Moab Adventures

Just recently I had a three day weekend so I decided to drive up to Moab, Utah- outdoor adventure capital of the country. The are known for their mountain biking trails, rafting down the Green river, great hiking, climbing, canyoneering, etc. So much to do! The scenery is just incredible. Moab is bordered by the LaSal mountain range as well as red rock cliffs and arches. It is also close to a state park and two national parks. I even was lucky enough to encounter a local swimming hole, along a creek surrounded by red rock cliffs. Just beautiful!


I spent a day and a half hiking all around Arches and even got to hang out with the rangers for a night! They threw a gathering in lieu of Pioneer Day (a big Mormon holiday) and they had Pie-and-Beer Day-haha! Also, I met a fellow traveler at the local microbrewery and also some local Moabites that were extremely nice and helpful as to what to do in the area.

Lots of French and German tourists everywhere, actually Arches National Park in general felt like Disneyland at time, which was frustrating. I prefer hiking in nature among the silence and the solitude. Only occasionally did I attain that. My last day, in Canyonlands I did a 3 mile hike in the rain (which is rare out here). Needless to say it was an amazing, renewing experience.



I was a bit disappointed by the lack of city planning in Moab. The city is very flat and has so much potential to be bike friendly in town (in conjunction with all the mountain biking that surrounds the town) but unfortunately everything was very automobile centered. I couldn't tell you how many times in three days I drove up and down the main street unnecessarily...although I don't have a bike with me at the moment.


Overall though it was a great trip. I hope I have a chance to go back one last time before I head to Georgia. So much to do in so little time!

Rattle Rattle

I saw my first rattlesnake today! He was lying in the middle of the road just sunning himself. He was a small little guy and didn't seem bothered by us until we started agitating him with a long pole to get him out the road. Everything was just fine, I heard him rattle and off he went!

Secret Archives

Yesterday my boss let us rangers take a field trip down to the local museum, which houses a lot of artifacts from our site as well as surrounding sites. We had a behind-the-scenes tour of the archives and curation department.



The best stuff I was not able to take pictures of, mostly because they were found in burial sites or extremely scared to the tribes. Of course, there were TONS of pottery sherds (yes they are sherds, not shards) and some really cool pieces that were completely intact. Moccasins, yucca fiber sandals, and every type of pottery you can imagine. I saw:

A mug with a false bottom. It rattles! Those especially are so rare because they are only used for ceremony and the ones that are still around are usually found broken.

A pot that might have been used for drinking cacao. It had an agitator bar across the top of the rim and was really specially painted. BUT it had been washed as soon as it was collected, so no hope left of testing it for cacao residue. No ones knows if chocolate was traded this far because of the washing but it very well could have happened. They traded for Macaws from Mexico, so why not chocolate as well? A few 100 miles south there was evidence of cacao residue. The mystery continues..

Lastly I got to see a pt that looked like a dog curled around in a half circle. It was perfectly designed and was originally used as a canteen for ceremonies in the kivas. Actually it was a badger for the badger clan, but so perfectly made.

It is really fun getting to see all of the stuff that is "too cool" to put on display for just everyday visitors. Sorry I don't have more pictures!

My new pet

Meet Barky. For about the next two weeks I have the honor of babysitting my fellow ranger's pet scorpion. He is small, likes to eat moths, and comes out if you play him some music or have some people over. Barky likes a good party.


In other news, I have an unwanted pet as well- a mouse in my kitchen. Gross.
And just the other day a frog jumped into my house! As I scrambled to catch him, he decided to pee all over my hands. HAHA

Lots of animals out here. Still no encounters with rattlesnakes though!

Rain Dances must be working!

Monsoon season is upon us. Rain is so welcome here after over two months of not seeing a drop. Nothing can beat these cool looking storms far off in the desert. Sometimes I just sit at my window and watch the lightning. Very cool.

Friends!

My friend Hal and his mother came to visit me on their way to L.A. the other day! It was so nice to see people from home that I know. We made a stop to the four corners, went hiking and I even threw them a dinner party with the other rangers. I couldn't have asked for a better time :-) More people should come visit me!




I know, this is terribly touristy, but I can't not go there when I live only 44 miles away!

In the footsteps of Forrest Gump

Today I visited Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. Despite the beautiful drive the monument itself was a bit disappointing. On top of being cloudy and rainy, me and my roommate were unable to drive down closer to the huge rock formations. BUT we did drive in on the iconic highway where Forrest Gump did his running across America. The picture below is right about where he stopped. Don't believe me? Watch the movie!

Through Renewed Eyes

This past week I have realized how I've already settled into a routine here, that the desert has become common place. I've been looking back on the journaling I did in the first few weeks I arrived here and it reminds me how I felt to be in such a new environment. I'd like to share some of that writing with you now. This passage below was written only two days after I had arrived at Hovenweep.


Morning.
I sit on my back porch basking in the sunlight like a snake on the sandstone rock. The sun feels good and gives me a warm energy.
Still early, the cool breeze rising from the Mountains miles away give me a slight chill. I am in awe of the raw beauty that surrounds me.
This desert is very much alive.

The air alone is clean, fresh and almost spiritual.
I feel at peace here, hearing nothing but the wind make its way among the juniper trees. An occasional bird chirps.
It feels as though this desert is mine.

I am outside the expanse of time, free to take in even the tiniest detail around me- The wide, expansive sky, the seemingly never-ending horizon,
Each sway of the flowers in the breeze,
The march of the ants, the scurrying of the lizards,
and the careless flights of the birds.

I linger longer, beginning to feel my skin warm under the sun,
Little by little.
Pictures can’t capture the beauty,
Words fall short.
The desert must be experienced with every sense, every fiber in your body.
Am I listening?

The desert asks hard questions.
Can you take comfort in the silence?
See the beauty in the small things?
Are you content being alone?
I feel as though I am living like a monk in the desert.

Truly this is the best part of the day
The chill of the morning,
Breathing,
Sensing every change upon the skin,
Basking as a child under the sun
Time just “to be”.

I lie here staring up like morning will never end.
Alas, a plane cuts across my perfect blue sky.
A magical moment lost to the human world.

Bitter Sweet Desert Days

Today has been a great day, and much needed. Finally, I was able to go down into our canyon, bushwacking my way through the brush to get to some of the ruins on the bottom. Escorted by the park's archeologist I got to learn some new things about the area and was allowed to peer into these structures and really get a feel for them. Saw some old, rusty cans from the 40s rotting away and really neat sherds of pottery. Sorry I should have taken pictures but I didn't.

I really feel that I've finally settled into a routine here, which is good and bad. I've past the half way point and I just can't believe it! Everything is just flying by which means I've been enjoying myself. Still, I wonder whats to come next in my life. Searching for jobs is not my favorite pastime, but a necessary one right now.

In this heat I'm missing the feel of cool grass beneath my bare feet.
And tall shady, trees.
And the color green!

Forth of July was a bit lonely, missing out on all the picnics and friends and fireworks. BUT I know that I will be looking back on this time in the desert with a smile on my face and know now that I'm blessed to be out here. Sometimes though you just need some good friends to share all this with (miss you guys back home!)

Mudhead

For my presentation I made a replica of a mask used in ceremonies in Hopi and Zuni communities. Do you like it?



Mudhead often appears at the beginnings of the ceremony as a clown type figure, doing crazy things, making people laugh and bringing a joyful atmosphere. They are also know partaking in obscene behavior such as pooping in public or performing sexual acts, as a big example of unaccepted public behavior. They will also sometimes take the opportunity to single out and shame individuals who have been lazy or have done something wrong in the community.

Summer heat

It's official- Yesterday marked the first time that the temperature has reached triple digits for the summer Whooohoo!

Curse of the Cattle Guard

This is a cattle guard.



They are all over the area here because there are open ranges and its one way to keep cattle somewhat on your land. Sometimes they even paint lines on the road to look like a cattle guard, which actually works...those cows are smart enough not to get near those cattle guards. Unfortunately, I am not.

The other day I had only went to go for a run the other day and as I approached the cattle guard I slowed down to a walk and tried to cross it. My foot lost its balance and down I went, flat on the metal bars. Ouch! My shin instantly swelled up and I hobbled back to the Visitor's center for some ice. I'm doing alright now, but a bruised shin bone and ribs. I don't think I will be crossing them again any time soon...