To the ends of the 48

Here are the furthest most points in the 48 contiguous states. From top to bottom: The Geographic Center near Lebanon, Kansas (2009); South- Key West, Florida (2004); East- West Quaoddy Head Lighthouse, Maine (2008); West - Cape Flattery, Washington State (2005) ; and North-Northwest Angle, Minnesota (2009).

Mackiac Bridge

Knife River Indian Villages NHS

This is a replica of a Hidatsa earth lodge from the time Lewis & Clark first visited.

Fort Mandan

This is an impressive replica of Lewis ' Clark's winter quarters in 1804-1805.

Theodore Roosevelt NP

This photo is from the parks less-visited North Unit. I saw Bison later but they were too far away to get a picture on my phone camera.

Fort Union Trading Post NHS

This was the first in a series of forts built near the confluence of the Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers.

Why do they call Montana 'Big Sky Country'?

Yellowtail Dam

This impressive power producer for 8 states is located in Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area in Southeastern Montana.

Anaconda Smoke Stack

This unique state park preserves this gigantic Copper Smelter smoke stack. It is still under development, and will focus on the importance of copper mining to the area.

Big Hole National Battlefield

This picturesque valley was the site of a bloody battle between the US Army and the Nez Perce Indians in August of 1877.

Craters of the Moon NM

Here's a picture from up top of Inferno Cone. It almost killed me, but I did make it up!

Unbelievabear

Erik says he climbed that cinder cone behind me. I don't really believe him, but I guess the next picture proves me wrong.

My mobile apartment

I'm traveling in my parents van. I've removed both bench seat and brought a single mattress so that I can camp right out of it. This set up is also ideal because when I was traveling with my dad (he flew home from Salt Lake City yesterday) one could drive while the other one got some rest in back. This was especially helpful on the first two days when we drove almost 1400 miles.

Hagerman Fossil Beds NM

This site along the Snake River in Southern Idaho protects a large number of fossils in bluffs along the river.

Minidoka Internment NM

This site is the remnants of a World War II Japanese Internment camp near Twin Falls, Idaho. Not much remains today, and the site is still under development by the NPS.

Big Storm

This storm set in at Dinosaur National Park and convinced us we wouldn't be camping tonight.

Petey says...

Ugh, this is just embarrassing...

Colorado National Monument

This is a series of amazing canyons outside Grand Junction, Colorado.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP

This spectacular canyon is located in Central Colorado.

Molas Pass

This is the view from 10,910 foot Molas Pass, on the Million Dollar Highway in Central Colorado.

Silverton, Colorado

This is a view of the very touristy, yet cute, old silver mining town of Silverton.

Bear-y sick of Indian ruins

Petey's become a bit worn out on all the Indian ruins we've seen the last couple of days.

Mesa Verde National Park

This is the Spruce Tree House ruin. It dates from 1200 B.C.

Priceless

This is at our campground in Cortez, Colorado.

This is getting old...

Ugh!

Four Corner Bear

Ok- he was in all four states at once, but the wind was blowing so hard, I couldn't keep him there long enough to take the picture!

Aztec Ruins NM

This is a reconstructed kiva. A kiva was a place of ceremony and worship in Puebloan cultures. The name of the park, Aztec Ruins, is misleading, since the Aztecs never lived in this part of the continent. It was given by early settlers who were mistaken.

Tricks of the trade

I've gotten some questions about why there are so many pictures of my dad and I using the same angle. Well, here's the answer. My brother and sister-in-law got me the apparatus that allows me to hold the camera at a distance and get a picture of us (or me) without needing to carry a tripod or asking someone else to take a picture for you. I'm told the inspiration for this gift was the 'idiot' photos I take at each place. If you don't know what an idiot photo is- check out the trip page at www.eriksmith.com/OutWest2009/Idiotp1.htm .

Chaco Culture National Historical Park

This park preserves a number of 'great houses' of the ancestral Puebloan people. This canyon was the hub of their activity from 800 B.C. through 1200 B.C.

Another One of Great Sand Dunes