Friday 10/22
Got going about 9am. Bill without the schooner on, handles and brakes a lot better. This road to Gila Cliff Dwelling is twisty and up and down. Sign says Gila Cliff Dwellings 44 miles expect at least two hours to get there. Hmmm, even for me two hours to go 44 miles is slow. Did i say it was twisty? Took my time and stopped at all the campgrounds and interpetive signs. Pulled in the Visitor Center right at 12pm and closed! Any NP it’s mask up to enter. But there is a bookstore at the trailhead. Drive a couple of miles to trailhead maybe 6 cars. Nice small bookstore, bought postcards and decals.
Saw 5-6 hikers walking the road from the Dwellings in groups of 2 and 3. Continental Divide thru hikers from Canadian Border to Mexico. Just about done. Saw one lone hiker going North. Most of South hikers left mid July, usually from Idaho/Canadian Border but fires pushed it towards Big Sky.
I like these monuments where you get to climb all over. The Gila River is at the trailhead, maybe 6-8″ deep but clear. Didn’t see any fish .Today you walk up a small canyon with a small stream to access the Dwellings. Nice walk, plenty of benches with nice views. I like to sit in these and envision the building process and imagine them with roofs and furnishings.
I’m reading a book about Coronado’s search for the Seven Citys of Gold which encompasses this whole Southwest and Northern Mexico. It fun to visit a location with some much history. The powerful decimated the weak. The governments of Spain, Mexico and United States treated the indians as sub human and extermination or capitulate were their only choices. The US government held Geronimo as a prisoner of war for 27 years! The Reservations you see in the Southwest are on SHIT land. The only place the government didn’t give them complete shit is Monument Valley. They just didn’t realize beauty had value. The Navaho have locked that area up and charge to enter. Good for them! Otherwise it would be a National Park. Okay off my soapbox.
Great day with lots to see. Tomorrow, cleanup, reorganize day.