Wooden Shoe Arch for all my Danish relatives!
We decided to go on a sightseeing trip while staying at the Canyonlands Outpost, and our first stop was to the Wooden Shoe Arch. We just had to get a picture in honour of my family. Then it was out of the park and up to the Manti-La Sal National Forest for a completely different change of scenery.
Newspaper Rock
Along the way we passed “Newpaper Rock” an amazing wall of petroglyghs some of which are 2000 years old. They were carved into the rock by all the ancient peoples that inhabited this region and it was amazing to stand there and just look at all the different styles.
Petrographs dating over a span of 2000 years
(If you click on a photo in this blog you will be able to see a bigger view of it).
More different styles
New and old cultures represented
We then made our way to the Manti-La Sal National Forest just south of Canyonlands with the intention of driving the Abajo Scenic Byway from Monticello to Blanding, at elevations up to 9,000 ft. It was supposed to be a 30 mile journey but about 2 miles into it we were stopped by snow on the road. Laia had never seen snow before, so we decided to get out and see what her reaction would be. It was hilarious, she slipped and slided and then headed for the deepest area, up to her belly in dirty snow and Leonard in his Teva’s. That cooled us off. What to do next, but head back into town for wraps and smoothies.
Stopped by the snow
Leonard and Laia playing in the snow!
Sun and Sand Travelers 
What? Chains were not on your pack list? As to Newspapaer Rock… with an interpretive sign crumbling like an old newspaper, the NPS clearly needs more funding. Perhaps the First Peoples should be consulted about durable technology.
It was behind pexiglass, does that count?
I am impressed by the snow. I didn’t know Teva had a snowshoe style. That’s not far from Mesa Verde. Maybe I should pack my long johns
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A little cold front is coming through and it will be down to 48 tonight here in Blanding. I think Mesa Verde is at alot higher elevation.
Wooden shoe arch and snow! I feel so included. We’ll make a Danish Canadian out of Leonard and Laia yet!
They’re having a blast trying!