Southwest Trip 4/4/2008 to 4/14/2008

April 4th: Flew to Phoenix and drove to Sedona.
April 5th: Visited Tlaquepague in Sedona (much different than the Tlaquepague in Mexico, but both consists of many artisan shops.) Hiked Up Bell Rock and attended my friend's wedding in Sedona.
April 6th: Left Sedona. Visited the Meteor Crater and drove through the Petrified Forest from South to North stopping at most overlooks and continued to my sisters place in Pueblo Pintado, NM.
April 7th: Spent time with my sister in Pueblo Pintado.
April 8th: Visited Chaco Canyon. Its amazing how they built these big 4-5 story buildings especially considering the lack of water and other resources. It makes me wonder if there was more water back then. Its interested how a lot of the buildings are aligned north,south and east,west and how they took advantage of the solstice and equinox.
April 9th: Drove to Durango: It was snowy and rainy so I visited the Historic Downtown of Durango. I went from 90 degree Phoenix to snowing in Durango. I need to go back there when I have more time.
April 10th: The higher elevations in Southwestern Colorado were covered in snow. I skipped Mesa Verde because the road was too icy and they were requiring 4X4. Instead I visited the Anasazi Heritage Center in Dolores, CO. Then I drove through Cortex and to the Four Corners where I was in four states at one time. Then I drove to Monument Valley. They day went from snow in southwestern Colorado to warm temperatures by the time I got to four corners and monument valley. The day was windy though. I drove through a self guided tour on a dirt road. Then I rented a horse and guide for a hour and a half tour through monument valley. Beautiful Scenary. So beautiful that I camped there overnight.
April 11th. Visited Sunset Crater (a crater created by a volcano and lava as compared with meteor crater which was created by a meteor.) Then I saw more ruins at Wupatki National Monument. Then I drove through Flagstaff, Sedona and into Cottonwood and camped out at Dead Horse Ranch State Park.
April 12th: Drove up through Jerome on the windy roads up to the height of elevation. Jerome is an old mining town halfway up the mountain. First I hiked up to Woodchute Mountain, which had some great views looking towards Prescott and other views looking towards the valley and Mt. Humphrey and the San Francisco Peaks. Then I took the dirt road up Mingis Mountain and hiked a loop down and around Mingis Mountain. More great views and some remaining snow at the higher elevations. Then I drove back down to the same campground and saw an evening show of Birds of Prey presented by the Wildlife Center of Adobe Mountain where they showed eight birds from Falcons to Owls. All the birds were recovering from injuries. Camped out at Dead Horse Ranch State Park for the second night.
April 13th: Hiked a 7-8 mile hike in the morning around Dead Horse Ranch State Park. Then packed up and visited more ruins at Tuzigoot National Monument, Montezuma Castle and Montezuma Well. Then I headed down to Phoenix where the temperature was 90 degrees and stayed with a friend.
April 14th: Left the Southwest and flew back to my place with a nice tan that was not red :')

Sedona, Arizona

View from Bell Rock

Bell Rock

Meteor Crater

Petried Forest. This tree is many thousand years old

View from Middle of Petrified Forest

Petroglyphs at Petrified Forest

View from the North part of Petrified Forest called Painted Desert.

Pueblo Pintado (where my sister currently lives)

Ruins in Pueblo Pintado

Different parts of the country has different driving problems. When driving in Boston, you need to beware of crazy boston drivers. When driving out here in Navajo nation, you need beware of jackrabbits, dogs, horses, cattle, and nearly invisible hitchhikers.

Pueblo Bonito at Chaco Canyon

View from Pueblo Alto Complex

Jackson Steps. Can you climb up that?

Chetro Ketl

Pueblo Bonito. The rocks in front destroyed part of it

Another view of Pueblo Bonito

This diagonal window is unique because it aligned with the solstice and allows more light in at the winter solstice and less light in at the summer solstice.