Walnut Canyon

Got a picture of the sign...

After the snake incident, Tommy decided I was too stupid for words and we left Bedrock for Canyon rock.  We traveled to Walnut Canyon National Monument.

View from the trek down of the canyon wall

We wanted to do the trail from the visitor's center but half of it was closed due to construction.  I'm not really sure what construction one does at an ancient cliff dwelling but something was going on because they were making ALOT of noise.  At any rate, half is better than none, so away we went.  We started down a ramp to some stairs when mom decided her knees would be better off without attempting the return.  Down is good for her.  Up, not so much.  She went back up and Tommy and I, again, sans sunscreen ( I really need to tape a note to my forehead), went down.  We turned a corner and there were a whole lot o' stairs so I'm thinking mom made the right choice.

The canyon path

The trail was narrow and windy and only big enough for us to go single file.  I get a little nervous with Tommy in these instances as he tends to not watch where he is going. His balance isn't the best and one trip would send you down.  Luckily, he recognized this and was extra careful!  I was the one who tripped and almost landed on her face.  Go figure.  Any how the first dwelling we came upon was completely destroyed.  People had dug and ruined the walls and floor in their attempt to find relics.  This happened before the park was a park, but luckily only one part was damaged.  The rest we were able to go in and out of and look at.

Cliff Dwelling Wall - How exciting to touch the past

Inside a dwelling.  MUCH cooler!

Row of dwellings

Tommy coming into a dwelling!

In other words... Take is slow!

  We could also see across the canyon to other dwellings and along the path were interesting tidbits on the how and why of plant use by the Navajo.  They also had information on the history of the dwellings and canyon.  We really had a good time and at the halfway mark we trudged back up all those stairs.  I must be getting in shape with all this hiking.  It didn't seem near as bad as I had feared it would be!