Hatch Green Chilis and a Trip to the Oregon Trail and South Pass

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I slept in a bit this morning, ate breakfast, and headed into Lander for a few groceries while Connie started the laundry. I saw a small herd of ten pronghorn antelope on the way into Lander, but none on the return trap.

Shopping for groceries was uneventful, but as I made a second pass through the produce section, I spotted some green chilis on display. They had no price on them, but learned they had just come in, they were Hatch green chilis and were only $2.49 per pound. I picked up four bags, which collectively weighted about five pounds. What a score!

It had been overcast all morning, but the began to sprinkle and then rain lightly on my way home. I left the groceries in the truck while I ate lunch and waited for the rain to let up.

A bit later, with the groceries put up, I started our propane grill and then began roasting the chilis. In rained intermittently and I stayed out in it to get those chilis done and into plastic bags to "sweat." About an hour later, I came out and skinned and seeded the chilis and then placed them into two quart Ziplock bags and put them in the freezer.

I did a few housekeeping tasks and read for a bit.

At 4:30, Connie and I met up with Jesse and Meg, two of the seasonal employees, and we drove out to the Oregon Trail and then drove up to and crested the South Pass as crossed by the emigrant trails.

If you follow the road, it goes up and down small hills, but it disappears at the pass.

We stopped at a few interpretive displays and markers and took photographs of Meg and Milo and then Jesse at an Oregon Trail marker.

We the drove on down to Pacific Springs, the first water the trail crosses that drains toward the Pacific Ocean. We walked around the area for a bit looking at the remnants of the Flick and Halter Ranch and Pony Express Pacific Station. We then drove on up to an interpretative display (about six signs) that discussed the trail, Pacific Springs. the Oregon Buttes, and life on the trail. Then we headed home. The whole trip took less than two hours.

Back home, we fixed dinner and then relaxed and read and did a little computer work.






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