Colorado
to Wyoming - page 3 |
We entered Colorado late
afternoon at the Four Corners Monument. Its the only place in the USA where four states
meet (Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico). On the photo Anna is standing right on the
spot. Around the spot were boots with Indian souvenirs. In Cortez we found motel
accommodation for the next two nights. Despite the convenient location of Cortez for
visits to Mesa Verde National Park motel prices were quite reasonable. The whole next day
was set aside for a |
Four Corners
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| visit to the Mesa Verde.
Although in the middle of the desert this is a very green park. Just after the entrance we
spotted deer enjoying the green lush mountain sides. In the center of the park on the
mountain ridge is the Far View Visitor Center. Here you must stop. In clear weather you
have an unbroken sight to the far south with the sacred Indian Ship Rock ; a remarkable
volcanic plug |
Anazasi Cliff Dwellings in Mesa Verde.
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rising
1700 feet above the desert floor. Mesa Verde is primarily famous for its well preserved
huge Anasazi cliff dwellings of which you find several (more than 4000 constructions
located) in the park. These areas were inhabited by anazasies until 1300 A.D. when
these marvelous constructions were abandoned. We visited the Cliff Palace and some years
later more of the many archeological sites in the park. To preserve some of the fragile
nature |
around, cars are not allowed
to all of the sites. But excellent bus services are available. You may also choose to walk
in the shade along some of the few and well maintained short trails. The next day we
turned North from Durango into some of highest Rocky Mountains with serpentinous road
leading to wonderful and quiet alpine lakes and meadows and deserted mining towns.
Silverton is |
Silverton, Main Street
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Historic steam train; Silverton-Durango Railroad
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one
of these towns where the western scenery have been preserved and with the famous
Silverton-Durango steam train still transporting tourists along the dramatic hillsides. We
had a tasteful burger in one of the restored houses. Further north in Montrose we went
west to visit the Black Canyon of the Gunnison; a spectacular river Gorge which is a
National Monument. The bottom of this narrow canyon remains in shadow almost permanently.
You can drive along the canyon ridge with nice outlook stops. We arrived quite late
in the evening at Grand Junction, where I-70 is crossing. There were lots of motel
accommodation to choose among. The next morning we headed west on I-70 for a short drive
and turned north on highway 139. We drove almost half a day on the edge of the desert in a
beautiful but very naked landscape with rabbit bushes dominating the vegetation. A few oil
wells were still producing "dark" gold from the |
Dinosaur on exhibition
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underground. Around noon we crossed the
border to Utah and entered the small village with the common Danish name: Jensen. This is
the entrance to the Dinosaur Natl. Monument. Very rich skeletal deposits of prehistoric
reptiles are found in these barren surroundings. From the parking lot a small tram will
take you to the visitor center and the exhibition area. During late afternoon we
crossed the Flaming Gorge area, which consist of wonderful massive red rock formations.
When we reached Rock Springs in Wyoming a thunder storm with |
| strong winds had developed. Inside our motel room in
Rock Springs we could relax and enjoy the sandstorm outside. The visibility was very much
reduced from all the dust in the air. What a luck we had reached our destination ! |
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