The road to Chimney Rock travels along a railroad track. As we traveled, an enormous train traveled parallel to us. The train was carrying only one thing, coal. I was surprised. I had no idea coal came from this area. It saddened me in a way. Given the need to reduce all our emissions, seeing all that coal gave me pause. We also passed herds of cattle, long horned cattle at that. The horns on these guys were wide a made a distinctive curve upward. Mmmmm, steak on the hoof!
Chimney Rock National Historic Site celebrates another navigational tool. Travelers noted the 326 foot rock formation atop a conical hill. This distinctive shape was used by both pioneers and Indians alike. It is an eroded remnant of what was once a much larger formation. Travelers could see Chimney Rock from miles away; so could we. There are no roads up to the formation itself so all we could do was look from afar and imagine what it must have been like to travel these trails. Over time, erosion has worn away the rocks in this area. A limestone cap atop Chimney Rock protects it. However, at some point in time, Chimney Rock will also fade into only a memory.
Long-horned Cattle on the prairie.
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