Camping Trip -- Major DU Warning...tons of pics!

[JLC]

This past weekend, I and my two older children drove out to New Mexico to meet my sister and her daughter for a weekend of camping. It was at a nice little state park called Bluewater, about 60 miles east of Gallup. I put the thread in "Field Herping & Wildlife" because I do have some herp and wildlife pics in with the bunch!

THE CAMPSITE


Our tents, with my sister's dog Sheeba. She's an awesome guard dog and we sleep quite peacefully at night.


The view from our tents and breakfast table!


To get to the toilets, we had to hike up a hill and down the other side. This was the view from there.


My son, Austin, with Sheeba. Gotta love that expression on her face!


The only herp pics we got were of this little guy and its shy friend below. We never did see any snakes.



Spent the whole weekend trying to figure out what this one was. He/she never really got close enough for a good ID.


Free-ranging (wild?) mustang ponies...VERY cool!!

THE LAND OF FIRE AND ICE
We went exploring the top of a volcano, and an ice cave in the middle of the desert! Was cool beyond words!


10,000 year old lava spout.


The volcano crater that erupted 10,000 years ago. It was a 1/2 mile hike up the side of the mountain to get to it. Worth every step!


Top of the trail at the volcano rim. Left to right: my niece Shelby, daughter Petra, son Austin


Something in the volcanic soil or environment twisted many of the trees into truly freaky shapes.



Back down from the volcano, and buried under the lava-flow, this 20 foot deep pool of ice formed.


Ice formations


The kids by the ice...it can be 100+ degrees just 50' from this spot, but the cave itself never gets above 31 degrees.


The ceiling of the ice cave. Not photo-shopped in any way except to resize for the web.

THE WOLVES
And lastly, we visited the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary. Here, we saw some of the most beautiful animals, and heard both heart-warming and heart-wrenching stories.


This is our guide showing us an excellent example of why wolves do NOT make good pets. This is a female that was raised by the sanctuary since she was a puppy. Hand fed and socialized with plenty of people...has never been abused or known a "hard" day...and yet, as an adult, she does not like humans approaching her at all. She is an "alpha female" and very aggressive by nature.


We got to hear the "wolf choir" twice while we were out there...almost all of the 64 wolves at the sanctuary would join in the song...unbelievably beautiful! (They look scruffy because they are shedding their winter coats)


This is King. He is one of the last living Buffalo Wolves left in the world. The species is officially extict because of the last 5-6 left alive, all of them are far too old to reproduce. King is 17 1/2 years old and is not expected to live much longer. He is a pure "black phase" wolf, and is now almost entirely snow white due to age.


One of the highlights of the trip was getting to see this adorable little wolf pup up close. He is part of a litter recently brought to the sanctuary to be hand raised. He's about 3 weeks old.


The little guy in the background is a dog that belongs to one of the staff members.

[JLC]

For those of you who have a special place in your heart for wolves, please check out this website:

www.wildspiritwolfsanctuary.org

Their facilities are awesome...and it is obvious they put their hearts and souls into the care of these amazing animals.

[Smulkin]

Awesome shots!

Looks like some very captivating scenery out there - especially with that lake stretched out in front of you up throne-side. Loved the wolves too (of course)!

[aaajohnson]

Great pictures!!!! Looks like a fun trip.


Neil

[tigerlily]

WOLVES!!! My fave!!

It definitely looks like a wonderful trip! I love that wolf puppy. Plus that view from the bathroom is beautiful!!

[iceman25]

Awesome pictures Judy! Looks like you guys had a wonderful time!

[cassandra]

Awesome pictures...that ice cave is trippy! I bet it felt nice down there...I noticed it's the only picture in which the kids are smiling, hehe.

The twisted trees are freaking awesome...but the wolves. Such wonderful and majestic creatures. And the puppy! Awwww!!!! =D

[frankykeno]

Looks like a wonderful trip Judy and the scenery is just stunning! Great pics and thanks for sharing the bittersweet story of that wolf, wolf/dog sanctuary.

[cueball]

Awesome pictures!! Thanks for sharing. Looks like a perfect oasis to me

[PJ FF]

Thats awesome, but I dont think I would like to be up by that volcano creator. It looked like it keeps feeling up and I would be dumb and get to close.