Lucinda's Santa Fe Summer 2001 Stuff

Santa Fe Trip Summer 2001

(Click on the small pictures to see a larger version.)

Cleveland Roller Mill We stumbled across the Cleveland Roller Mill in the Mora Valley (open weekends) by accident. This two-story adobe mill, built by Joseph Fuss, begin working in 1901 and was in full operation until 1947, and intermittently until 1954. Complete with mousing mill cats, the mill is a maze of wooden chutes, machines, and gears.		Elk For years we have been dutifully watching for elk as advised by highway signs with absolutely no results. Just outside Mora on highway 161 we finally spotted the elusive creatures. (The elk are the brown dots on the hillside.) Probably helped that there aren’t any semis on this road!


Fort Union There were actually three Fort Unions. The first was established in 1851 to protect travelers along the Santa Fe Trail. It was rebuilt in 1861 with massive earthwork fortifications to help defend the Santa Fe trail against a threatened Confederate invasion. This fort was abandoned after the Confederate invasion was turned back in March 1962. The third and final fort was erected between 1863 and 1869. It operated until 1891. There isn’t much left, but the ruins look great hulking behind the weeds.		Post Officers’ Quarters The post garrison officers and their families lived in the nine duplex houses in this row. Senior officers got first choice; junior officers made due with what was left. We could not figure out what the stone blocks outside each house would have been used for.


Fort Union Hospital The Fort Union Hospital had six wards and 36 beds, with a maximum capacity of 60. Probably not too comfortable by modern standards, but it was one of the best hospitals in the west at the time. Soldiers and their families received free care, civilians had to pay about 50¢ a day for board.		Fort Union Hospital Here I am trying to decide which of the many doorway views is the one I like best.


Fort Union Company Quarters Fort Union was originally designed as a four-company post, with each company occupying a U-shaped barracks. When the army expanded the companies to six, the buildings were altered to accommodate the additional two companies and the regimental band.		Fort Union Company Quarters I just couldn’t decide which Company Quarters shot I liked best… These ruins almost look as if they are having a conversation.


Fort Union Military Prison The best-preserved building at Fort Union is the Military Prison. Murderers, deserters, and other criminals (civilian as well as military) were confined in this cell block.		Fort Union Military Prison The only ventilation in the prison cells is through the diamond cut-outs in the cell doors. Two or more prisoners would often occupy each cell (about 5 feet by 8 feet) sleeping on straw mats on the floor.


US Supply Wagon Two branches of the Santa Fe Trail merged just beyond Fort Union. The wagon ruts cut in the prarie sod can still be seen running through Fort Union.		US Supply Wagon The light inside the wagon is amazing.


Rafting We took our first rafting trip on the Racecourse section of the Rio Grande (Class III rapids). Thanks to our crazy guide, who had a penchant for taking the rapids sideways or backwards, we got totally soaked and had a wonderful time. We were an obedient crew and worked well together. Notice the synchronized paddling technique.		Santa Fe Ski Area The Ski Area is almost deserted in the summertime, but it is cooler up here at 10,000 feet and there are some nice hiking trails if you can manage to get enough oxygen to stagger up the trails. This is a wall in the Ski Lodge.


Red Pole There were many mysterious red poles at the Santa Fe Ski Area Base Camp. We don’t know what this little building is for either.		Lookout You can see the city of Santa Fe from the lookout. Here is Stan trying to tell the small brown buildings apart.


Aspens The aspen groves are thick at the top of the mountain. These at the lookout are even better than the ones at Aspen Vista.		Lookout I prefer to relax and contemplate the sky while restocking my blood with oxygen.


Railyard We never made it to the festival, but admired the sign which is especially nice on a grey and overcast afternoon.		SITE Santa Fe The outside of this place is so unreal that we haven’t yet gathered our courage to do more than peek inside. We hear there is art in there.


Hydrant with Colour Guard Stan couldn’t pass up this fetching quartet. It maybe is art of that gritty realistic sort?		Horsefly We had a great time following the Trail of Painted Ponies. This “Horsefly” on the roof of Jackelope’s was one of our favorites.

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