Who wants to go for a walk? C'mon girl! (Dial-up Warning)

[bluedigger]

Went on a five mile walk with my dog this afternoon in the Canyon of the Ancients National Monument (Four Corners). Want to come along?


An unusual ruins due to it being out on the canyon floor.


Small cliff ruins - more typical.


Walk right up!


Cleo had a good plan - run to the next shady spot and sniff around until I catch up.


Ute Mountain still has snow.


Purty desert flowers!


Out of Sand Canyon and headed down to East Canyon.


Do you see the ruins?


Let me switch to the 200mm.


At the head of a small box canyon.


Cleo found a water hole in the middle of some slickrock. She did not share.


Write your own caption for this one.


Waiting patiently for the old fat man to catch up.


I suspect this may be the first duplex in North America.


Hmm, what's this?


Schweet! Looks like the roof needs some work, though.


Location, location, location...


Buh-bye!

[JohnnyRingo]

1. Those are absolutely breathtaking.

I found the colors so stark and composition so interesting, I lost myself studying each image.

I'd never heard of those ruins, but thanks to your photographic prowess, I feel I've at least virtually been there.

Thank you. I love graphic tours.

[bluedigger]

3. I'm glad you liked them.

It's pretty new (the status as National Monument, lol) and my favorite new place. Literally thousands of archaeology sites. It's managed by BLM, which means it's basically free range, as opposed to National Parks and all their rules - like "no pets". There was a BLM guy at the trailhead collecting user questionnaires. He liked Cleo.:D

[Mira]

2. Making me so monumentally "homesick" you are...

These vistas are beautifully presented, in word and view. I saw the four corners mentioned on the maps as I was out in those areas almost 2 years ago now.
And I remembered studying it in the book by TripleA. From your photos I know I was in sniffing distance.
It makes my Wanderlust percolate.
Thank you for a feast of a walk with Clio shared with us.

[bluedigger]

4. You could do something really great out here, Mira.

You'll have to come back again!

Here's one more I forgot:


It's just a hole dug into the canyon wall - went back maybe eight feet into the hill. I assume it is prehistoric, but I am clueless as to why, unless they were quarrying some special stone. I didn't notice anything special.:shrug:

[Solly Mack]

5. Those are incredible!

You live around such beauty and you capture it wonderfully!

[bluedigger]

9. Thanks so much, Solly Mack!

It's easy, really - I just follow my canine Overlord around...

[Celebration]

6. Simply gorgeous

And very interesting. I am going to look at these several times. I have never been the the Four Corners area, and I really want to go.

[bluedigger]

10. Thanks, Celebration!

I'm embarrassed it took me so long to discover this area. Within a half day's drive of Cortez, CO: Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Canyon of the Ancients, Mesa Verde, Chaco Canyon, Shiprock, Navajo Pueblo, Moab, Telluride, Silverton, Ouray... Off the top of my head places I am aware of. I don't think I'll run out of subjects for a while...except I have to go back to NOLA this week for work...which is a good thing.


Another shot from Sand Canyon on a sunnier day last January.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

7. Nicely done!

When is the next tour? :bounce:

[bluedigger]

11. It's gonna be awhile.

Our last walk out there for a few months as work is taking me to New Orleans.

Here, put this rock in your pocket - ought to help that bouncing problem.

[NV Whino]

8. Wait, what is that stuff at the top of the photos?

That blue stuff. I can't quite remember what it is.


Thanks for the tour. What a wonderful place.

[bluedigger]

12. Heh, it was raining two hours after we got back to town.

I'd been trying to get out there all week between windstorms and snow flurries. We made it during a five hour window of "nice" weather - the pics are more or less in order - check out the sky at the end, lol.


Another Sand Canyon photo taken in January.

[HarveyDarkey]

13. Great shots, my favorite part of the country

If you like unique architecture you should visit Hovenweep in Utah, just across the border.

[bluedigger]

14. I've put Hovenweep off.

I think it's actually also part of the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument (it crosses the state lines), or they have a common boundary and management thing but are separate administratively. You could definitely hike there from this area - there are trails.

I think Hovenweep would be a few miles out thisaway, the other side of that canyon somewhere:

[HarveyDarkey]

15. I watched the full moon rise over the Sleeping Ute Mountain from there

As it rose the coyotes started howling and my dog went crazy. He nearly tore a hole in the side of the tent.

A couple pics from there:

[bluedigger]

16. Looks great!

If you can see Sleeping Ute from Hovenweep it isn't too far. Hovenweep is in the NW corner and Sand Canyon is in the SE corner, more or less... That is some unique architecture! I'm just saving it for later! ;)

[postatomic]

17. Thanks for the beautiful journey

You walked in one of the most mystical places on the planet. Can I ask where you started and ended? Five miles I can do no problem. It's when I push 20 miles that I start to poop out quickly. Depends on how much climbing I have to do. Oh, and I hope puppy is well trained. Rattlers' will be out soon in full force. Be careful if you do it again and carry a snake bite kit.

Again; thank you.
:hi:

Edit? That's what I get for not using spell check and when I'm really tired-med'd out.

[bluedigger]

18. Hi postatomic!

Coordinates to the trailhead are N37 20'29.71" W108 49'4.57". Trail is very easy - the only real up and down is when you cross from Sand to East Canyons after you get up across the slickrock from the trailhead, and the trail has switchbacks. Mostly pretty level and well marked. A GPS and a compass are always a good precaution.

I haven't got a snakekit yet for the dog, but I will consult the local vets before we go out in the warm weather. For now we are back in New Orleans for the summer - I'm training her to attack drunk tourists.;)

This is Battle Rock at the trailhead:

[Callalily]

19. Thanks for taking us on such

a spectacular journey. Your photos are wonderful!