Canyon of the Ancients

[Sparkle]

What Beth didn't tell you when she was photographing the Collared Lizard is how difficult the trail was. This is a new National Monument and primitive was the word. There are sites there that they haven't even investigated. Coming down this was bad enough, going back up was worse!


They think this was a lookout tower.


Underneath ther tower was a cave with these handprints. I hope you can see them. They call this the Painted Hand Canyon because of them.


And of course, our friend.

[WickedLady]

Hmmmm. Don't think I want to attempt that trail

[Nasoosie]

Maybe I could do that trail after I lose a few more pounds! Good grief! That's TIGHT!

Thanks for the pics, Sparkle.

[BirdbyBird]

Don't think I could pass that trail... To narrow for now..the trail that is

[Bethers]

Ah, yes, that trail. What Jean didn't tell you is she took that pic while I was figuring out HOW to get back up there. Down worked, but up - had to do a certain way - facing the opposite of how she took the pic. I figured it out - she came right through.

Was an interesting trail - and if I can get a pic over to photobucket one of these days -will share a pic of the road we had to take to get there, also.

[avalen]

holy cow! what a trail, and I could barely see the handprints but but I did!

[Sparkle]

Oh yes. I forgot about the road in! I boldly go where others have more sense. So when it said it was a rough road I did my usual, What the Hey, and went into 4 wheel drive until....the road just sort of tipped over the edge with big boulders in the middle. Enough was enough.

[carold]

We took a drive from Cortez to there, but only did the 3 mile walking loop-didn't go down the other roads. Beth, love your hiking shoes. Now the road to Chaco Canyon and the ruins-that was a road. carold

[Sparkle]

CHACO CANYON!!!!! Didn't mind the road so much, potholes, washboarding, big dips, rough cattle guards, We knew it would be worth it. Until we got there after a couple of hours drive and there was nothing to eat! Not a snack or a bottle of water. We were starving! So hungry we could barely enjoy it.

[carold]

Sparkle, we checked out the place online and knew others who had been there, so we took lunch and drinks. Be Prepared-that's my girl scout motto; assuming my remaining brain cells are working that day. carold

[Bethers]

Unfortunately, I can't find the pictures from there. Not sure what I did? If it's on my old camera - can't find that either. If/when I discover what I did with it - will be glad to have those pics. Strange. Just totally missing in action.