Smokey Bear

I did not realize until today when we drove up into the mountains that Smokey Bear is a real bear, not a made-up story, although quite a fantastic story.  During World War 2 the US government began a campaign to help preserve the forests, wood being as precious as metals for the 'war effort'.  Many forest fires were started by man, a careless cigarette, a campfire not put out, something that today we know what to do but back then, there was no education on fire prevention.  An advertising campaign was started which depicted a bear holding a shovel, saying that you can prevent fires.

On our drive up to the town of Capitan

A nice park in Capitan that is run by the US Forest Service

Some of the original posters from before Smokey became the symbol

In May 1950 two man-made fires started near Capitan, a small town up in the mountains, to the north east of us, in the Lincoln National Forest.  Within 3 days the fires were out of control, burning over 17,000 acres and costing millions of dollars.  A firefighter came across a small bear cub clinging to a burnt tree, partially burned on his back and legs, in shock.  The cub was taken to a vet in Santa Fe and then stayed with the animal warden's family until it healed.  Within months, the bear grew to be a 'big handful' with being mischievous and dominating the household.  A home was found for it at the National Zoo in Washington DC and the bear was named Smokey.

Capitan Fire of May 1950 

Museum showed how to suppress fires among other thing 

Smokey became a national symbol and the advertising campaign that was going on adopted the actual photo and likeness of Smokey and with permission from the government, Smokey became the most known advertising success story of all time.  In 1968 a survey of school children were given various mottos, giving them only one or two words and they had to complete the slogan.  94% of the students could identify - ONLY YOU......CAN PREVENT FOREST FIRES.

Smokey Grave

Showed the 5 different zones of the mountains

Smokey lived out his life at the National Zoo, even a mate was brought in from the Capitan area, but no cubs were produced.  After his death, his remains were brought back to Capitan and he was buried with honors.  We saw his grave and the inscription about him while visiting the center.

Many countries around the world have adopted the same Smokey Bear campaign.  With the education on prevention of fires, the amount of man-man fires was and still is greatly reduced.  The Historical Park that houses the Smokey Bear museum also has a beautiful 2 acre garden in the back which depicts 5 of the 6 zones of the mountains we were in.  It is also where the grave of Smokey resides.
Within the museum, the history and firefighting tactics that are used are shown in various displays.  Nice day with an ah-ha moment.

Now in Alamogordo, New Mexico

Even though there was a threat of thunderstorms for yesterday's drive from Dalhart, Texas to Alamogordo, New Mexico, we opted to go for it and if need be, pull over if needed.  Luckily, all we had was very overcast skies and a few sprinkles until we got to New Mexico's state line and skies cleared to beautiful blue.  Our route took us southwest on Route 54, all the way here to Boot Hill RV Resort.  In and out of small little, sadly depressed, towns, traveling for long periods of time with no one coming at us nor anyone passing us because we don't drive as fast as them.  Past one of the biggest cattle feed areas I have ever seen just south of Dalhart - and stink!  Could see cows as far into the distance as you could see.  Wow.

The biggest cattle ranch we have ever seen.  For miles and miles.

So dry even the major rivers are dried up (this is Cimarron)

For the most part the drive was flat until we dropped into New Mexico (it snuck up on me - did not have the camera ready), then the terrain started getting more hilly.  Then we got happy - saw mountains again.  We like mountains, gives the vista views more definition.  And red rock.  Happy to see that also.

Caught the state sign (New Mexico) by chance 

First mountain!  Yeah - knew I40 was near it (our destination)

About another 5 miles and onto I 40

As soon as I saw this sign (for pronghorn) saw one right by the road

Followed Old Route 66 through Santa Rosa, then left it to go southwest

Yes, they do get enough snow to close the Interstate

Love seeing the mountains again

And red rock

It rained the night before - the river is red and muddy

No ranch houses, no farms (only ranching), no nothing for miles and miles.  Eventually we dropped far enough down to pick up Interstate 40 heading west towards Albuquerque but dropped off the interstate at Santa Rosa, continued following Route 54 south and west down and down and down.

Long lonely road, climbed to over 7000 feet before dropping back down

Water trough full, wind mill running, but no cattle around

Nobody, would not want to be broken down

I found this very peaceful 

Through small town after small town

335 miles later pulled into the campground, and picked up an hour (in Mountain Time Zone now).  Looking across we can see White Sands National Monument which is about 12 miles from us across the flat valley.  And we can see the mountains where Las Cruces is.  Never been in this area of New Mexico so we will spend a couple of days discovering it.  Scheduled to move on this coming Saturday, or maybe not.

British car rally passed us - it was the same one we saw
in Hannibal, Missouri!

The view out our front window, the whitish line at the base of
mountains is White Sands National Monument