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Most of these reports are culled from posts I made to the NPS Passport Stamp Collectors’ forum at www.parkstamps.org They’re also very dry reading. In more recent postings I’ve tried to include more details on stamp locations, my impressions of the sites, and a bit more monologue, except when I am rushed or bored.
[More recent reports are at parkstamps.org. I’m not moving them over here anymore.
Monday October 10, 2006 First stop of the day was at the Beckley Exhibition Mine. I arrived just in time for a tour. The tour was interesting, but only about 40 minutes and it didn't travel very far underground. Kind of expensive too, something like $13.00. There is also a small museum and a few building removed from a mining camp. Stamper is in the gift shop:
National Coal Heritage Area / OCT 09 2006 / Beckley Mine
I then headed over to the National Coal Heritage Area HQs in downtown Beckley. Unfortunately, they were closed (presumably for the holiday). I could see the stamper on a table, behind the locked door. I got the stamp by mail:
National Coal Heritage Area / OCT 09 2006 / Beckley
Next stop was at the Canyon Rim VC of the New River Gorge National River. They were MOBBED. I obtained the following stamps:
National Coal Heritage Area / OCT 09 2006 / Fayette Station Rd. WV National Coal Heritage Area / OCT 09 2006 / Thurmond Train Depot [winter location of this stamper] New River Gorge National River / Oct 09 2006 / Glen Jean, WV Gauley River Nat'l Recreation Area / Oct 09 2006 / Glen Jean, WV Bluestone National Scenic River / Oct 09 2006 / Glen Jean, WV
I returned to MD via Watoga SP in WV, which is another large, scenic park that I had not been to before. The leaves were at their autumnal peak in that area and the adjacent Monongahela National Forest.
Sunday October 9, 2006 Didn't get much done today in terms of stamping. Given the winding nature of the roads in WV (besides the interstates and major highways), West Virginia might as well be the size of Texas for how long it takes to get between points. Only stop of the day was at Bramwell Depot, where I may have been the only visitor of the day. The volunteer didn't know about the stamper, but I managed to spot it behind the desk. Ended up using black ink though, because I didn't want to dig around looking for the blue.
National Coal Heritage Area / OCT 08 2006 / Bramwell Depot
Black is more appropriate for coal anyways. Stamper had not been used since August. Bramwell's high school nickname is the "millionaires". Apparently, during the town's mining heydays decades back there was a greater concentration of millionaires in Bramwell than any other small town in America....over a dozen! I stayed overnight in a motel in Beckley.
Saturday October 8, 2006 After a huge amount of driving, including a detour to pick up 3 of the last 6 counties in WV that I had not been to, I arrived at Matewan Depot around 3:45 and discovered that it was closed!! Grrr! This site doesn't have an obvious phone number or webpage, so I couldn't confirm its hours ahead of time. Really frustrated, I'm going to write them and try to get the stamp that way. Does anyone know their mailing address? Stayed overnight at Breaks Interstate Park, on the Kentucky-Virginia border. I had never heard of it, but it is a large park with camping, cabins, a park motel, trails etc. It has the deepest gorge east of the Mississippi too. Worth visiting if you are in the area.
Tuesday, September 5, 2006 My original plan was to take the glass- bottomed boat tour of the bay in the morning, as there as no way I could determine to actually visit the islands in the bay during the off-season. Rain and the fact that I was the only willing tour-er meant that the boat trip was cancelled. So I wandered around the grounds of the Dante Fascell VC in the rain and walked out along the jetty. One stamp:
Biscayne National Park / SEP 05 2006 / Homestead, FL
I then headed back to the Everglades for more stamping and sightseeing. At the Ernest Coe VC:
Everglades National Park / SEP 05 2006 / Homestead, FL No bonus stamps available
At the Royal Palm VC, a few miles away:
*new* Everglades National Park / SEP 05 2006 / Royal Palm
Then I walked along the famous Anhinga boardwalk trail in the rain and saw just one large alligator. Then I had to get back to the airport.
I visited three new parks during this trip, bringing my lifetime total to 293.
Monday, September 4, 2006 I was in position to start stamping in the morning at the Everglades NP Gulf Coast VC. It was pretty deserted around here, and the boat concessionaire was practically begging for me to do a tour! Stamps in the VC:
Everglades National Park / SEP 04 2006 / Gulf Coast, FL bonus manatee bonus dolphin bonus sea turtle
Next stop was the Oasis VC in Big Cypress, after doing one of the boardwalk trails into the cypress swamp: Big Cypress National Preserve / SEP 04 2006 / Ochopee, FL Big Cypress / SEP 04 2006 / Fla NS Trail bonus walking panther bonus panther track bonus mosquito bonus panther in repose (large stamp) *new* bonus alligator The rattle snake stamper was not available.
Final stop of the day was at Shark Valley for the tram tour. Lots of alligators and birds and luckily a cool (by South Florida September standards) overcast day! In the VC:
Everglades National Park / SEP 04 2006 / Shark Valley, FL *new* bonus alligator (identical to the Big Cypress alligator) *new* bonus anhinga *new* bonus egret *new* bonus deer
I stayed overnight near the Miami Airport.
Saturday, September 2, 2006 I flew down Friday night to Miami, and drove through the night to the Cape Canaveral area, where the wedding was held. I stopped at the Canaveral NS HQs (my second time there). I expected it to be closed, because it was a weekend, and it was, but some rangers were entering. I asked about the stamper, and was told I couldn't get it, something about it being kept in a lockbox or a safe!
Next stop was Merritt Island NWR. Also my second attempt there, the first time it was closed for a Federal Holiday in January. I do not know why a place like this with a definite tourist focus closes on holidays, but it did. Stamps:
Canaveral National Seashore / SEP 02 ---- / Titusville, FL (year expired) also, three self-stamping Blue Goose stamps:
MERRITT ISLAND / SEP 02 2006 / NATIONAL WILDLIFE RESERVE LAKE WALES RIDGE / SEP 02 2006 / NATIONAL WILDLIFE RESERVE ST. JOHNS / SEP 02 2006 / NATIONAL WILDLIFE RESERVE [not listed on the current NPS master list]
I also stopped and got the stamp at the entrance station to Playalinda Beach: Canaveral National Seashore / SEP 02 2006 / Titusville, FL
That was it for the day. The wedding was September 3rd, so no stamping.
Sunday, August 20th, 2006 Last stop was at Edison NHS, the only Mid-Atlantic NPS Unit I had not been to:
In the Greenhouse VC (must ask for it): EDISON NHS / AUG 20 2006 / WEST ORANGE, NJ The Edison Laboratories are still closed, but it is possible to walk around them (outside of a fence) to read interpretive markers. Glenmont and the grounds around it are open.
Saturday, August 19th, 2006 Today, I paid my $20 to see Old Sturbridge Village. Enough to see here for at least 4-6 hours. Stamp at the entrance: Quinebaug-Shetucket NHC, CT-MA / AUG 19 2006 / Old Sturbridge Village again, black ink.
I also got the Grasshopper stamp with "OSV" on it bonus stamp at Old Sturbridge Village. It was not located with the official stamper, but a knowledgeable employee knew where it was in the office by the ticket desk.
Friday, August 18th, 2006 Today I went back and revisited sites I had mostly been to before, but not recently and had not seen thoroughly the next day:
Adams NHP: At the Galleria VC: Adams Nat'l Historical Park / AUG 18 2006 / Quincy, MA standard stamp Adams Nat'l Historical Park / AUG 18 2006 / Quincy, MA oversized--used to valid parking in the parking garage.
At the info desk in the Carriage House, near the Old house that is the last stop of the tour: Adams NHP Old House / AUG 18 2006 / Quincy, MA
Then into Boston, where I stopped at the Dorchester Heights Monument in Thomas Park in South Boston. The monument was closed, but a couple of notes: 1) I learned later that a ranger will come out to the site if you call and ask them to, so you can get the stamp and go to the top of the monument. Maybe best to do this the day before your visit. 2) Plenty of close street parking on a Friday afternoon. 3) Contrary to other reports, the neighborhood was very pleasant. I could imagine living there. It is most certainly not in a slum!!!
Then to the Boston Commons area: At the museum next to the African Meeting House on Joy Street: Boston African American National Historic Site / AUG 18 2006 / Boston, MA
At the HQ in the office building (that smelled of rotting bologna) on Beacon Street: Boston African American National Historic Site / AUG 18 2006 / Boston, MA
At the Boston NHP downtown VC: Boston National Historical Park / AUG 18 2006 / Freedom Trail
And these ones from the recently alluded to plastic bag full of stamps located under the desk. I don't know what else is in that bag either! Dorchester Heights Nat. Hist Site / AUG 18 2006 / Boston, MA Boston National Historical Park / AUG 18 2006 / Fanueil Hall
I then made a half-hearted attempt to locate the Boston Harbor stamp at the ranger kiosk on Long Pier. No luck, but I'll get that next visit, when I actually go out to the islands. I didn't go to the Charleston Naval Yard and the Bunker Hill monument is closed right now.
Thursday August 17th, 2006 My idea for this trip was to not push like crazy to get as many stamps as possible...too stressful. It was thus more mellow than most of my trips.
Lots to see in Lowell...I spent most of a day there:
at the VC: Lowell Nat'l Historical Park / AUG 17 2006 / Lowell, MA over-inked pad!
At the desk at the entrance of the Bootts Mil (-fee for this site but the annual NPS pass gets a 50% discount): Lowell Nat'l Historical Park / AUG 17 2006 / Lowell, MA
Wednesday, August 16, 2006 Went up to New England for a quick stamping expedition. This will be terse: Stopped at the Prudence Crandall Museum in Canterbury, CT. I was the only one there besides the staff during my visit: Quinnebaug-Shetucket NHC / AUG 16 2006 / Prudence Crandall Mus. Yes--black ink. I hope this park doesn't keeweenaw...it has a lot of sites!
[Early August — IN and MI for the convention]
Saturday July 22nd, 2006 Went to the Pry House Field Hospital Museum at Antietam NB, and can confirm the existence of a new stamp there: *new* Pry House Field Hospital Museum / July 22 2006 / Sharpsburg, MD It is a cute little museum. Plan to spend an hour there, and if it piques your interest in Civil War medicine, you can go into Frederick, MD and visit the National Museum of Civil War Medicine. The Pry House is owned by the NPS, but it is run as an affiliate of the NMCWM. I also got the new Chesapeake and Ohio Canal - Ferry Hill Place stamp and the Potomac Heritage stamp at Ferry Hill today.
Tuesday, June 6th, 2006 Pecos NHP was the last NPS Unit for the trip. I did the loop hike through the ruins of the pueblo and the missionary churches. It was early in the morning and still not too hot. Two stamps:
Pecos National Historic Park / JUN 06 2006 / PECOS, NM Santa Fe National Historic Trail / JUN 06 2006 / NM, CO, OK, KS, MO (both are plastic self-inking, non-standard stampers. Stamps do not have a circular border)
I had hoped for more interpretation of the Civil War sites that are incorporated into the park, besides the 10% or so that the park museum had. No such luck. Though the road passes through the Pigeon Ranch, I didn't see any NPS interpretation at all.
I had some extra time and had to head that way to get to Albuquerque, so I went back to Santa Fe to see the Palace of the Governors. According to the woman at the SW Regional HQs, they had a Santa Fe NHT stamper there. Alas, they did not. Or at least the people at the front desk had never heard of it. After spending an hour or so here, I walked around downtown Santa Fe for a bit, where I overheard one misinformed tourist say to another that Santa Fe seemed just like NYC. Um, no! Then it was to the airport, and back home.
As a result of this trip, I raised my lifetime total of NPS Units visited to 287. I also raised my lifetime number of U.S. counties visited to 1754.
Monday, June 5th, 2006 First stop was the SW Regional HQs in Santa Fe. Oddly, they do not have a Santa Fe NHT Trail stamper, but do have one for the Trail of Tears, which isn't even in NM. The person at the desk couldn't provide me with a satisfactory explanation of this:
Trail of Tears National Historic Trail / JUN 05 2006 / NC, GA, TN, KY, AL, IL, MO, OK, AR
I then stopped at the Rough Riders Museum (Las Vegas City Museum) for the Santa Fe stamp that is supposed to be there. It was closed, despite the internet site for the Santa Fe Trail saying it would be opened.
So, I headed to Fort Union NM, where I finally got a Santa Fe NHT stamp (and the Fort Union Stamp):
Fort Union National Monument / JUN 05 2006 / Watrous, NM Santa Fe Nat'l Historic Trail / JUN 05 2006 / Fort Union, NM
This Fort felt quite remote. So remote, I was afraid I'd run out of gas before I found a place to refuel, as I stupidly left Las Vegas low on gas. I expressed my concern to the ranger, and she cheerfully offered to have the maintenance people give me some gasoline. They didn't even want to take my money. I was quite thankful for them helping me out of this potential bind!
In the Fort, I had fun trying to figure out where the photo on the National Park Pass from a couple of years ago was taken. Once I found it, i concluded the photo was either taken with a telephoto lens or the photographer stepped off of the trail (not allowed) quite a long ways to take it.
I camped overnight at Storrie Lake SP near Las Vegas, NM.
Sunday, June 4th, 2006 I spent much of the day at Bandelier NM. I did the standard hiking trail from the VC area and then stayed in the campground, which, again, was not even closed to full.
Stamp: BANDELIER NATIONAL MONUMENT / JUN 04 2006 / LOS ALAMOS, NM
Saturday, June 3rd, 2006 First stop was Aztec Ruins NM, where this stamp was at the VC:
AZTEC RUINS NAT'L MONUMENT / JUN 03 2006 / AZTEC, NM
The most impressive park of this park may be the historical reconstruction of the great kiva (although the roof is too high).
I then took the dreaded road to Chaco Culture NHP...It was not nearly as bad as i had been lead to believe. Only a few portions near the entrance to the park were even washboard. I think it took only an hour for me to get there once I left the highway near Nageezi.
I spent the afternoon visiting many of the easily hiked to ruins. Went on a ranger lead tour of Chetro Ketl, which provided a lot more insight than even the guidebooks. I attended a lecture in the evening at the VC, and then participated in the astronomy program. I had been concerned about camping in the park, but the Gallo Campground was less than half filled, and this was a mild Saturday in June.
Stamps at the VC:
CHACO CULTURE NHP / JUN 03 2006 / NAGEEZI, NM Bonus: image of Pueblo Bonito
Friday, June 2nd, 2006 I head down to Wetherill Mesa first thing in the morning for a guided tour of Long House. This part of the park doesn't see nearly the traffic that Chapin Mesa gets. It also burnt recently. After the tour, I road around on the tram for a while.
Then back to Far View, to visit the VC: Mesa Verde National Park / JUN 02 2006 / Mesa Verde, CO
I ate lunch in the Far View area, then headed down to Chapin Mesa. In the Museum: Mesa Verde National Park / JUN 02 2006 / Mesa Verde, CO Yucca House National Monument / JUN 02 2006 / Cortez, CO
I had to ask for the Yucca House stamper. The ranger on duty didn't know about the stamper, but found it easily enough.
I then spent the rest of the day visiting ruins, ruins and more ruins. I did a second guided tour, to Balcony House, before returning to my campsite at the end of a long day. I had not expected to visit as much of Mesa Verde as I did in one day.
Thursday June 1st, 2006
Given its remote location, I expected Hovenweep to be a lonely place, especially on a Thursday morning. It was not, and in fact the Square Tower Group ruins was one of the more crowded places I visited. Stamp at the VC: Hovenweep National Monument / JUN 01 2006 / Utah - Colorado
I also visited the Holly, Hackberry, Horseshoe and Cajon sites. All of them were accessible in my rented Ford Focus, however they were at the utmost limit of what I would want to do in a non-4WD vehicle, especially the Holly site. If it has been raining, they would be unreachable. I didn't attempt to visit the Cutthroat Castle ruins, as the ranger at the VC said they were 4WD.
I took the McElmo Canyon road into CO, which passes through (sort of) the BLM Canyons of the Ancients NM.
Once in Colorado, I headed to the Anasazi Heritage Center, which serves as the de facto Canyons of the Ancients VC: [Image of tower ruin or left side of rectangular stamp] BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT ANASAZI HERITAGE CENTER CANYONS OF THE ANCIENTS NATIONAL MONUMENT DOLORES, COLORADO
I was told that this is the only interpretive museum run by the BLM. They've certainly done a nice job with it. The one hour I had before they closed for the day was not nearly enough time to see all of the displays, the temporary exhibit, hike to Escalante ruins and see the film.
I continued down to Yucca House NM. The distance off the highway to the right turn was less that the instructions I had, so I ended up turning around. As I was leaving, a guy on an ATV came by with a homemade sign that he then placed, showing where to make the right turn. I guess he got sick of people turning around on his property! I saw Blue, the dog Bruce and Letty mentioned in their report. At least I assume it was Blue.
The site itself is not spectacular, although the views are pretty. It was interesting to look at the visitor register. I saw the that several NPTCers, including the Stransky's, who had visited one day before I did. Yellow Jackets had built a nest in the box holding the register, so I hope no one got stung!
I stayed overnight in Mesa Verde NP.
Wednesday May 31, 2006 After stopping at the overlooks on the north side of Canyon de Chelly, the first stop of the day was the Four Corners Monument. I was surprised, but $4 admission (collected by the Navajo Nation) was required to visit the site. There are tons of vendors selling Native American crafts here, so if you are looking for souvenirs, this is the place to go.
I then took the scenic way up to Natural Bridges NM, which included going up the Moki Dugway. This unpaved road climbs to the top a butte and was built for trucks hauling uranium ore. There are some spectacular views from the top.
At the Natural Bridges NM VC: National Bridges Nat'l Monument / MAY 312006 / LAKE POWELL, UT
I hiked the trails to all three bridges (only halfway to the Sipapu Bridge). My favorite was the Kachina Bridge. I was the only person at the bottom when I got there, and it was amazing. I later found out that it is the largest natural bridge on earth that can currently be walked under.
The parking lot was starting to be repaved just as I left.
I zoomed through Blanding and camped at Devil's Canyon in the Manti-La Salle NF.
Tuesday May 30, 2006 First stop was Hubbell Trading Post NHS:
Hubbell Trading Post Nat'l Historic Site / MAY 30 2006 / Ganado, AZ
There isn't really much to do here. I spent a few minutes walking around the grounds and a few minutes marveling at the Navajo rugs (which cost up to several thousand dollars each) and then was on my way within an hour or so.
Second stop was Canyon de Chelly, where this stamp was at the VC:
CANYON DE CHELLY NATIONAL MONUMENT / MAY 30 2006 / CHINLE, AZ
I visited all the overlooks on the southern side of the park. I liked Spider Rock the best. I also hiked down into the Canyon along the White House Trail. This is the only way into the canyon that is allowed without hiring a guide. I didn't do a guided tour because of time constraints, but it looked like it would be fun.
I camped at Cottonwood Campground near the park's entrance. There were no problem's with getting a site and it came nowhere near filling.
Monday May 29, 2006
First stop was the El Calderon area for a short hike. Then the park's main VC:
EL MALPAIS NM & NCA / MAY 29 2006 / GRANTS, NM
I visited the Bandera Crater Ice Caves. It is privately owned, but within the park. The entrance price was rather steep ($12 I think) for a couple of hikes, but the ice cave, though nothing spectacular, was something I'd never seen before.
After that, it was a short drive to El Morro NM:
EL MORRO NATL MONUMENT / MAY 29 2006 / RAMAH, NM
I did the long hike up to the top of the mesa and back down. It took a couple of hours, but was probably my favorite hike of this trip. This is a very photogenic, albeit small park.
I stayed overnight in Gallup, NM.
[Please see my reports on AZ, UT and CO for May 30th - June 2nd]
Sunday May 28, 2006 I flew out to Albuquerque for 10 days of stamping. I was using up frequent flyer miles, which meant the only flight I could find as late as I started looking was a 6am Sunday flight. Only about 25 people were on both legs of the flight with me, on fairly large jets
First stop was Petroglyph NM. At the VC: PETROGLYPH NATIONAL MONUMENT / MAY 28 2006 / ALBUQUERQUE, NM
At the entrance station to Boca Negra Canyon: Petroglyph National Monument / May 28 [06] / Albuquerque, NM [year expired]
The entrance station isn't staffed, so I had to wait a few minutes for someone to show up. No sign of the place specific Boca Negra Canyon that was reported earlier.
Petroglyph NM definitely is showing signs of Albuquerque's sprawl. Hiking up the hills, houses are being build almost along its outside edges.
Next stop was El Malpais. The BLM ranger station on the park's east side was closed for a "plumbing" problem, so I missed getting the stamp there. The HQs in Grants were also closed both days i was in town for Memorial Day, so I missed the stamp there.
I did a few of the hikes through the lava fields. I recommend the Lava Falls hike, although it is really a game of spot the next cairn so as not to get lost. The Sandstone Bluffs Overlook is probably the most scenic area of the park that is easily accessible.
Last stop of the day was the NM NM VC in Grants:
EL MALPAIS NM & NCA / MAY 28 2006 / GRANTS, NM NW NEW MEXICO VISITOR CENTER / MAY 28 2006 / GRANTS, NM
I stayed overnight in Grants. |