Lynn Sessions

Another solo trip to southern Utah to hike down a canyon and visit an arch located there.

Instead of hiking back the way I came, I choose to climb up a difficult slope and walk the rim back. It took a grueling hour of climbing to reach the top only to find a hidden rim of cliffs blocking my way. I spent quite a time bush-whacking to find a crack to crawl up to finally reach the top.

I then decided  to hike cross country to another canyon and explore it instead.

While hiking through the cedar forest between canyons, I start seeing Indian pottery fragments on the ground. Soon there are so many it is difficult to walk in some areas without stepping on them. I then stumble across a large collapsed, above ground kiva like structure. The pottery shards seem to circle this structure.

I am amazed at the quality of the pottery shards. Though these pieces have been sitting in the weather for hundreds of years, the intricate patterns and designs are bright and beautiful. Some were obviously bowls, some pots, some with handles, some with designs on the inside, some with designs on the outside. Wondrous!

Again, I take lots of pictures and touch nothing.

Later while walking along the rim of the other canyon, I find cliff dwellings hidden just under the rim. Some of the dwelling that are hidden furthest from the outside are very well preserved. You can still see the finger marks of the ancient Indians as they pressed mud into the cracks between the rocks of these shelters.

Later that evening, I am barely able to drag myself back to my vehicle. Exhausted. Too much fun