Still Gravity

Camping in the Coconino National Forest, Arizona  We hoped to escape the snow moving south from the campground in the Navajo National Monument, but we were wrong.  First view of the morning.  The camper stairs all covered.  The snow followed us. We got nine hours of snow that accumulated a few inches all around.  I couldn't remove the snow from the pop up roof and won't lower it with that weight.  The snow on the truck camper roof.  Also covered the traction boards.  Let's relax for a couple of days of snowy camping.  The blue sky returned in the afternoon.  (Posted from the phone.) Check this page  to license our photos.

Looking for a campsite in Coconino.  Coconino sounds like a funny name. This forest name comes from a Hopi word. The web says that it was used by this nation for the Havasupai and Yavapai Indians. Some say that it means "spiritually innocent".  The national forest was created in 1908. Another one of the many signed by Teddy Roosevelt.  Here is the highest peak of Arizona, Humphrey's Peak at 12,633 feet - 3,950 meters.   The highest mountains of Arizona across our campsite.  We got a dispersed campsite surrounded by ponderosa pines. Nice setting under an awful weather.  Our site at Coconino.  Late afternoon hike.  Beautiful nature.  (Posted from the phone.) Check this page  to license our photos.

Early morning in the camp.  Stormy weather in northern Arizona.  Many trees here are inclined due to the strong winds.  The campground in Navajo National Monument is at 7,200 feet elevation and we got strong winds, rain, hail, and snow.  A side of the roof lowered because of the strong winds.  Chilly grey days.   Cleaning up the cold mess.  (Posted from the phone.) Check this page  to license our photos.

Our campsite in Sunset View campground. We visited the national monument and after learning that they have two campgrounds, decided to camp here for some days - we needed a break.  Hiking to explore the other camping area: Canyon View Campground. Canyon View Campground is located on higher ground. Sites are bigger but there is more wind up there.  Nice view from Canyon View Campground.  And what about the Navajo National Monument? The canyons are made mostly of pale-salmon colored sandstone. Think sand dunes from the Jurassic that became rocks - they recall dinosaurs' times.  The canyon of the Betatakin ruins.  Under the sandstone of the walls of the canyon there are Kayenta Formations.  There is a beautiful spot of green in the canyon. It's a relict forest, what survives from an ice age from between 20,000 to 10,000 years ago - even Douglas firs live down there.  Relict forest.  The main old dwellings in the Navajo National Monuments are Betatakin - "ledge house" in

Traveling through the Navajo Nation, we were impressed by this wild peak towering over a valley.  Agathla Peak, Arizona.  Our guess was that it was volcanic. And we were right.  Agathla Peak is a volcanic plug or lava neck. Meaning that was created by hardened magma in the vent of a volcano.  And we stopped for a closer shot.  The peak is named in Spanish El Capitán . It's a sacred mountain for the Navajo.  (Posted from the phone.) Check this page  to license our photos.

Sign with some warnings.  West of Bluff, Utah, we stopped at Sand Island by the San Juan River to take a look to a wall with many ancient petroglyphs.  Longhorn sheep.  It's a big panel that collects rock art from different times.  A horseman.  The wall is protected by a long fence, but there are damages and modern inscriptions around the lower petroglyphs. What a pity.  Ancient Instagram.  (Posted from the phone.)  Check this page  to license our photos.

Our perfect cat hole over 6 inches deep.  Around Moab, Utah, and many other high deserts are signs warning not to use the classic cat hole to dispose of poop and toilet paper. Why?  Simple. Deserts lack organic material in the soil and also humidity. Decomposition or feces take longer in such aridness. BLM even put these toilets in the dispersed camping area of the Valley of the Gods in Utah.  Also, more poop and trash in the public lands have made the BLM offices to close some impacted areas to dispersed camping.  BLM notice requesting help to reduce desert impact.  Another important reason: who wants to camp surrounded by poop and trash - Not me.  Our instant shower shelter and the separator toilet are a good combination.  (Posted from the phone.) Check this page  to license our photos.