Petroglyph Point

After we went to Spruce Tree House, we took an additional hike from there to Petroglyph Point. It was early in the morning, on the shady side of the hill, but we had no water.  The ranger highly suggested we get some, but that would have meant a trip back up to the top of the canyon . . . so we headed out.  We knew we would be thirsty, but we knew we could make it.

The path, though relatively level, was not a particularly easy one.  There were tricky stairs, cliffs, and narrow passageways.  Don and I were glad we had lost a collective 40+ pounds before trying to get through some of the areas . . . and we were delighted not to be dragging that extra weight with us. (You can see in the picture below that this one was very narrow!)

The guide for the hike was a treasure of botanical information, most of which I knew but some of which I did not.  It was interesting to read and made the walk go more quickly.

By the time we arrived at the petroglyphs, we were thirsty.  It was starting to get hot, but we were still in the shade.  (I took my own advice and wore a long-sleeved shirt, a hat, and sunscreen, by the way!) We knew we would be fine, but we were glad when we met a ranger who was giving away water.  Our thirst did not take away from our appreciation of the petroglyphs, however.  The hiking guide had a "translation" of the petroglyphs . . . or at least what the modern-day Zunis thought they might mean.  . . which allowed us to appreciate the designs even more.

The walk back was uneventful, though we were very glad we had some water.  We returned the way we came because it was shady, but apparently it was longer.  We walked over 3 miles, which was good for our fitness, and we thoroughly enjoyed the day in the high desert.  We also saw this lovely flower - the Prince's Plume.  I do not know much about it yet, but I am going to learn.

The remainder of the day we drove around Mesa Top Loop.  We saw a number of cliff dwellings from far away, which we thought was spectacular.  To see them placed in the middle of a cliff, knowing that access to them was most likely by hand and toe holds carved into the rock, only increased our respect for this hardy group of people.  I couldn't even climb a 30-foot ladder . . .

I am not a fan of the heat, so I was very glad we did this in the morning.  This trip would be wonderful in April or October, and we plan to return, maybe to try the ladders after all!