Audio tapes lead travelers
along Highway 12

A new set of audio tapes is available this summer to travelers on Highway l2. The set of two tapes and a map are called "Tales Along The Highway Of Legends," and have been developed by Allen Bachoroski of Trinidad.

They give tourists and local residents a collection of 36 of the legends that surround the Highway of Legends. Bachoroski narrates the audio tapes, which are nearly two hours long. He also explains to the traveler many of the picturesque sights and 24 interesting stops that can be seen along Highway 12. A hand-drawn map of the area shows the location of the 36 legends The map and a bibliography of resources are included in the package. "Tales Along the Highway of Legends" is being sold in various stores in Trinidad and Walsenburg and all along the Highway of Legends.

Bachoroski's interest in storytelling and Indians goes back to his high school days, when he belonged to an Indian dance group. His interaction in local legends started while at Trinidad State Junior College, when he searched for the stories behind Fisher's Peak and Monument Lake. While living and teaching in Raton, he and his wife would travel over Raton Pass and would see the majestic Spanish Peaks and the Sangre do Cristo Range. Bachoroski discovered that each of those mountain landmarks had their own legends. Some of those legends include: "Wootton's Toll Road," "The Folsom Man," "The Great Flood," various Routes of the Santa Fe Trail and "How the Peaks were Named."

To become a school principal, Bachoroski obtained an master's degree from New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, N.M., where he also studied about Kit Carson, Fort Union and local Hispanic history. The family then moved to the Navajo Indian Reservation and during the next four years, he learned many of the Native American stories, which he shares in his "Tales Along The Highway Of Legends." Some of those stories include: "The Bear Lake Story," "Dance of Brave Deeds" and "The Mountain of Snakes."

Upon their return to Trinidad to raise their family, Bachoroski continued in school administration, serving the Aguilar and Prmero school districts . During his 10 years as superintendent of schools in Primero, Bachoroski documented its school history. Some of the stories have become legends, which include: "When Schools Weren't," "The First Ghost Town," "How Torres Survives," "The Yellow School Train" and "The Legendary Maid Marian."

When Highway 12 was designated the first scenic byway of Colorado, in 1988, Bachoroski and some friends researched local legends and wrote the first book for this area about those legends, including "Tobin's Reward," "The Monument Lake Legend," "Where The Snow Turns to Blood" and "Chief GranDoTe." The title of that book was "Twelve Stories From The Scenic Highway of Legends."

It is out of print, but he has continued to collect stories and now has four times the original 12. He keeps things in groups of 12, because of Highway 12..

During the last nine years, Bachoroski has been director of the Upward Bound Program at Trinidad State Junior College and a part-time instructor. During this time, he helped produce a video tape at the Carnegie Library, documenting events people remembered about living in the coal camps. That is where he got "Coal Camp Tall Tales" and "The Ludlow Massacre." He then collected 101 local family stories, which where donated to local libraries. Some of those stories, "The Last Buffalo Hunter," "Indian Kidnappings" and "Penitentes Persecuted," nave been included on the audio tape.

Some stories have been obtained from collecting verbal histories and by researching local history books. A bibliography has been included, been included. because parts pf each story are documented in books.

Bachoroski says, "It is an honor to actually know family members whose ancestors have become legends. Those family names which come to mind include: Sporleder, Torres, Russell, Johnson, Walsen, Hanson and the Madrids.

Bachoroski has been sharing his stories with community groups and has been giving local history classes through TSJC, which consists of a tour along Highway 12. People stop at many of the interesting, historic and picturesque places, where Bachoroski is able to share his stories and legends.

"During one of those trips," he says, "I decided to make my large collection of tales available to others, using a medium that lets people drive and look at scenery while listening to the stories."

"Tales Along The Highway Of Legends" is being packaged as a two tape set. with a map to the legend sites. The tape set even gives travelers something to take back home to share with others. The audio tapes, with 16 tales and 24 interesting stops, is being sold in stores along Highway 12.