News Archives | Rocky Mountain Outdoor Writers & Photographers

Happiness and the Great Backyard Bird Count

By Virginia Parker Staat

“I don’t feed the birds because they need me;
I feed the birds because I need them.” ~ Kathi Hutton

bird collage — Backyard Birds © Virginia Staat

Sherry Zurey Dies

Sherry Zurey with husband Frank and granddaughter Emily Harrington — Sherry Zurey with husband Frank and granddaughter Emily – all award winners in 2011 RMOWP Photo Contest

Longtime RMOWP member Sherry Zurey, 78, of Golden, Colorado, died January 6th. We all remember Sherry’s lovely smile, cheerful willingness to pitch in whenever and wherever needed, and of course the scrumptious cookies she brought to conferences. She also served on the RMOWP board of directors and won several awards for her photography. She’ll be missed, but with happy memories.

National Park Service – 2021 Free Admission Days

Want to visit a national park, monument, or other National Park Service property this year and don’t have a pass? Choose the right day and admission is free.

Continuing a long-established tradition, the park service begins the year with free admission to all National Park Service properties on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Monday, January 18. Then, there will be free admission on Saturday, April 17, the first day of National Park Week.

August gets two admission-free days this year, on August 4 for the one-year anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act; and on Wednesday, August 25, for the National Park Service’s 105th birthday.

There is also free admission on Saturday, September 25, for National Public Lands Day, and Thursday, November 11, Veterans Day.

There are 422 National Park Service properties nationwide, with at least one site in each state, and entrance fees ranging from free to $35 for the more popular parks. Park service officials said they hope that the fee-free days will encourage everyone to spend time in the parks.

The Great Chile War

This says it all! (Logo for Hatch, NM)

New Mexico and Colorado usually get along just fine. In fact, the two states share ownership of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, which runs between Chama, New Mexico, and Antonito, Colorado, and which many of the attendees of the Alamosa conference enjoyed riding.

However, a rivalry has developed over who has the best chile (or chili).

Laines Thrown out of New Mexico State Park!

By Don Laine

Tired of northern New Mexico’s cold and windy spring weather, on March 11 Barb and I, and our wonder-dog Zoe, headed south in Thor, our 24-foot motor home. Since our plan was to spend at least three or four weeks in New Mexico’s southern (and warmer) state parks, our first stop was at state park headquarters in Santa Fe to buy an annual camping pass. With pass in hand, we headed down to Brantley Lake State Park, just north of Carlsbad.

Autumn Splendor

Dallas Divide, Colorado, fall color — Autumn Splendor at Dallas Divide © Maryann Gaug

After a summer of hanging close to home, Rover, my camper van, begged me to take it camping somewhere, anywhere. Perhaps my restless spirit grew more restless as the aspen on the hills near my house started to change. With kids back in school, the campgrounds wouldn’t be quite as full and insane as during the Covid-19 summer. Time to look for gold in them thar’ hills!

The Round Barns of Indiana

Text & photos by John T. Hanou

“Generally speaking, our farms are utterly devoid of anything like artistic features. There being no indication of original thought or beauty, much less actual practical utility.”
—Benton Steele: Father of “the ideal circular barn”

Menno S. Yoder's 1908 Brown Swiss Dairy Twelve-Sided Barn, Shipshewana, IN. John T. Hanou — Menno S. Yoder’s 1908 Brown Swiss Dairy Twelve-Sided Barn, Shipshewana, Indiana. © John T. Hanou, 2018

New Year’s Day, 1985, was a typical winter day in Indiana—cold, wet, and overcast—but the roads were clear. Days like this are wonderful because of the solitude, and in my opinion, these days are the best times to take photographs. On this particular day, a photo excursion took me to Jackson County in southern Indiana. Heading over a small rise on a country road a beautiful white round barn came into view. I stopped, photographed it, and proceeded down the road.

Hello RMOWP Family!

White Sands National Park; sunset — Sunset from White Sands National Park © 2009 William Horton

I hope that you are all healthy and as happy as possible in these strange times.

It has now been more than half a year since the Coronavirus Pandemic first hit the news and upended our lives, and despite some of the misinformation being distributed on social media, we don’t know how or when this will end.

National Parks Partly Reopened

“Dawn of Thor” © William Horton
1st Place Image from Last Conference Category, 2017 Photo Contest

Is the social isolation caused by the Coronavirus pandemic driving you nuts? One escape is to America’s national parks. (The photo to the right was taken at Bryce Canyon National Park.)

Pie Lady of Pie Town Calls it Quits

By Don & Barbara Laine

New Mexico has lost an institution.

Pie-O-Neer cafe in Pie Town, NM — The Pie-O-Neer was a popular spot. © Kelly Gatlin

The Pie-O-Neer Pie Bar in Pie Town, New Mexico, has closed after more than 20 years in business, a victim of the Coronavirus pandemic. The announcement was made by owner Kathy Knapp, according to an article in the Socorro, New Mexico, newspaper “El Defensor Chieftain.” She told the newspaper that she opened the pie shop for the season this year on Pi Day (March 14), but because of the pandemic closed the next day. More on Pi Day below.