Ski 2019 - Sipapu Ski, NM

October 27, 2019 by Russell Wooten

Day 01 - (Fri, Nov 22) - Travel --> Abilene, TX.; Sam’s Club (330 miles)

Day 02 - (Sat, Nov 23) - Travel --> Rio Bravo Campground, NM (530 miles)

Day 03 - (Sun, Nov 24) - Ski Sipapu.

Day 04 - (Mon, Nov 25) - Ski Sipapu.

Day 05 - (Tues, Nov 26) - Ski Sipapu

Dinner in Taos, NM: Adobe Bar, Taos Inn; La Cueva Café; Pizanos Pizza; Ranchos Plaza Grill
Activities: Ski Sipapu

Day 06 - (Wed, Nov 27) - Travel --> Amarillo, TX.; Palo Duro Canyon State Park

Day 07 - (Thu, Nov 28) - Palo Duro Canyon State Park.

Food: Big Texan Steakhouse; Thanksgiving Lunch
Activities: Hike; Jeep Tour; Family Night Movie

Day 08 - (Fri, Nov 29) - Camp Palo Duro Canyon State Park. Hike Rock Garden Trail.

Day 09 - (Sat, Nov 30) - Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Horseback Ride. Travel 2:30 to Bowie, TX. Dry camp Pelham City Park.

Day 10 - (Sun, Dec 1) - Travel to Cypress, 1:30 arrival.

Total Mileage ~ 1,800 mile

Lake Travis Getaway

August 16, 2019 by Russell Wooten

Hard to beat a day on the lake with kids learning to ski. Last time we were here was 4 years ago, and cannot believe how fast our kids are growing up. Thank you mom and dad for this wonderful weekend. #LifetimeMemories.

“Is what I just did a sport? I want’a do that sport”

Huntsville State Park

July 20, 2019 by Russell Wooten

Today we left the house early and drove to Huntsville S.P. to do a little fishing and exploring around the lake. Trailer almost falls out of the canoe multiple times due arachnophobia, but I try to remind him the alligators in the water are a bigger problem, so let’s try not worry about the spiders and big black ant, and try to stay inside the canoe. Very little fish activity today, we spend most of the time learning basics of casting and avoiding tangled lines, but overall paddling around the lake allowed us an opportunity to see Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, visit an Eagle Scouts bird house, and we get a visit from an alligator. Great day on the water and hanging out with my buddy sharing a love for the outdoors.

Alumacraft Voyageur Canoe

July 14, 2019 by Russell Wooten

Today we pick up a 1988 Alumacraft Voyageur Canoe to complement our future family adventures. We drove to Fort Worth Saturday night, watched the Astros win in extra innings at Global Life Park before picking up the canoe. She is all clean and water tested. Cannot wait to start planning our next family trip to test out our paddling skills.

Fiery Furnace Trail

Arches National Park, UT

July 09, 2019 by Russell Wooten

Among a luck few to get a chance to hike and boulder through the canyons of the Fiery Furnace trail. We reserved a spot earlier in the week to hike with a Park Ranger. Hiking in this designated wilderness area is limited to 75 hikers per day, and if not lead by a Ranger hikers can easily become disoriented and ultimately lost in this area of the park. This was one of the kids favorite hikes of the entire trip.

Shafer Trail

Canyonlands National Park, UT

June 27, 2019 by Russell Wooten

Today we take the Jeep off road down Shafer Trail Rd. to Potash Rd. then into Moab, UT for lunch at Broken Oar before hiking in Arches N.P. - Great way to explore the park. Look closely, you can see our kids hanging out of the Jeep.

Mill Canyon Dinosaur Trail

Mill Canyon Dinosaur Trail, UT

June 26, 2019 by Russell Wooten

Mill Canyon Dinosaur Trail was a fantastic find just North of Moab, UT. Split between two separate sites along the dirt road, the first site is a marsh area from 112 million years ago that fossilized over 10 diverse dinosaur tracks along a watering hole. The second site, which requires 4wd vehicle for access, showcases bone fossilized into the canyon walls. The trail is unprotected and evidence of vandalism can be observed, but overall the experience was incredible. There are roughly 20 different markers along a 1/4 miles trail where you can observe fossilized dinosaur bones.

Dark Skies Photography

Dead Horse Point State Park, UT

June 25, 2019 by Russell Wooten

One of my favorite discoveries on the trip was photographing the Milky Way in Dead Horse State Park and in Canyonlands National Park. We participated in a Ranger lead program looking through telescopes to view Jupiter, Saturn and Mars and Andromeda Galaxy (M31). Here are a few images from our camp area, at the visitor center, and at the canyon, where we meet another traveling family road schooling their kids across America.

Delicate Arch

June 24, 2019 by Russell Wooten

Very hot hike to get to Delicate arch in Arches National Park, but very worth it to get a chance to hang out with my daughter on our travels across America.

Yellowstone - Day 1

June 18, 2019 by Russell Wooten

Beautiful entry into the park from West Entrance. This morning was very foggy morning which added to the dynamic of this mystic place.

Norris Geyser Basin - Our first geyser basin to visit in the park.

Steamboad Geyser - The largest geyser in the park was active while we where there but did not erupt. After many years being dormant, Steamboat has become active again, and erupts roughly 3-4 days.

Bison, Bison Everywhere. This guy was hanging out along the road for a quick snack. It was amazing to see visitors walking so close to the bison. He was very interested in eating and didn’t seem to mind, but we did see other bison that would look up as it to give the visitors a warning to back away. We mostly observed these quiet giants from the car.

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone - Fantastic view of the Yellowstone River and falls. We visited Upper Falls, Lower Falls, Artist Point. Uncle Tom’s Trail was closed for renovation. Maybe next time we visit we can take the 328 step staircase down the canyon.

At Canyon Visitor Center, we get to listen to a Ranger talk about foxes, coyotes and wolves within the park.

Photographer

Grand Tetons

June 13, 2019 by Russell Wooten

I love this photo of our little photographer, photographing Bison in Grand Teton. He really gravitated to the camera and loved capturing the moment.

Colter Bay Village

Grand Tetons National Park

June 12, 2019 by Russell Wooten

Beautiful afternoon view near Colter Bay Village overlooking Jackson Lake.

Grand Tetons, National Park

Grand Teton

June 12, 2019 by Russell Wooten in National Park

Day 1: We start early in the morning around 8:00 leaving Coulter Bay RV Campground and head towards Pilgrim Creek, Willow Flats and River Access dirt road (across Oxbow Bend Turnout).

Kids bring binoculars for better viewing.

Double Grizzly Bear viewing. Later we meet a couple vary familiar with the park, and they suggested this is the offspring from Bear 399, a very famous bear in Gran Teton. Once the cubs reach two years old the mother will leave the cubs to live on th… — Double Grizzly Bear viewing. Later we meet a couple vary familiar with the park, and they suggested this is the offspring from Bear 399, a very famous bear in Gran Teton. Once the cubs reach two years old the mother will leave the cubs to live on their own as she begins to search for a mate and start raise the next group of cubs.

Willow Flats

River Access Road (Across Oxbow Bend Turnout)

We traveled along a dirt road near Oxbow Bend turnout and travel about a mile down a dirt road until we get to the end of the road. We watched a fly fisherman cast a few lines near this area before parking at the small turn around at the end. Getting out of the Jeep we meet a group of kayakers that let us know about the Bald Eagle in the area.

A couple’s kayak (LL Bean Manatee) traveling down the Snake River towards Deadman’s Bar Road where they left their car. Secretly, I’m thinking the whole time we need to get family kayaks so we can see experience a different side of Grand Teton. Mayb… — A couple’s kayak (LL Bean Manatee) traveling down the Snake River towards Deadman’s Bar Road where they left their car. Secretly, I’m thinking the whole time we need to get family kayaks so we can see experience a different side of Grand Teton. Maybe next time.

Bald Eagle across the lake. The couple told us they watched it snag a fish from the river and take it up to the tree.

Summer 2019 - Yellowstone Itinerary

June 08, 2019 by Russell Wooten in Trip Planning

Day 1 - Cypress, TX --> Burleson, TX (Sam's Club)
Day 2 - Burleson, TX --> Amarillo, TX (Amarillo Ranch RV)
Day 3 - Amarillo, TX (Windstorm) Overnight RV
Day 4 - Amarillo, TX --> Colorado Springs, CO (Cheyenne Mountain State Park)
Day 5 - Colorado Springs --> Sinclair, WY (Dugway)
Day 6 – Dugway Site – Colter Bay, WY (Coulter Bay RV Campground, Site 54)
Day 7 - Colter Bay, WY
Day 8 - Colter Bay, WY
Day 9 - Colter Bay, WY
Day 10 - Colter Bay, WY
Day 11 - Colter Bay, WY --> West Yellowstone (Grizzly RV)
Day 12 - West Yellowstone
Day 13 - West Yellowstone
Day 14 - West Yellowstone
Day 15 - West Yellowstone
Day 16 - West Yellowstone
Day 17 - West Yellowstone --> Blackrock Boondock (42°48'52.1"N 112°19'50.6"W) Bad Road
Day 18 – ? --> Dead Horse Point S.P.
Day 19 – Dead Horse Point S.P.
Day 20 – Dead Horse Point S.P.
Day 21 – Dead Horse Point S.P.
Day 22 – Dead Horse Point S.P. --> Bernalillo, NM (Coronado Campground)
Day 23 –Bernalillo, NM --> Waco, TX (Sam's Club)
Day 24 –Waco, TX --> Home, TX

Colorado Springs - 2018

March 14, 2019 by Russell Wooten

SPRING BREAK TRIP

Day 1 - Cypress, TX --> Burleson, TX (Sam's Club)

Day 2 - Burleson, TX --> Amarillo, TX (Walmart)

Day 3 - Amarillo, TX --> Colorado Springs, CO (Cheyenne Mountain State Park)

Day 4 - Colorado Springs - Pikes Peak

Day 5 - Colorado Springs - Monarch Ski

Day 6 - Colorado Springs - Garden of the Gods, Air Force Academy Chapel

Day 7 - Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Day 8 - Colorado Springs, CO --> Childress, TX (Fair Park)

Day 9 - Childress, TX --> Cypress, TX

Total Mileage ~ 1,800 miles

Pikes Peak - 2018

March 12, 2019 by Russell Wooten

Today we drive up to Pikes Peak on our first 14k adventure.

Ski 2018 - Sipapu Ski, NM

November 21, 2018 by Russell Wooten

Rio Grande del Norte, NM

November 18, 2018 by Russell Wooten

The RÍo Grande del Norte National Monument is comprised of rugged, wide open plains at an average elevation of 7,000 feet, dotted by volcanic cones, and cut by steep canyons with rivers tucked away in their depths. The RÍo Grande carves an 800 foot deep gorge through layers of volcanic basalt flows and ash. Among the volcanic cones in the Monument, Ute Mountain is the highest, reaching to 10,093 feet.

This area has attracted human activity since prehistoric times. Evidence of ancient use is found throughout the area in the form of petroglyphs, prehistoric dwelling sites, and many other types of archaeological sites. More recent activity includes abandoned homesteading from the 1930s.

The Monument is an important area for wintering animals, and provides a corridor by which wildlife move between the two mountain ranges.

The unique setting of the Monument also provides a wealth of recreational opportunities. Whitewater rafting, hunting, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, and camping are some of the more outstanding activities that can be enjoyed in the Monument.

We make camp at Rio Bravo Campground, which is a non reservation campground, but very quiet in the winter. Beautful fall foliage this year, and the Rio Grande River runs along the site.