This
is the first place that I camped out with some friends, on the rim of the
Grand Canyon. If you click on the image and zoom in you can see the truck
and campsite. We did not really understand at the time how sheer was the
cliff below. But what a view! The winds at this point, where we camped,
were at times 60-70 mph! If you moved back a few hundred feet from the
rim the winds died down drastically.
This
is the Footprint of Massauu symbol that Jack and I were greated with late
in the afternoon when we approaced the edge pictured above from the campsite
on the first trip to the area.
This
is a closeup of the anthill that was transformed into a very significant
symbol or sign, which was later quickly blown away by wind gusts. We just
happened to see this when the lighting was opmtimum for recognition. The
ridges appear to have been formed by the ants, perhaps directed by a spirit
god, Massauu? Later, when Jack and I returned, the winds were so great
the patteren was completely obliterated. The poor ants were hanging onto
sand grains for dear life as they blew along. Our vehicle listed precariously
toward the sheer cliff and Jack yelled, "Let's get outta here!" I could
hardly open the door due to the near-hurricane force winds!
This was
our campsite on the second trip above the Anasazi cliff dwelling.
This
is the Anasazi clif dwelling that Jack spotted while searching over the
edge with twins Terry and Gary and their two twin dogs, Larry and Perry,
(just kidding about the dogs being twins... :)
This
is me climbing down the steps carved into the rock which lead to the Anasazi
ruins.
This
is a closeup of the cliff dwelling which I climbed into the day after the
twins left. They had thought it too dangerous after attempting to climb
down. The next day I studied the terrain and found myself following an
ancient Anasazi path from the cornfield to the cave dwelling below the
rim. The ancient path was still quite visible after many hundreds of years.
The cornfield where Jack and I camped on the second trip, had been cleared
of all large rocks. We found two different sizes of corn husks inside the
grainery to the far left, and numerous charcoal bits, a large horn or tusk,
pottery fragments and a sharp cutting tool inside the broken circular structure
where the cooking was apparently done. The ceiling was about 15-20 feet
above the ledge. This area is larger than it appears, but it is still easy
to fall off the sheer cliff to certain death if one is not careful.
This
is a view near the area Steve may attempt to climb down in the autumn.
This is the
area below the rim at the same area. This is not an easy hike.
This is
a summer monsoon approaching our campsite. We considered leaving, but decided
not to. Jack saw what might have been Kokopelli running over the rim as
we were bracing for the heaviest part of the storm. His antennas make good
lightning rods, so no wonder. He was probably heading for the shelter of
the cave to sit out the storm!
You are visitor number
since January 20, 2001.
