In October of 1990 the Federal Government shut down for four days as a result of a veto by the first President Bush. The closure fell over a weekend and Holmgren and I did not take it well. How dare they close our Monument! The statute of limitations has expired, so I can confess that we ignored the closure. We parked on a turnout just out of sight of the locked gate on the West Side and walked in to the High Peaks. We climbed and strolled on a beautiful day, untroubled by anybody else! Upon our cross country return, we discovered several rangers patroling the road below us on foot and an enforcement vehicle parked at the gate. Jack and I did not doubt that his car had been recognized and that the reception committee was for us. We both got the giggles as we crept Indian style through the chaparral. We worked our way close to the road and waited for the closest ranger to turn his back. He quickly cooperated and we ran like bandits for the car, Holmgren cackling wildly. Despite the irreverent noise, we made a clean break.
Here we go again, but, unfortunately, I'm not nearly as fast as I once was.
