Accidental Tourist Stumbles On A Backdoor, Cross Country Route To Yet Another Cliff Dwelling...And, Bobbie and Chris Shows Up In Camp!

A couple days after healing up from my Hike-a-Bike fiasco, I climbed back in the saddle...vowing to stick to familiar roads and trails. Of course route vows, unlike marriage vows, are written in sand instead of stone.

This time out I exercised moderation for a change. In other words, I pretty much knew where I was...most of the time.

I wove together a route that landed me on the sandstone exit from the canyon cliff dwelling mentioned and shown a couple posts ago. I remember thinking that it would be a fun place to play around on a bike, with the extreme traction it affords as well as built-in obstacles to negotiate.   

Playing on sandstone

Another sun blistering day with temps in the upper 80s, it didn't take long to shred legs and melt ambition. I ditched my bike under a cedar tree and wandered off downhill on foot, just to see where I ended up. Following a colorful drainage that seemed to be deepening with every step, I discovered a little pot-o-gold at the end of a sandstone rainbow...a demure natural bridge, carved by Nature's ultimate solvent, water!

The bridge was perched on the edge of a pour-off above a cavernous, cottonwood-filled canyon. A few more steps revealed more "gold," a collection of south-facing alcoves, most of which had been occupied by The Ancients. I plopped down and pulled binoculars from my pack in order to get a better look at the shadowed interiors.

While glassing various ruins and alcoves, I heard people talking. Huh, standing just a few yards away a group of people stood at a signed overlook. Beyond them were bits a pieces of a short trail that wound up from a parking not far off highway 95. That would be an easier way, for sure. 

I tried to remember if I had been to this ruin before. My Bobbie App would know, but she was still back home in Lovely Ouray. After the tourists headed back to their cars, I walked over to take a look at the sign. From that vantage point I saw evidence of "construction" in several alcoves. COOL! 

Across the canyon, a couple of young gals with a little dog were wandering around the dwelling sites. It was getting hot, hot, hot out on the reflective white sandstone, and I was miles and miles from camp...mostly uphill (Ugh).

Playful gnome-like figurines on the way back to my bike 

A few days later, Bobbie rolled into camp. "I've got so many things to show you!"

The next day I took her on an 11 mile back country loop-hike that included the interior canyon cliff dwelling, the natural bridge, and the multi-homed Butler Wash complex near Highway 95...

The entry to the Canyon Cliff Dwelling is well hidden, and steep.

Canyon cliff dwelling, so worth the effort.

Getting out of the canyon, however,  is a little sketchy...

A few days later, Pal Chris rolled into camp. "Boy do we have a trifecta of ruins hike planned for you!"

We love hiking and biking with Chris. He's always up for pushing the envelope, just to "see what's up there" and/or find an improbable route to some obscure destination. Chris is also a student of anthropology, a keen observer for what might slip by the village idiot (me). It turns out that I had been so distracted by the actual "ruins" that I failed to see the (literal) handwriting on the wall. 

Another hot day...upper 80s with full sun. We got an early start, arriving at our first stop in just a few minutes.

Bobbie and I have been here several times but never noticed the petroglyphs till Chris pointed them out.

Time to move on down-canyon, climbing up to inspect every promising alcove for "treasures."

Soon, Curious Chris led us up and out of the canyon to wander a new route around a pour off.

After the pour off, the canyon plunged in depth and the walls closed in. We followed the rim, looking for a way down that didn't include ropes. "I don't think we can get down from this side." Don't tell that to Chris, though. "There's always a way." 

We're stuck on top, looking down at Chris as he explores a sketchy route back down into the canyon. Of course he finds a way, but it's kinda "snaky," as in "rattle snaky."

Once down we stumble upon a few ruins, and "Ballroom Cave."

Then on to the hidden canyon cliff dwelling, where Chris found more petroglyphs that we had overlooked.

Then up and out of the canyon to take a slick rock walk to Butler Wash Ruins (again)...as shown in photos above. Hey, I never get tired of hiking, and Chris has not been here before. An 11 to 12 mile day, all in all. But the best is yet to come...

Peace out,

Mark, Bobbie, and Chris.