2025 - West - NM - Aztec - Cox Canyon Arch - April 28

 4/28 - This is our last day before starting the long drive home. We drove up to Aztec NM and stopped in at Aztec Ruins, then tried to find Octopus Arch (and failed) but then found Cox Canyon Arch. Well, Vaughan, Jim, and Jill found the arch. It was quit a climb to get to the first point where you could see it in the distance. Vaughan went up first with Jim to where they could see the arch in the distance. Jim came back to help Jill up the cliff.  Jill came back down while Vaughan continued on to get up close and personal with the arch.  Jazzy & I never made the attempt.

Here is their first view of the arch - 

But here is the first climb to get up to that view.

Here is Vaughan on the second climb - 

and finally a closeup of the arch.

Sometimes it is harder to come down these cliffs than to go up.

A final picture of our crew (minus Vaughan who is still up on a cliff) on our final hike.

It's been a blast!

2025 - West - NM - Bloomfield - Valley of Dreams

 4/27 - For my birthday I wanted to to be in New Mexico to be able to visit the Navajo wilderness area of Bisti/De-Na-Zin.  This place is truly magical. We must have taken 200 pictures which made it difficult to pick which ones to place on this blog. I apologize for choosing so many.

It makes me wonder why people only go to the beach or to large cities. We have so many amazing places to visit in this beautiful country. My advice - expand your horizons while you are still able.

2025 - West - UT - Blanding - Ballroom Archeological Site - April 25

 4/25 - Our last day in Blanding UT. Decided on a short hike to Ballroom Cave. This Anasazi ruin is found in the Upper Butler Wash. It was a fairly easy hike just under 3 miles.

Down below next to the wash was a rock which probably served as a grinding stone for corn.

Just a little ways up the wash was a second ruin.

Jill found this old honey comb that looks like may have been dug out by a bear.

Here is our crew.

Even Jazzy crawled out on the log (but then she didn't know how to back up and had to be lifted down).

2025 - West - UT - Natural Bridges & Fallen Roof Ruins - April 24

 4/24 - Natural Bridges was Utah's first National Park. There are three bridges beautifully sculpted by water.

Owachomo Bridge was the easiest to get to - only about 150 feet down and a little over a half mile.

Can you spot Vaughan in his yellow shirt?

Then there was Kachina Bridge - about a mile and a half but 450 feet down. I only got part way down before my fear of heights kicked in hard. Vaughan continued down while I sat on the side of a cliff and waited for him to lead me back out.

Here is what it looked like from above.

Vaughan continued down to get this picture for me.

This is a picture looking down over the cliff he was walking along.

and finally the bridge.

My view of him walking in to canyon to go under the bridge - can you spot his yellow shirt?

Then there is Sipapu Bridge - but only from above. 

Also at Natural Bridge are some Puebloan ruins.

From Natural Bridges we went a little further south to hike Fallen Roof Ruins.

This hike was nearly 2.5 miles and another 360 foot elevation change.

My knees definitely got some abuse today.

We  had to crawl under and over lots of boulders & logs.

Meanwhile, along our drive - we had to drive around here - she refused to move.