Via - May/June 2014 - California - (Page 16)

HO T T OP IC DE T OU R Enchanted ruins in Utah I n canyons at the edge of Cajon Mesa, 700-year-old towers guard the ruins of six once-busy villages that make up Hovenweep National Monument. Running 20 miles along the sage-specked border connecting Utah and Colorado, the park protects dozens of weathered sandstone structures. "For the most part they were pueblos that the ancestral Pueblo people lived in," says lead interpretive ranger Todd Overbye. The towers are thought to have had special uses, he says-"for observation, ceremonies, and storage." At the Square Tower Group near the Safety tips for the toys of summer M otorboats, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), personal watercraft, motorbikes, and other summer rides are serious fun-emphasis on serious. Whether you're off the road or on the water this summer, keep caution and common sense top of mind. You booze, you lose Operating a recreational vehicle when you've been main entrance, visitors stroll a two-mile loop to view the ancient stonework, including the crisp lines of the namesake column. Nearby, the Twin Towers rise from a crack in a bedrock slab; the walls of the Eroded Boulder House curve in an alcove under a bulging cap. On the drive between ruins, visitors inhale the scent of cliff rose and catch glimpses of Colorado's distant Sleeping Ute Mountain. A 31-site campground, open year-round, comes complete with shy desert cottontails, gold-flowered prickly pear cacti, and multihued dawn and dusk views across the mesa. (970) 562-4282, nps.gov/hove. -amie tullius I 16 VIA MAY+JUNE 2014 » Stay safe in the sun this summer: Request a AAA insurance quote for your home or vehicles through June 30 and get a collectible San Francisco Giants rally cap. Stop in to a branch or call (877) 232-0804. Restrictions apply; ask your agent for details. FAR LEFT: GEORGE H.H. HUEY Stronghold House glows in the sun at dawn. drinking isn't just unwise, it's unlawful. In most states, the legal blood alcohol limit is 0.08 percent for ATV riders and boat captains-the same as it would be for car drivers-and a violation can lead to a felony conviction. If you're on a boat, it's not just the skipper who needs to stay sober: Intoxicated passengers risk falling in the water or capsizing a vessel. Gear up right When off-roading, wear a helmet and goggles to guard against head injuries. You'll also want gloves, tall boots, heavy pants, and a longsleeved jacket to protect against cuts and abrasions. When you're on the water, always wear a life vest, no matter how well you swim. Obey the rules of the road (and the river) Never drive all-terrain vehicles on paved streets; they're not designed for on-road use, and you also run the risk of colliding with a car. On a boat or personal watercraft, stay to the right when you approach another vessel head-on. Act your age Children are involved in one-third of all ATV-related emergency room visits and fatalities. Often it's because they're riding on or driving adult-size vehicles-a definite no-no. Keep kids on off-roaders that fit them; ditto for motorbikes and watercraft. Get educated Whatever your favorite recreational vehicle, chances are there's a free safety class near you offered by a government agency or nonprofit organization. Even if there's a modest fee involved, it's a small price to pay to ensure that your summer fun stays just that. -josh sens http://www.nps.gov/hove

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Via - May/June 2014 - California

Inside

Via - May/June 2014 - California