Crestone: Gateway to the Higher Realms
Publisher: Crestone Science Center
Published: 2011
Place of publication: Crestone, Colorado USA
Language: eng
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 256
ISBN-13: 9780983538202
Description: The historic mining town of Crestone lies nestled at the foot of Colorado’s Sangre de Cristo (Blood of Christ) Mountains. The
hamlet has long been the gateway for hikes and climbs into the rugged Fourteeners of the Crestone Group. But in the past four decades Crestone has also evolved into a more metaphysical gateway: to religious retreats, monasteries, yoga ashrams, nature-based fine art, ”green” building, and sustainable lifestyles. Crestone resident Jim McCalpin leads you through the physical and metaphysical attractions of the Crestone-Baca area. The magic of Crestone is how it all blends together; earth, sky, mind, rock, water, spirit.
Table of contents: title: 1. INTRODUCTION; Crestone As A Gateway	7; title: Scope of This Guidebook	9; title: Getting Here		10; title: Updated Information	11; title: PART 1—THE PHYSICAL REALM; title: 2. THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT OF CRESTONE & VICINITY	13; title: Geography		13; title: Climate			15; title: Flora and Life Zones	19; title: Hydrology		28; title: Geology		33; title: 3. THE SANGRE DE CRISTO WILDERNESS AREA; title: (Rio Grande National Forest)	42; title: Campgrounds		45; title: Planning for a Safe Hike	45; title: Trailheads & Trails	49; title: COLOR TRAIL MAPS (Plates 1-6)	50; title: San Isabel Trail (Forest Trail 858)	62; title: North Crestone Trail (Forest Trail 744)	68; title: South Crestone Trail (Forest Trail 860)	72; title: Willow Creek Trail (Forest Trail 865)	75; title: Cottonwood Creek trail	80; title: Deadman Creek trail	86; title: Pole Creek Trail (Forest Trail 878)	88; title: 4. GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK & PRESERVE	90; title: Liberty Road (North Entrance to Great Sand Dunes National; title: Park & Preserve)	90; title: Sand Creek Trail (Forest Trail 743)	95; title: Over the Dunes		96; title: 5. MOUNTAIN CLIMBING	98; title: The Sandstone Peaks	103; title: The Conglomerate Peaks	108; title: Peaks of Granitic Rocks	119; title: 6. THE BACA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE	123; title: A Place for Wildlife, Not For People	123; title: What’s In the Refuge?	125; title: Where’s The Herd?	128; title: 7. THE CRESTONE-BACA AREA; YOUR BASE CAMP; title: FOR ADVENTURE		130; title: Shelter From the Storm--Lodgings in the Crestone-Baca	132; title: Fine Victuals—Restaurants	132; title: From the Vault—Banks and ATMs	134; title: Moseyin’ Around—Ground Transportation	134; title: Picnic in the Park—Public Parks	135; title: The Saturday Night Bath—Laundry and Showers	136; title: Smoke Signals—News and Telecommunications	136; title: Doctorin’—Medical Services	137; title: Keeping the Sabbath—Churches	138; title: Readin’, Writin, and ‘Rithmatic—Schools	138; title: Just the Facts, Ma’am—Demographics	139; title: Thy Brother’s Keeper--Community Services	141; title: 8. ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS	144; title: Biking			144; title: Birdwatching		148; title: Fishing, Golf, and Tennis	152; title: Hikes and Walks on the Valley Floor	153; title: Horse Riding		156; title: Jeeping			156; title: Rainy Day Activities	157; title: Photography		158; title: Primitive Skills Camp	158; title: Shooting		159; title: Swimming and Soaking	159; title: Tours (Driving & Walking)	159; title: Special Events		162; title: Watching Wildlife	164; title: Winter Activities	166; title: 9. THE COMMUNITIES OF CRESTONE-BACA	169; title: The Community of Spiritual Centers	175; title: Tibetan Buddhist	179; title: Bhutanese Buddhist	185; title: Zen Buddhist	186; title: Bon		189; title: Hindu		190; title: Christian	192; title: Independent Centers	193  	Religious Monuments: Stupas, the Ziggurat, Stone Circles,; title: and Labyrinths	194; title: The Paranormal Community: UFOs, Extraterrestrials,; title: and Ancient Stone Structures	198; title: The Community of Healers	202; title: The Community of Artists	203; title: The Community of Builders	205; title: Building a Sustainable Future	207; title: PART 3—TIMELINES AND TRIVIA; title: 10. HISTORICAL TIMELINE OF THE CRESTONE-BACA AREA	212; title: Prior to 1880		212; title: 1870-1886; The First Mining Boom and Bust	217; title: The Crestone Mining District	220; title: The El Dorado Mining District	221; title: 1887-1903; The Second (Big) Mining Boom	225; title: 1904-1938; Mining Yields Dwindle; Cows Rule	230; title: 1939-1971; The Baca Ranch and Quiet Years	232; title: 1972-1977; The Baca Grande Subdivision 	232; title: 1978-1985; The Strongs Reinvent the Baca	233; title: 1986-1994; The Water War #1	234; title: 1995-2003; Water War #2, and “Water is Gold”	235; title: 2004-present; Feds Buy the Ranch; and Drill, Baby, Drill	236; title: Appendix 1. CHECKLIST FOR HIKING AND CAMPING	238; title: Appendix 2. ACCIDENT STATISTICS FOR THE HIGH PEAKS	240; title: Appendix 3. HUNTING NEAR CRESTONE	241; title: Appendix 4. REFERENCES	244; title: Appendix 5. SUBJECT INDEX	252