Pyramids and snow covered mountains

Meanwhile, despite the continued federal government shutdown, we hear that the Governor of Utah has re-opened the National Parks in his state using state funds. We also heard that the Grand Canyon might reopen. The Grand Canyon is more than 4 hours driving from monument valley, and we don’t want to take the chance of the park not being open. So we head back into the Utah canyons and mesas of the Ancient Pueblos. There are some state parks through here where you can hike and camp and discover ancient pueblo villages and artifacts on your own, but we’re such novices to the area that we don’t venture too far off the road. 

Then we come upon a ridge - it looks like the road is going to take us straight up! It is steep, narrow, rocky, and definitely the diciest of the roads John has had to maneuver.

I am looking over to the right (no guard rails and a straight drop down) and can see the vast plain that is filled with naturally formed pyramids - but I don’t want to tell John because I don’t want him to take his eyes off the road. How amazing that what the Egyptians and Incas and Aztecs did with slave labor was formed here naturally. 

When we reach the top and turn the corner we can see that, abracadabra, we are in a whole new landscape.  We are on a higher plain.  (called the Colorado Plateau, I think) There is no other side to go down.

 What looks like clouds up ahead looks a little like it might be snow covered mountains.

Sure enough!

Driving down the road, taking pictures

Have no idea how this almost 9 minute(!) video was made or got on my camera/computer.  I think that every time I turned on the camera to take a photo, the video automatically turned on …  it's rather long and boring (and shaky) ... but not bad for showing what it was like to drive down the Trail of the Ancients!

The Land

The land is predominant out here.

There are no buildings or neighborhoods to distract you from the encompassing drama that unfolds around you. You are captivated, mesmerized.

The land not only changes your consciousness, it begins to seep into your skin and you know that you are not apart from the land. This is who you are.

 Valley of the Gods

 Heading South toward Monument Valley ...

Starting out on the Trail of the Ancients

I don’t know if I will ever get over the disappointment of not being able to see the Mesa Verde because of an unnecessary government shutdown. But here we were in this magical area of our country and we were determined to see what we could.

Greg directed us to the town of Cortez, where there was a cultural center that was open.

The women at the Cortez cultural center were very helpful, explaining that while most of the area’s protected treasures were controlled and owned by the federal government in the forms of parks and monuments, there were still areas controlled by Native Americans that could be accessed. We were directed to the Trail of the Ancients, a scenic byway that crosses the beautiful and diverse landscapes of the Colorado Plateau. 

Ute Mountain Tribal Park

Our first stop would be the Ute Mountain Tribal Park. We were hoping to get a tour into the back area of the Mesa Verde. 

Unfortunately the Ute woman at the Visitor Center told us that there would be no more tours because of the quadruple threats of snow, bears, mountain lions and the danger of getting clay in our brakes and tires! Could we go back the road a bit? No. Again, the threat of bears and mountain lions, and that clay ... They were going to put a no trespassing sign up soon, she said. Could we hire a private guide to take us in?  No.  Well, where could we go? Four Corners.

Four Corners

When I was researching our trip to the Southwest, there was one place that I immediately chalked off the list: Four Corners. The place where 4 states (Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado) meet, it looked “cheesy”, not worth it. But here we were, a few miles away and without a better plan, so we headed for Four Corners. 

 More jewelry - I'm surprised that I did not buy any!

 John checking out the arrows.  He didn't buy any either ... I guess we finally know that we don't need any more stuff!

 It was cheesy, and not worth it, but we did get a very good Navaho Taco there.