January 6, 2010
We “saw” the N.C. Mineral Museum
A thick morning fog was sitting on the mountaintops. In the valleys and hollers we were under the fog.
When Mom and I visited family friends in North Carolina, back in October, we took the time to go to the nearby North Carolina Minerals museum, located at milepost 331 of the Blue Ridge Parkway, just outside of Spruce Pine, on Rte. 226. The morning fog was dangerously thick. In addition to presenting the rich mining history of the area (everything from gold and copper to the porcelain in your toilet and quartz), militia passed through the gap on September 28 or 29th, 1780, on the Overmountain Victory Trail as they headed towards their confrontation with British Loyalists at King’s Mountain. Worried that being at the gap wasn’t enough, we followed part of the trail (in reverse) along Rte 19E as we headed toward Johnson City.
December 31, 2009
And the Winner of the 2009 Muffin is…
It’s Mom (as if there was any doubt).
Victoriously reclaiming the trophy
The breakdown: She got 46 stamps total, 40 individual stamps (when you eliminate multiples, like the trails), of which 37 qualified (she didn’t get them last year), of which 20 were unique to her. How’s that for stats (46/40/37/20)? The strikeouts are ones she got last year; the blue text are ones that somebody else also got.
1. Fossil Butte NM, Kemmerer, WY — Apr 2, 2009.
2. California NHT, Rocky Mountain Region — Apr 2, 2009.
3. Oregon NHT, Rocky Mountain Region — Apr 2, 2009.
4. Oregon NHT, Rocky Mountain Region — Apr 6, 2009.
5. Oregon NHT, Rocky Mountain Region — Apr 7, 2009.
6. California NHT, Rocky Mountain Region — Apr 6, 2009.
7. California NHT, Rocky Mountain Region — Apr 7, 2009.
8. Pony Express NHT, Rocky Mountain Region — Apr 6, 2009.
9. Pony Express NHT, Rocky Mountain Region — Apr 7, 2009.
10. Mormon Pioneer NHT, Rocky Mountain Region — Apr 6, 2009.
11. Mormon Pioneer NHT, Rocky Mountain Region — Apr 7, 2009.
12. Western Historic Trails Center, Council Bluffs, IA — Apr 7, 2009.
13. Oregon NHT, Council Bluffs, IA — Apr 7, 2009.
14. Mormon Pioneer NHT (IL, IA, NE, WY, UT), Midwest Region — Apr 7, 2009.
15. California NHT, Midwest Region — Apr 7, 2009.
16. Lewis & Clark NHT, Iowa — Apr 7, 2009.
17. Cedar Creek & Belle Grove NHP, Shenandoah Valley, VA — May 10, 2009.
18. Booker T. Washington NM, Hardy, VA — Jul 3, 2009.
19-34. 16 stamps from the National Mall — Jul 9, 2009.
35. Gettysburg NMP, Gettysburg, PA — Jul 15, 2009.
36. Valley Forge NHP, Valley Forge, PA — Oct 5, 2009.
37. Schuylkill River NHA, Valley Forge, PA — Oct 05, 2009.
38. Carl Sandburg Home NHS, Flat Rock, NC — Oct 22, 2009.
39. Blue Ridge Parkway, Musuem of NC Minerals — Oct 23, 2009.
40. Overmountain Victory Trail, Blue Ridge Parkway — Oct 23, 2009.
41. Andrew Johnson NHS, Greeneville, TN — Oct 23, 2009.
42. Andrew Johnson NHS, Tailor Shop — Oct 23, 2009.
43. Andrew Johnson NHS, Nat’l Cemetery — Oct 23, 2009.
44. Wheeling NHA, Wheeling, WV — Nov 24, 2009.
45. William Howard Taft NHS, Cincinnati, OH — Nov 25, 2009.
46. Friendship Hill NHS, New Geneva, PA — Nov 28, 2009.
I think I was the runner-up, with 34 total stamps, 28 individual, 22 qualified, 6 were unique (34/28/22/6).
December 10, 2009
Time to update the trophy
We need to put the names of the past few winners on the trophy. We’re only current to 2005.
Update: With a minimum order of $12.50, that’s fine for 4 years, but I think we’d be wise to have someone else do the yearly updates from now on.
September 8, 2009
Mike’s Post-Labor Day Muffin Stamp Count
As of September 8, 2009, here are the stamps I have:
- California Nat’l Historic Trail (Apr. 2, Apr. 6. Apr. 7). Got this stamp in 2008.
- Oregon Nat’l Historic Trail (Apr. 2, Apr. 6, Apr. 7). Same.
- Pony Express Nat’l Historic Trail (Apr. 6, Apr. 7). Again.
- Mormon Pioneer Nat’l Historic Trail (Apr. 6, Apr. 7). More.
- Fossil Butte National Monument (Apr. 2). Ditto.
- Western Historic Trails Center, Council Bluffs, IA (Apr. 7)
- California Nat’l Historic Trail (Apr. 7).
- Oregon Nat’l Historic Trail, Council Bluffs, IA (Apr. 7)
- Mormon Pioneer Nat’l Historic Trail (Apr. 7)
- Lewis & Clark Nat’l Historic Trail, Iowa (Apr. 7)
- Cedar Creek & Belle Grove NHP, Shenandoah Valley, VA (May 10)
- Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, Washington, D.C. (May 23)
- National Capital Parks – East, Presidential Inauguration (Jan 2009).
- Oxon Cove Park, Underground RR Freedom Network (May 23)
- Potomac Heritage NST, Oxon Hill, MD (May 23)
- Oxon Cove Park, Oxon Hill, MD (May 23)
- Gettysburg NMP, Gettysburg, PA (Jul 15)
- Chickasaw NRA, Sulphur, OK (Aug 14)
- Wolf Trap NP for the Performing Arts, Vienna, VA (Aug 21)
Sheryl got some of the trail stamps last year when she helped me move out to Utah, but she stuck to her self-imposed rule of not counting stamps that her and Eric don’t get together. This year, when they helped me move back, they got the stamps, again. They’ll count for them, but not for me or Mom.
I went to Fossil Butte last year, but Mom’s visit will count.
I got the Presidential Inauguration stamp because it was limited edition, but I obviously didn’t attend.
The April 7 trail stamps in Council Bluffs Iowa are some of the same ones that we got at trail HQ in Salt Lake City, but the latter are gold-colored and in the Mountain Region, while the Iowa ones are red-colored.
I’m only at 13, with two-thirds of the year done.
September 7, 2009
Chickasaw NRA Picked as Getaway of the Week after I visit. Coincidence?
Chickasaw NRA was featured on the NPS website as Getaway of the Week (Week 11: August 31 – September 6) shortly after my visit. Maybe they’re fans of this blog. The text is below, which offers additional tidbits about the park.
Chickasaw National Recreation Area
OklahomaAt Chickasaw National Recreation Area the power of place is evident: cool creeks flowing over travertine terraces; the silhouette of a great blue heron perched on the shore of the Lake of the Arbuckles; families reuniting in historic campgrounds; locals filling jugs with mineral water; and the idyllic escape so many discover here.
Lying midway between Oklahoma City and Dallas in part of the country that many stereotype as rather unspectacular subprairie scenery, Chickasaw is a conveniently located contrast. Situated just east of Interstate 35 as it transects south-central Oklahoma at the juncture of the southern Osage Plains and the ancient, worn remnants of the Arbuckle Mountains, Chickasaw entertains more than one million visitors each year.
Water defines the park. For over a century, people have come here to enjoy the refreshing, tranquil beauty of this simple wooded valley and its many springs and streams. The reputed healing power of its mineral waters prompted the park’s creation in 1902 as the Sulphur Springs Reservation. The United States Government purchased the land for the new park from the Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations at $20 per acre; making it the first and only national park established at an Indian Tribe’s request. In 1906, the reservation became the nation’s seventh national park, Platt National Park.
Visitors flocked to the new park, and many made annual visits a family tradition. In 1908 over 100,000 visitors were counted at Bromide Spring. To conserve the spring water, only one gallon of water per person per day was allowed without a physician’s prescription.
Between 1933 and 1940, Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) members rebuilt Platt National Park. Rustic buildings, swimming holes, and picnic areas, remain today as a testament to their work. Since then, millions have enjoyed the landscape left behind by the CCC by swimming at Little Niagara, camping at the Cold Springs Campground, or tasting the water at Pavilion Springs.
After 70 years as the smallest national park, Platt National Park was combined with the Arbuckle Recreation Area to create Chickasaw National Recreation Area. The name of the park honors the vision of the Chickasaw Nation. In many respects the modern park is really two parks in one – the Platt Historic District and the Lake of the Arbuckles.
The Lake of the Arbuckles, built in the mid-1960s, offers fun on the water. It’s one of the best fishing lakes in Oklahoma for catfish, perch, bass, and crappie. The Buckhorn and Point campgrounds offer traditional and utility camping sites. Nearby boat ramps provide easy access to the water’s edge, and in areas surrounding the lake some hunting is allowed. In the autumn, the creek-side trails of the Platt Historic District offer an outstanding opportunity to slow down, and exchange the breathtaking vistas and dramatic phenomena of larger national parks, and in their stead delight in quiet, pleasant vignettes of nature’s ageless ways. Come visit — click www.nps.gov/chic/, or call (580) 622-7234.
September 6, 2009
Winter Vacation Packages in Yellowstone
I mentioned once before that I would totally like to take a snowmobile tour of Yellowstone.
However, to operate a snowmobile in Yellowstone, on Federal public land, you are supposed to be licensed, from what I remember reading. Talking to some people who have gone up to West Yellowstone for snowmobiling, it sounds like you can…oops, wander on to park land because it’s not well marked if you really want to.
I’m not into that. Anyhow, now that I’m back in Virginia, I’m not sure how I would get a license in Virginia that would qualify to operate a snowmobile (probably via an ATV safety course), so maybe it’d be best to find an alternative for visiting Yellowstone in the winter. There’s a nice set of vacation packages offered by Xanterra Parks & Resorts that just sound like fun. Check these out (winter 2009 prices):
Nordic Heaven at Old Faithful Snow Lodge: includes snowcoach transportation, at least 2 nights lodging, breakfast each day of stay per person, 1 welcome gift per person, 1 ski rental per person per day, unlimited ski drops per person and 1 snow card (discount card) per person which is good for additional 10% discounts on certain gift shop items, additional meals (except designated special events) and any equipment rental. Starts at $339.00 per person double occupancy, $489.00 single occupancy.
Guided Snowmo-Deal at Old Faithful Snow Lodge: includes at least 2 nights lodging, breakfast each day of stay per person, 1 welcome gift per person, 1 snow card per person discount card) per person which is good for additional 10% discounts on certain gift shop items, additional meals (except designated special events), any equipment rental and one guided snowmobile tour to either the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone or Mammoth (snowmobile clothing included in the package). Starts at $389.00 per person double occupancy, $639.00 single occupancy with snowcoach transportation to Snow Lodge.
There are equivalent packages for Mammoth Lodge, and winter packages that split time between the two. It could be really neat. I really need to find someone to do this with.
For the muffin stamp afficionado, the Albright Visitor Center in Mammoth is open year-round, and the Old Faithful Visitor Center has winter hours, too. My guess is that a snowcoach day tour is likely to only give you the opportunity for the Old Faithful stamp unless you do a more elaborate package tour.
Here I thought there’d be other years. Should have done it when I had the chance. Some day I’ll go back, though.
