Greetings From The Land of the Ancients - 2007
Friday
was a travel day. I departed Moab, UT at Noon, MDT and headed for Navajo
National Monument in Arizona. Most of you know that Arizona does not
observe Daylight Savings Time, but did you know that the Navajo Indian
Reservation in Arizona does observe that silliness, along with most of
the rest of the country? Here I sit at almost 11:15 PM on Friday
night. If I went almost due south to Phoenix, it would be 10:15
PM. Don’t you love traditions?
_lg.JPG "Where Forest Gump stopped running, on Highway 163, Monument Valley, Utah - Click for larger image (http://jamesmcgillis.com)")
My
route of travel took me through Monument Valley, split almost evenly
between Utah and Arizona. Tom Hanks, playing Forrest Gump made this road
famous. It was here that he “stopped running” and returned home.
Arriving
here at the Monument just before 5 PM, local time, I was able to hike to
the closest Pre-Puebloan “alcove dwelling” before sunset. Although it
is hard to discern details in such a small picture, several of the
dwellings looked like they were inhabited. Considering that they
abandoned the site in 1268, such longevity is a testament to their
building prowess. The naturally arched amphitheater roof has assisted in
the preservation of the site.
_lg.JPG "Betatakin (Ledge House), a Pre-Puebloan Indian Alcove Dwellings, Navajo National Monument - Click for larger image (http://jamesmcgillis.com)")
The
second trail I took wound its way down into the same canyon, but closer
to the headwaters. There I found a “relict forest” of Ponderosa Pines,
Aspens and other “mountain species” living in the well-watered and
shaded canyon. When the last ice age retreated, so too did these species
in most of the arid Four Corners region. Marooned far from their
cousins, these trees and shrubs mow wait (in vain?) for the next ice
age. If one should occur, these species can again spread and travel to
new lands._lg.JPG "A Relict Forest, protected by cliffs and nurtured by water seeping from sandstone, Navajo National Monument, Arizona - Click for larger image (http://jamesmcgillis.com)")
As always, it was a pleasure to be in the company of the tall pines.
Huffing
and puffing at the 7300 foot elevation, I made it back to the aptly
named Sunset Campground in time to capture the long view towards the
setting Sun. If you have a chance to visit this area, a sunset here is
a remarkable sight. The unobstructed view to the west includes a drop in
elevation of several thousand feet, thus giving this place a "top of
the world" point of view.
Tomorrow, I make the long haul to the
deserts of California and the 1.4 million acre Mojave Preserve. Internet
connections are spotty at best out there, so I will probably report in
from Simi Valley, CA, as the new week begins. Until then, have a great
weekend.
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