The Approach to Monarch Cave
USA, Utah 2013
We walked along the canyon floor where white, feathery blossoms floated down on us from Cottonwood trees growing along the creek bed. Despite the hot sun, it was cool. Following Vaughn Hadenfeldt’s brisk pace wasn’t too tiring. As usual I kept my eyes on the trail. I didn’t notice the wild tomatillos, nor the way the weather was gradually unearthing other Anasazi artifacts, old cookfires, grinding stones and evidence of buildings until Vaughn pointed them out to us.
He even had to point out the Monarch Cliff to me. It loomed high above us, not exactly hidden, but blending in with the sandstone cliffs. I shot this approach shot thanks to my husband, John, who thought it might be a good shot. He was right. I know what you’re thinking, “Man, can’t she do anything by herself?” Well, I can, but I don’t dismiss advice from others.
We climbed to the ruins. At the top we had to cross over what is called “slickrock” to get to the structures themselves. The rock slanted at a severe angle and we used the same foot holds that the Anasazi had made maybe a thousand years ago. I wanted to lean in to the mountain, but Vaughn told me to stand up straight as that way, my feet would not slip out from under me so easily. I did, but it was contrary to what my brain was telling me. Once in the ruins we looked down to see a large pool of fresh water filled by a spring. It was a perfect place for the Anasazi to hide from enemies.
As we left, Vaughn pointed out the sign scratched into the rock by the expedition of 1892!!
If you want Vaughn to point out things to you on your hike in Utah’s beautiful land, contact him at http://faroutexpeditions.net/