March

want to camp at Great Sand Dunes NationalPark and Preserve: (719) 378-6300; www.nps.gov/grsa. A must-see,the park is located about 50 miles to thenortheast.CRANE YOUR NECKIN NEBRASKAWhile on the subject of sandhill cranes, Ihave to mention the Platte River areanear Kearney, Nebraska. One springMike and I traveled to the Platte and actuallyspent a night with thousands ofsandhill cranes. We rented a photo blindfrom the Audubon Society, and whileMike slept I snuggled deep into mysleeping bag and listened to the cranescall and fly overhead.Cranes are one of the planet’s oldestliving birds. Fossil records prove thatcranes have been in what is now Nebraskafor more than 9 million years. Springbrings 500,000 sandhill cranes to thePlatte. They arrive every March and staythrough early April. One of the mostpopular places to view them is the IainNicolson Audubon Center at Nebraska’sRowe Sanctuary. Visitors can sign up forWyoming Paintbrush, Circle 131 on Reader Service CardTRAILER LIFE March 2012 41Go To:.comUser GuideContents