Sand Canyon with Steve

Yesterday was a crisp early winter day here in the Four Corners area. A perfect day to head west to Sand Canyon with my good friend Steve and our dogs.

(As with all pictures I post, if you click on the photo it will enlarge for you. I highly suggest it on a few of the following pictures.)

Steve pausing for a sip in the sun with snow dusted mountains in the background.

Ruins you can walk up to. We nicknamed this one "Chimney House". Doesn't it look like it's sitting in a little patio stove?

Stopping for lunch, Steve demonstrates -
"You can lead dogs to water but you can't make them drink".

Aspen watches with curiosity as the water displaced by her body overflows down the rock.

Only a few inches high, I fell in love with this cute little "tree".

Nicknamed "Sun House" - Look at the size of this building!!

Unlike Mesa Verde and other National or State Parks, Sand Canyon is the way it was left hundreds of years ago not reconstructed for tourist to see. So why are these still standing while others had to be rebuilt? Mostly due to the remoteness, not many are adventurous to hike miles to see them. There are also not very many dwellings, more of a sporadic rural settlement not a "city", so scientist didn't excavate them like the larger areas (i.e. Mesa Verde, Chaco Canyon, Chimney Rock) Hike over and explore but leave no trace.

Click to enlarge - Dwelling in arch in the center

There is still active building in the area.

This ant mound was spectacularly constructed.

Natures Sculptures

Amazing display of erosion on the side of a boulder (click to enlarge).

More Sculptures

On top of the left mesa there is a circular rock wall (click to enlarge).

Was it an ancient look out?

Perfectly Framed

I love that all of this is just a short drive from our home here in Durango. We are constantly out exploring and grateful that these areas have not been discovered by the masses. I am sure someday they will pave this too as they did Mesa Verde, give tours and serve fast food. Until then we will continue to enjoy our hikes there with minimal interaction with other.

Thanks for sharing in our adventure!!

Happy Halloween - Weekend!

Let the Weekend Begin!!

Saturday brought forth an amazing display of skills on two wheels at Trials from the Crypt.

A National bicycle trials competition at which Jim declined to participate but chose to

to judge instead. Competitors from around the US and the world came to play on the rocks here in Durango. Stown and I helped time the rounds and keep the spectators out of the course. I didn't have much time to snap pictures but here are a few.....

Keep in mind these guys "bunny-hop" off the ground to reach these rocks and then hop from rock to rock... What balance and strength!!

Aran Cook (Great Britain)- the Pro Class Winner

Jonathan Tollerud - Finished in the top 4 in the Pro Class

Jim judging - Rider unknown



Sunday - Tricks and Treats
We weren't the only ones dressing up for All Hallows Eve.
Our house desperately needed a new front door. The original had seen it's share of harsh winters and blazing summer sun, it was time to retire it from it's years of loyal duty.

Old Door -(Notice how the frame on the left is damaged) - over the past few years a random neighbor cat had decided to use it as a scratching post and a pissing place. An obvious territorial act due to the fact that our cat stays indoors and cannot mark her own yard.

Stown
Give a boy a hammer and a pry bar and he's in Heaven destroying things!

Brand Spankin' New Door

(Still need to spot paint over the caulk we used to seal the frame.)


Finally - Time to Play!!
Jim worked too late,

so Stown and I dressed up and went to town with friends for some trick or treatin'.

Like a real construction pro, I had my shovel to lean on, while the Cheshire cat pranced around.

A bit confused? Perhaps calling for a rescue from the weird cat?

Our Ghoulish Friends

Hope you had a productive and fun weekend.

Still to come... the Mysterious Camping Visitor...