Geology Pictures of the Week, June 19-25, 2005: Spider Rock and Bicentennial Column

Various

[cogitator]

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Geology Pictures of the Week, June 19-25: Spider Rock and Bicentennial Column

[cogitator]

Desert scenery, above and below ground.

[hsalaw]

Oh, wow. Canyon de Chelly. That's a gorgeous place, and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes taking pictures -the altitude, clear air, and wonderful weather makes even the most amateur photographer (me) get wonderful photos. RV camping is free in the Cottonwood Campground (inside Canyon de Chelly) and there's a nice, very clean motel in the Canyon, as well. Oh, sorry; I forgot what this post was about; got carried away by the pictures.

[HiJinx]

Aye, but we need to see Spider Rock in color to gain a true appreciation of it...

Okay, what's it made of that allowed it to avoid the erosive activity that created Canyon De Chelly? Notice the bands of metamorphic rock in the obelisk that match the sedimentary layers to the right in the picture...

Is Spider Rock made of sandstone or limestone, like the surrounding Colorado Plateau? It would appear to be...

[inquest]

That bottom pic looks like one mean pipe organ!

[sandydipper]

What memories - we used to climb Spider Rock - of course in those days rope had not been invented.

[hotshu]

Mrs. hotshu & I were lucky enough to visit Canyon de Chelly a couple of years ago. There is a lot of ground to cover to get there but we found the visit invigorating and quite spiritual.

It lack's the commercialization and congestion of other NP's. We found it to be just what the Doc ordered.

The southern rim is the closer to town and therefore more traveled but be sure to visit the north rim as well. At sunset, before you actually enter the canyon, there is a vista to the northeast, far in the distance, that was truly engrossing to "us flatlanders" from southern Alabama.

[HiJinx]

Back towards the Four Corners and Shiprock...

The setting or rising sun will give you details you don't see at high noon...sounds like we may need to make a short trip this summer.

[hotshu]

I believe you're right. We were headed up to Mesa Verde and I remember Ship Rock down to the general SSE from there.

That is truly magnificent beauty out there. I have the utmost respect for those who live and lived in those harsh environs.