Thursday July 5: Today is a playday for us – Clifford, me, and CI webmaster and friend, Kaylee, who has come up from Albuquerque for a CI board meeting, project planning, and web work. We have been working hard on CI projects this week, but decide to take a day off to show Kaylee the countryside.
Our destination is the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park, by way of Abajo Mountain. Our first stop is Foy Lake at the crest of the slope we are traversing, as we explore possible camping spots for future reference.
Foy Lake on Abajo Mountain
Our next stop is a Utah State Historical Monument, Newspaper Rock, a 200 square foot cliff wall covered with Native American petroglyphs, created by several ancient cultures beginning about 1,500 years ago. The “drawings” consist of animals, human figures, and many inexplicable symbols. In our travels, this is the most dense display of petroglyphs that we have seen.
Newspaper RockA close-up of some of the petroglyphs on Newspaper RockExploring at Newspaper RockClifford and Kaylee chat as they wait for me to take a few more photos
Continuing on highway 211, the journey includes several miles through canyon land under BLM jurisdiction.
BLM land on the route to Needles District of Canyonlands National ParkBLM land on the route to Needles District of Canyonlands National Park
When we arrive at the Needles District Visitors’ Center, we browse briefly, then drive on to view points of interest. Wooden Shoe Arch is a good stop and we linger there a bit.
Wooden Shoe Arch vista pointOther views from the Wooden Shoe Arch pulloutOther views from the Wooden Shoe Arch pulloutClifford relaxing at the Wood Shoe Arch pulloutKaylee enjoying the views at the Wooden Shoe Arch pullout
At Pothole Point, we hike the loop trail, which offers views of the remarkable landscape in this part of the park. On the way back, there is a better pullout from which to see the Wooden Shoe Arch, even though it is not marked as such.
Pothole Point scenic hiking loopPothole Point scenic hiking loopCarol on the Pothole Point scenic hiking loopBadland views from Pothole Point scenic hiking loopView of the Needles District from the Pothole Point scenic hiking loopA closer view of Wooden Shoe Arch
Back at home, I download the photos of the day. We visit after dinner, bed time is late, but we all had a very good day, a refreshing break before we carry on with CI business tomorrow.
