Canyon Glen
Well-Known Member
One morning a few years back the crew wasn't making any moves so I decided to pack a sandwich and some water and try and rim out of the canyon. I had read about the old trail in one of the books on board.
From our anchorage one could see the lower trail (built on the Chinle Formation) had washed out long ago. Looked like a scramble over Wingate Formation rockfall could get you to the lower part of the remaining trail.
So I set out. After scrambling up the scree I reached the lower trail. Amazing the works of man. The effort to build the trail must of been something.
I noticed evidence of dynamite blasts. The stone work was holding up well.
I finally rimmed out and noticed some cowboyglyphs etched on a rock. Wonder what their stories were?
Had to take the obligatory panorama looking down river in Cha Bay.
Then I went up onto the rim and had a wonderful view of Navajo Mountain!!!
I decided to have a seat and rest a bit and enjoy the sandwich I'd brought. When out of nowhere a elder Navajo surprised me.
"You know your trespassing on Navajo lands?" He said with a grimace.
I was still wondering where he had come from. There was nothing but empty slickrock for miles.
"Stupidly I said I'm a quarter Cherokee. My grandma was full" Then I added "You want some of my sandwich?"
I clumsily reached out the half eaten sandwich.
The elder stared deeply into my eyes with a scowl on his face.
I was entertaining the idea of breaking into a run for the lake but before I could a broad smile crossed his face and he let out a big belly laugh like he'd just heard the funniest joke he ever heard.
"A quarter you say?" He was able to get out through his dying laughter.
"Follow me back to my hogan I want to show you something" his demeanor had taken a softer turn so I decided to follow him.
After a mile hike we dropped into a wash with a small spring next to a cliff and a bit further his hogan. Between the two was a fire pit with rocks for seats.
"Sit down" he gestured "I'll be right back" and he disappeared into the hogan.
I looked around and wondered if I could live like this. No electricity, no running water, where did he do his morning doo?
Surprising me again he was next to me with 2 cold beers. Sitting down he said "Tell me your story"
So we got to talking and one beer led to another. He lit the fire and it was obvious to late to hike back to the lake no matter my state of sobriety.
Next he brought out 2 guitars and a bottle of whiskey. We jammed together by the fire until halfway through the second bottle we when started arguing. Then that led to throwing punches and wrestling till we exhausted ourselves. So we finished the bottle and were best friends again.
Before passing out he again took on a serious tone.
Looking deep into my eyes he said:
"The ancestors have told me to impart to you the secrets of Navajo Magic to add to your Cherokee"
Afterwards we laydown to sleep by the fire.
When I woke up the next morning I wasn't near the hogan and the spring. I was sitting in the exact spot where I had lunch the day before. In my hand was a half eaten sandwich.
Confused I looked around and saw nothing but empty desert. Still confused I looked at my watch.
It was yesterday! 5 minutes after I had stopped for lunch!
That's when I said to myself:"Self, clearly your out of your league. Best get yourself back to the safety of the floating aluminum cubicle."
It has everything an alien to these lands would need. Air conditioning, Refrigeration, Running Water and a Toilet!
Still confused I headed back down the trail. From a distance lower down I saw a white boulder I didn't remember seeing on the way up the trail.
All the boulders around that part of the lake are mostly red, brown or black.
As I got closer I realized it wasn't a boulder at all but a wild horse.
With some buddies.
Safely back on the boat I didn't dare share what happened with the crew.
Boated past there a few years later and it looked from a distance that the remaining part of the trail I walked on has washed out.
Not sure if the trail will ever be usable again.
From our anchorage one could see the lower trail (built on the Chinle Formation) had washed out long ago. Looked like a scramble over Wingate Formation rockfall could get you to the lower part of the remaining trail.
So I set out. After scrambling up the scree I reached the lower trail. Amazing the works of man. The effort to build the trail must of been something.
I noticed evidence of dynamite blasts. The stone work was holding up well.
I finally rimmed out and noticed some cowboyglyphs etched on a rock. Wonder what their stories were?
Had to take the obligatory panorama looking down river in Cha Bay.
Then I went up onto the rim and had a wonderful view of Navajo Mountain!!!
I decided to have a seat and rest a bit and enjoy the sandwich I'd brought. When out of nowhere a elder Navajo surprised me.
"You know your trespassing on Navajo lands?" He said with a grimace.
I was still wondering where he had come from. There was nothing but empty slickrock for miles.
"Stupidly I said I'm a quarter Cherokee. My grandma was full" Then I added "You want some of my sandwich?"
I clumsily reached out the half eaten sandwich.
The elder stared deeply into my eyes with a scowl on his face.
I was entertaining the idea of breaking into a run for the lake but before I could a broad smile crossed his face and he let out a big belly laugh like he'd just heard the funniest joke he ever heard.
"A quarter you say?" He was able to get out through his dying laughter.
"Follow me back to my hogan I want to show you something" his demeanor had taken a softer turn so I decided to follow him.
After a mile hike we dropped into a wash with a small spring next to a cliff and a bit further his hogan. Between the two was a fire pit with rocks for seats.
"Sit down" he gestured "I'll be right back" and he disappeared into the hogan.
I looked around and wondered if I could live like this. No electricity, no running water, where did he do his morning doo?
Surprising me again he was next to me with 2 cold beers. Sitting down he said "Tell me your story"
So we got to talking and one beer led to another. He lit the fire and it was obvious to late to hike back to the lake no matter my state of sobriety.
Next he brought out 2 guitars and a bottle of whiskey. We jammed together by the fire until halfway through the second bottle we when started arguing. Then that led to throwing punches and wrestling till we exhausted ourselves. So we finished the bottle and were best friends again.
Before passing out he again took on a serious tone.
Looking deep into my eyes he said:
"The ancestors have told me to impart to you the secrets of Navajo Magic to add to your Cherokee"
Afterwards we laydown to sleep by the fire.
When I woke up the next morning I wasn't near the hogan and the spring. I was sitting in the exact spot where I had lunch the day before. In my hand was a half eaten sandwich.
Confused I looked around and saw nothing but empty desert. Still confused I looked at my watch.
It was yesterday! 5 minutes after I had stopped for lunch!
That's when I said to myself:"Self, clearly your out of your league. Best get yourself back to the safety of the floating aluminum cubicle."
It has everything an alien to these lands would need. Air conditioning, Refrigeration, Running Water and a Toilet!
Still confused I headed back down the trail. From a distance lower down I saw a white boulder I didn't remember seeing on the way up the trail.
All the boulders around that part of the lake are mostly red, brown or black.
As I got closer I realized it wasn't a boulder at all but a wild horse.
With some buddies.
Safely back on the boat I didn't dare share what happened with the crew.
Boated past there a few years later and it looked from a distance that the remaining part of the trail I walked on has washed out.
Not sure if the trail will ever be usable again.
