by 12 million acres of public and tribal land waiting to be explored. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge offer expansive hiking, camping and birding places. The unpolluted skies have attracted countless astronomy buffs and stargazers. Peer through massive telescopes and enjoy educational programs and Native American exhibits at nearby Kitt Peak National Observatory. The area is home to more than 1,000 species of plants and animals, many unique to the area.

Map to General Area

Vol. 3: Pg. 32

Hammil Valley, CA

The Hammil brothers (William, Hugh, and Robert) homesteaded at the site in 1870. The Carson and Colorado Railroad arrived in 1883 and named the settlement after them. Hammil's postal service was handled by the Mocalno, which operated from 1915 to 1937. Mocalno was named by adding "cal" for California in the Mono (the county's name). The petroglyphs in the Volcanic Tablelands outside of Bishop are one of the most awe-inspiring and intriguing things to see in the Eastern Sierra. The Paiute-Shoshone Indians chipped away at the dark surfaces of the rock, exposing the lighter tuff underneath, to create the petroglyphs, which can still be seen today.

Map to General Area

Vol. 3: Pg. 33

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, CA

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park’s rugged landscape formed largely by the forces of erosion attacking the uplifted mountains. The higher the mountains rise, the more vigorously they are attacked by rain, snow, ice, and wind, as they yield to the constant pull of gravity. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is the largest state park in California. Five hundred miles of dirt roads, 12 wilderness areas and many miles of hiking trails provide visitors with an unparalleled opportunity to experience the wonders of the California Desert. The park is named for Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza and the Spanish word borrego, or bighorn sheep. The park features washes, wildflowers, palm groves, cacti and sweeping vistas. Visitors may also have the chance to see roadrunners, golden eagles, kit foxes, mule deer and bighorn sheep as well as iguanas, chuckwallas and the red diamond rattlesnake.

Map to General Area

Vol. 3: Pg. 34

Christmas Tree Pass, NV

Christmas Tree Pass is a pass that leads over the Newberry Mountains in southern Nevada. The road that crosses the pass is called, appropriately enough, Christmas Tree Pass Road. The road begins just outside the town of Laughlin off of NV Highway 163, and ends to the south of the tiny town of Searchlight, NV, on highway 93. This scenic drive is twelve miles in length. The road itself is gravel and is generally in good condition. However, in a few places the road can be a bit rough and steep, particularly right below the pass on the eastern side. Although some careful and slow driving will allow a passenger car to traverse the occasional deep ruts and holes that form here—a high clearance vehicle can be quite helpful. The trip over Christmas Tree Pass is very enjoyable. You get some fine views of the Colorado River valley down below, where Laughlin is located. And you get sweeping views into Arizona. And once you reach the western side of the pass…the sprawling Mojave Desert just goes on and on.

Map to General Area

Vol. 3: Pg. 35

Alabama Hills, CA

The Alabama Hills are a formation of rounded rocks and eroded hills set between the jagged peaks of the Sierra Nevada and the geologically complex Inyo Mountains. Both geologic features were shaped by the same uplifting occurring 100 million years ago. Though geographically separate from the Sierra Nevada, they are part of the same geological formation. The Alabama Hills location as a gateway to Mt. Whitney, the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States, and the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains. The Alabama Hills were named for the CSS Alabama, a Confederate warship deployed during the American Civil War. When news of the ship's exploits reached prospectors in California sympathetic to the Confederates, they named many mining claims after the ship, and the name came to be applied to the entire range. The Alabama Hills are a popular filming location for television and movie productions, especially Westerns set in an archetypical "rugged" environment. Since the early 1920s, 150 movies and about a dozen television shows have been filmed here.

Map to General Area

Vol. 3: Pg. 36

Lake of the Woods, OR

This high mountain historic lake resort sits beside one of the clearest natural lakes found in the Southern Oregon Cascades. One can enjoy cabin life, comfort food, the wonders of nature, and a variety of outdoor recreational activities Views of Mt. McLoughlin dominate the skyline.

Jody’s note: This is one of the mountains I can see from my property in Southern Oregon.

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Vol. 3: Pg. 37

Yosemite National Park, CA

Mono Hot Springs, CA

Located between Yosemite and Kings Canyon on the west slope of the Sierra’s you’ll find over a dozen natural mineral hot springs running along the south bank of the south fork of the San Joaquin River with cabins at the resort, a restaurant and camping. You can reach these rustic hot springs in the Mono Basin – not to be confused with Mono Lake on the east slope of the Sierra – by traveling over 9,100 ft. Kaiser Pass Road with spectacular views of the “Range of Light” that is some of the most beautiful light colored granite in the Sierras Nevada. There you can hike to the balancing rock with views of Florence Lake below.

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Vol. 3: Pg. 38

Coldwater Lake, Mt. St. Helens, WA

Coldwater Lake Recreation Area is located 45 miles east of Castle Rock in the heart of the Mt. St. Helens blast zone. The eruption of Mount St. Helens on May 18, 1980, created a lahar or debris avalanche that rushed down the North Fork of the Toutle River, burying the whole valley up to 600 feet deep. The lahar backed up Coldwater Creek for more than a mile, damming the creek and its tributary South Fork Coldwater Creek to a height of 180 feet. Over the next few months, almost 100,000 acre feet of water collected to form a lake 5 miles in length. At the rate the lake was filling, it was anticipated to overtop the landslide dam by late 1981 or 1982. Because the material forming the dam consisted of soft volcanic debris and ash, it would erode quickly if overtopped, causing serious flooding downstream. In early 1981, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers excavated a spillway and outlet channel for the lake, stabilizing it at 2,503 feet above sea level with a volume of 67,300 acre feet. In May 1985 a tunnel was excavated to connect Spirit Lake to South Coldwater Creek. The eruption had blocked the outlet of Spirit Lake causing it to rise to dangerous levels. The tunnel allowed excess water from Spirit Lake to drain into Coldwater Lake, and from there into the Toutle River. The landslide dam forming Coldwater Lake was closely monitored until 1998, when its stability was no longer deemed a serious concern.

Map to General Area

Vol. 3: Pg. 39

Tom’s Place, CA

Toms Place (formerly, Hans Lof's) is an unincorporated community in Mono County, California. It is located on Rock Creek 10 miles east of Mount Morrison, at an elevation of 7090 feet. Hans Lof started a resort at the place called Hans Lof's in 1919. Tom Yernby bought the place in 1922 and renamed it. The Toms Place post office opened in 1963.

Map to General Area

Vol. 3: Pg. 40

Blackrock, CA

This area of rural Inyo County hosts a rest area off highway 395 and spectacular views of the Eastern Sierra Nevadas in California.

Map to General Area

Vol. 3: Pg. 41

Trail Ridge, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO

Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain National Park's heavily traveled highway to the sky, inspired awe before the first motorist ever traveled it. "It is hard to describe what a sensation this new road is going to make," predicted Horace Albright, director of the National Park Service, in 1931 during the road's construction. "You will have the whole sweep of the Rockies before you in all directions." But for all its harshness, the Trail Ridge tundra is a place of vibrant life and vivid colors. Pikas, marmots, ptarmigans and bighorn sheep are commonly seen. About 200 species of tiny alpine plants hug the ground. Despite a growing season that may last just 40 days, many bloom exuberantly, adorning the green summer tundra with swatches of yellow, red, pink, blue, purple and white. Forested moraines, great heaps of earth and rock debris left behind by melting Ice Age glaciers, rise above lush mountain meadows. The Continental Divide, where streamflows are separated east from west, is crossed at Milner Pass, located at a surprisingly low 10,758 feet elevation. Moose munch greenery in the upper reaches of the Colorado River, which flows through the scenic Kawuneeche Valley. Grazing elk greet sunrise and sunset in many of the forest-rimmed meadows found around the park. Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous highway in the United States, climbing over the Continental Divide.

Map to General Area

Vol. 3: Pg. 42

Tahoe City, Lake Tahoe, CA

Tahoe City is located on the shore of Lake Tahoe, at the outlet of the Truckee River. Tahoe City activities revolve around snow and everything one can do in, on or around it. Enjoy four-star dining, homegrown coffee shops, shopping, galleries, and a leisurely stroll through town on the Lake-view boardwalk any time. Once a destination for travelers to and from the Comstock Lode (c.1870’s) that featured a narrow-gauge railway stop and the steamer S.S. Tahoe, Tahoe City’s century-old heritage, historic sites (some claim haunted) and museums provide much history to explore as well.

Map to General Area

Vol. 3: Pg. 43

Lost Dutchman State Park, NM

Lost Dutchman State Park is a 320-acre state park located near the Superstition Mountains in central Arizona, and named after the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine, a famous gold mine legendary among the tales of the Old West. It is accessible about 40 miles east of Phoenix via Highway 60, the Superstition Freeway. The area was first developed as a day use recreation area by the Bureau of Land Management in 1972. The acres abutting the Tonto National Forest was transferred in 1977 via legislative action to the state of Arizona, creating the Lost Dutchman State Park.

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Vol. 3: Pg. 44

Mono Lake, CA

Mono Lake is an ancient saline lake located at the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada in California. Home to trillions of brine shrimp, millions of birds, and world-famous tufa towers, it’s a great place to visit, learn, and know. Mono Lake’s tributary streams supply water to Los Angeles, nearly 350 miles to the south. After a successful legal fight stopped excessive diversions, continuing advocacy has shown that with balanced solutions, there can be enough water for people and the environment. Located at the eastern edge of California, between the arid Great Basin and the snowy Sierra Nevada, Mono Lake is an ancient saline lake that covers over 70 square miles and supports a unique and productive ecosystem. The lake has trillions of brine shrimp and alkali flies, millions of birds, and freshwater tributary streams. Along the lakeshore, scenic limestone formations known as tufa towers rise from the water’s surface.nHumans have called the Mono Basin home for thousands of years. The Kutzadika’a Paiute are this land’s native people and original stewards. In the mid-1800s prospectors and pioneers arrived to make a living from the bedrock and soil.

Jody’s note: These waterspouts are one of the most interesting weather events I’ve captured during my travels.

Map to General Area

Vol. 3: Pg. 45

Columbus, NM

Columbus was established in 1891 just across the Mexican border from Palomas, Chihuahua, and named after 15th-century explorer Christopher Columbus. On March 9, 1916, on the orders of Mexican revolutionary leader Pancho Villa, Colonel Francisco Beltrán, Colonel Candelario Cervantes, General Nicolás Fernández, General Pablo López, and others led 500 men in an attack against the town, which was garrisoned by a detachment of the 13th Cavalry Regiment. Villa's army burned a part of the town and killed seven or eight soldiers and 10 residents before retreating back into Mexico. United States President Woodrow Wilson responded to the Columbus raid by sending 10,000 troops under Brigadier General John J. Pershing to Mexico to pursue Villa. This was known as the Punitive Mexican Expedition or Pancho Villa Expedition. The expedition was eventually called off after failing to find Villa, who had escaped. The Pershing expedition brought prosperity and international attention to Columbus and a realization that war had come to the border of the United States.

Map to General Area

Vol. 3: Pg. 46

Utah Lake, UT

Utah Lake is a shallow freshwater lake in center of Utah County, Utah. It lies in Utah Valley, surrounded by the Provo-Orem metropolitan area. The lake's only river outlet, the Jordan River, is a tributary of the Great Salt Lake. Evaporation accounts for 42% of the outflow of the lake, which leaves the lake slightly saline. The elevation of the lake is legally at 4,489 feet above sea level. If the lake elevation goes any higher, the pumps and gates on the Jordan River are left open. Although thirteen species of fish were native to the lake, only the Utah sucker and the critically endangered June sucker remain. The dominant species in the lake is the common carp, introduced in 1883 as an alternative to the over-harvested native fish. The carp is now estimated at 90% of the biomass of the lake and is contributing to a decline in native fish populations by severely altering the ecosystem. Pollution has also caused problems with the lake's ecosystem. Raw sewage was dumped into the lake as late as 1967. Pollution problems still remain; the lake's phosphorus and mineral salt levels are in violation of the Clean Water Act. In recent years, the lake has been prone to harmful algal blooms or HABs.

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