The Southwestern Wrap

My trip to the American Southwest was an amazing experience that taught me many things. I learned in detail about the Ancient Puebloans, how they lived 1400 years ago, and how their way of life is kept alive today through modern tribes at Mesa Verde. I was face to face with millions of years worth of geologic formations at the Grand Canyon and I also learned many of the outlandish stories that were created on the Colorado River. I had a chance to experience a Southwestern adventure, hiking Angel's Landing and then getting the "local's special" while out on the town. I also experienced two weeks on the road which is half the fun of a trip like this.

However, despite all of these experiences, I feel that it was not enough to illustrate an adequate geographical discription of the Southwest. What about Bryce Canyon, Moab, Arches National Parks? And that's just in Utah! What about the deserts of Arizona and the dunes? What about Dinosaur Monument, Mexican Hat, and the Valley of the Gods? There is just too much that was left out!

So, I guess I will just have to deal with a partial discription of the Southwest and a decent discription of Zion, Grand Canyon, and Mesa Verde. I guess it just means that I will have to make another trip, and probably several more trips until I feel that I can adequately illustrate what the American Southwest is to me. Because that is what a good geographical discription is to me; being able to take all of the characteristics of a place and giving them meaning that allows us to connect with that location. If we, as individuals, cannot connect with a location then that place is meaningless to us as soon as we leave. To truly understand the geography of somewhere is to find the meaning of a location that speaks to you, personally. I feel that I did that for the places that I visited on my trip. It just left me wanting more in the end!

How to Truly Live in Nature

The last park on my agenda was Mesa Verde National Park in Southwest Colorado. Both Zion and Grand Canyon National Parks were amazing and full of adventure, but this stop was focused on a deeper understanding of ancient civilizations. The parks namesake literally means green table. While this accurately describes its landscape, it disquises what the park has become known for; cliff dwellings. The amazingly preserved structures of the ancient Pueblo Natives offers a glimpse of what life was like in this part of the world over 1400 years ago. Mesa Verde's main purpose is to preserve these ancient relics so people can personally experience how this amazing group of people lived intertwined with nature.

It is hard to imagine why the Ancient Puebloans wanted to live among these cliffs isn't it. During the time that their people made this place home, the plateaus boasted fertile soils for planting and a unique mixture of soil and sand that they used to sculpt tools and eventually homes.

Ancient history that is believed to describe the Ancient Puebloans journey

to the Mesa and also different parts of their life and culture.

The lines are believed to mark the journey of the Ancient Puebloans in some sort-of ancient map. Along the way are illustrations of different things they encountered.

While some are easy to pick out, such as mountains, a frog, or a snake,
others are harder to distinguish.

These are stones found during an archeological dig that they used to mill corn

and other grains. Maize was a staple as well as potatos.

The Kiva or spiritual room for the Ancient Puebloans. This room was always covered, unlike here, with mud and timber and was used for praying, weaving, or meeting. The large bowl in the floor was a fire ring, the small hole at the bottom of the photo is the sipapu (where the first human came from), the short wall by the fire ring was a deflector wall to keep wind from disrupting the fire, and the opening behind the deflector wall is ventilation to vent the smoke from the fire.

This is a picture of where Ancient Puebloans would put prayer sticks in the Adobe-like mortar of the walls. Prayer sticks were often for rain, a prosperous hunt, or to heal the sick.

This is a great example of how these structures were put together with materials that were available to them on the mesa. It was unbelievable how these structures could stand so well after 800 years. I wonder if many of today's homes could last that long?

This is a view inside one of the rooms in Cliff Palace. Usually, one family would share a room that was roughly 6'x6' and 5' tall. That means at times the 100+ Cliff Palace could have held more that 600 people!

Looking down from the mesa upon part of Cliff Palace. The towers

were said to be multi-purpose; sometimes acting as food storage

for winter months when there were fewer families here.

Another Kiva, with odd disks that were found in another archeological dig.

Many believe they are ornaments of sorts.

Looking up at the amazing Palace. These people were definitely in good shape.

Cliff Palace was believed to be a spiritual center and not always a

living quarters. It was said to possibly be a place where many families would gather for

rituals or meetings with other tribes on important matters.

Cliff Palace. The parks largest and most elaborate dwelling.

The "Big Ditch"

After a good night diving into the local culture in Zion by sampling the food, brew, and personalities, I pointed south toward Grand Canyon National Park (36 3'27"N 112 8'15"W). I chose the North Rim, which sits over 8,000 ft and is a little cooler and less "touristy" compared to the South Rim. It is also home to the Grand Lodge, an impressive structure filled with hotel rooms, gift shop, a restaurant and bar, and a very unique view. It is hard to find someone who does not know of the Grand Canyon and I had heard so many stories and discriptions from my geology friends that I felt I had been there. Within the first 20 minutes, it became quite clear that I had no idea what I was thinking. It is one thing to hear stories and see pictures, even movies, but it is something all together different to stand on the edge with that vast, abyssal void beneath you. I couldn't comprehend the size of the canyon. There are somethings in this world that the human brain has a hard time fully understanding, such as the outer reaches of space, Quantum Physics, and the Grand Canyon.


The Grand Canyon is the result of two geologic events; first, uplift of layers of sedimentary rock, second, weathering of that rock by natural occurences, but most of all by the Colorado River. The Grand Canyon is one of the most geologically studied areas in the U.S. due to its display of three of the four eras of geological time, ample fossil records, and numerous different rock types. The Grand Canyon also boasts environmental and ecological wonders due to the difference in elevation and climates. It averages 4,000 ft deep along its 277 mile route, 6,000 ft at its deepest point and over 15 miles wide at its widest point. Ecologically speaking, it is similar to traveling from Mexico to Canada. This makes for a very unique geography but there is still more to the area. The Grand Canyon is full of cultural history ranging from native cliff dwellings, to fearless adventurers, to runaway theives. It is easy to see why this beautiful place is one of the natural wonders of the world.

There was a family of mule deer that liked to come

and munch in the campground ever afternoon.

This was my first view of the canyon which came twenty minutes

after arriving and a short walk down from my tent!

This view displays the beautiful strata of the Grand Canyon.

As you can see, it is really hard to grasp the size. From what

I remember at this point, you can look across to the other side of the

canyon and the first half inch represents ~3,000 ft of elevation change!

With the camera zoomed way in, you can make out the summer flow of the

mighty Colorado. It is also a perfect example of a cut bank and point bar

illustrating how the river has cut this massive canyon.

A very unique formation in the rock called a picture window!

My usual shot!

Me sitting on a rock outcropping admiring the nice weather and beautiful landscape.

This is another canyon formation that winds down to meet the larger.

There are many of these "coves" along the canyon and some

form the same type slot canyons that are seen in Zion.

For the three nights that I was here, I would grab an adult beverage

and walk the 100 yards or so from my camp and enjoy this!

For the short time that I visited this magnificent place,

I learned one unmistakable truth; we are very tiny in this amazing world.

Angel's Landing Hike

After learning that I was not able to hike the slot canyon, I searched for other alternatives for exploring the park. According to the rangers, there is really only one hike where you can experience the full grandure of Zion: Angel's Landing. So, on my second day I woke around 6:00 am, packed a lunch, lots of water, and headed out to catch the shuttle to the foot of Angel's Landing. I reeled with excitement to have a chance at a bird's-eye-view of this beautiful and fragile landscape. The physical characteristics of this place were so different from what I was used to, it felt like I was discovering a foreign location (with 2,000 other tourists, of course). As I read the park's discription of the hike, "starting at an elevation of 5,380 ft and ending at 8,750 ft, Angel's Landing is not for the faint-of-heart," it sounded exactly like what I was looking for, but it would soon, out-do my expectations. Although I am an avid hiker with over 100 days in the Appalachians and the Rockies, this hike was undoubtably the best day-hike I had ever experienced.

The sign says it all!

I especially liked the picture of stickman falling to his doom.

Note the chain that acts as your only hand rail.

This was the incredible view North from Angel's Landing.
Definitely one of the most awesome vistas that I have experienced.


This is looking South into the ever encroaching canyon walls.
Follow the river to the slot canyon and the canyon's origins.

Angel's Landing! In the photo, it looks as if you could just step across to White Face (the rock in the background), but it was probably 1/4 mile across the canyon.

On either side of the Landing, is about 2,000 ft drop!

Just follow the ridge to Angel's Landing. Note the small figures hiking their way up!

Or you could take the fast way up! Locals said this was a two day climb,

which meant these people slept on the face the previous night.

This was a section of the trail that was no wider than 3 ft

and on the downhill-side, was a 1,000+ ft fall.

The ascent rarely seemed to take a break.

Half way up, there was a great place to sit and take in the view.

I couldn't help but take this shot. Note the park tram that fits 75 people!

He was the view from the above seat.

Just before I reached the half-way mark, came Walter's Wiggles.

This set of cut backs were one of the many parts of the trail built by the

Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) during the New Deal era.

A friend doing his best "John Muir pose" at a turning point in the trail.

Looking back at the start to the ascent.

Zion, Utah

My "room with a view!"

Zion National Park is located in the Southwest corner of Utah (37 18'0"N 113 3'0" W) and was Utah's first national park. The area has a deep cultural history leading back over 12,000 years. First inhabitants to Zion were ancestors to the Anasazi who, after an environmental shift, were replaced by the Paiute and later by the Mormons. The area had a deep spiritual and cultural meaning for the early inhabitants who worked to preserve this natural wonder. The park also boasts amazing displays of geological proportion. Like many of the parks located in the American Southwest, Zion offers a view into our Earth's physical history in a staggeringly beautiful form. It was in 1919 that Zion National Park came to be and now many of the historical, cultural, and geological characteristics are preserved for all to see.












Looking North towards the park entrance.

Beauty surrounds in Zion National Park























This is the same river that carved the canyon and made for a chilly, yet refreshing morning bath.





















A look at geological history, the Navajo Sandstone cliffs in Zion are believed to be the tallest in the world

Zion offers slot canyons that take visitors to the origins of the present-day canyon.

Too bad, the slot canyon hike was closed during my visit due to the river being too high.

Southwest Feild Trip 2008

In May 2008, I took a two-week trip to the American Southwest which included stops in Utah, Arizona, and Colorado. I visited many places but focused on three National Parks; Zion National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, and Mesa Verde National Park. Initially, I felt two weeks would be plenty of time for me to really experience what defined the area. As I would soon find out, it was just a sampling that left me wanting more. Through the following posts, I hope to convey how my experience in this amazing environment left its mark upon me.