House on Fire

 

A few miles from Natural Bridges, but not within the National Monument, lies an Anasazi ruin known as House on Fire, or House Afire.  It is located on BLM land about a mile up canyon from a dirt road off Hwy. 95.

It gets its name from the pattern in the rock above it. The effects of the evening sun on the rock face is absolutely beautiful.  We were too early for the full effect, and If you would like to see the full effect just Google it to see some amazing photos. 

Someone did some amazing rock work.

The insides of the rooms had been filled by pack rats over the years. Notice the smoke stains from ancient fires.

There were still scraps of pottery lying around.  Imagine the hands that created the intricate patterns centuries ago.

It felt somewhat odd to sit here in this place, thinking of the people that constructed it, scratching out a living growing corn and squash.

It was a fun, fairly level hike up the canyon floor.  If you’re ever in the area give it a shot.  Well worth the hike.  We really enjoyed this look into the past.…..jc

Natural Bridges

 

After Climbing the Moki Dugway, we found ourselves on top of Cedar Mesa. At the Northern end of the mesa is Natural Bridges National Monument.

Home to three natural bridges which are viewable from a nine mile loop road.

 

The youngest is Kachina, which is still being formed by canyon floods.

The Mature, or middle, bridge is Sipapu.  Completely formed, and standing tall and proud.

The oldest, now being eroded by frost and moisture action, is Owachomo.  No one knows how much longer it will continue to bridge the ancient streambed which created it.  Could still be centuries before it collapses.

In a moment of weakness I decided to hike the Sipapu trail.  How bad can six tenth’s of a mile be?

Notice the elevation change, or the word strenuous? Nah, me neither.

Should have been a warning.

It levels out for a short distance leading past some old ruins, and to a natural viewpoint.

Did I enjoy the view and start back up?  Nope.  Kept going, getting closer and closer, while going down and down.

More of these,

as well as handrails in some sections of slickrock which I didn’t get pictures of due to my holding on.

Finally to the bottom, and the remains of the stream which created the beauty.

From there, it was back to the top. 500 feet of elevation gain in 6/10 of a mile!  What was I thinking?  Anyway, I made it back up before Wanda felt the need to call 911.  Another great hike to view more of “Land before Time”……

Goosenecks and the Moki dugway

 

We had a leisurely breakfast this morning, then decided to go for a ride.  Had always wanted the see the Goosenecks of the San Juan River, and climb the Moki Dugway.  As we headed South we could see parts of Monument Valley in the distance.

You can feel really small in areas such as this.

The San Juan River which looks so meek and mild here at the campground has carved a channel something like a thousand feet deep only twenty or so miles away.

 

 

So large I could not get them in one picture.  The river enters from the left on the top picture and exits in the bottom one.  A miniature Grand Canyon.  There is open camping all along the rim.  Not recommended for sleepwalkers. Can’t believe I didn’t get pictures of that.

From there it was on to the Moki Dugway.  Utah highway 261 is a nice paved road from near Mexican Hat to near Natural Bridges National Monument. 

But to get there it has to climb this mesa.

It does it in about a two mile stretch of gravel switchbacks.

Very narrow, with few pullouts.

Looking back on the road we were on earlier from about halfway up.

Some of the switchbacks.

Some didn’t make it.

Looking back the way came, down toward Monument Valley.

Next up,  Natural Bridges……..jc