Monday, November 23, 2009
Wild West Trip: Day 10 Part II - Colorado National Monument
While
in Grand Junction we took a quick trip through the Colorado
National Monument, home to a spectacular display of red sandstone
and formations covering 23,000-acres.
There were several tunnels
through the rock that were blasted out by workers during the Great
Depression who felt fortunate to even have a job. This road took much
back breaking work to make. A sign in the park commemorates several
local men who died when a rock formation above them collapsed while they
were working on the road. The road was completed in 1937 by the Civilian
Conservation Corps. The overlooks and guardwalls were all stonework done
mostly by hand. 
We
were quite surprised at the many scenic views and formations created
from the great forces of nature along the 23-mile stretch of Rim Rock
Drive. Ranchers used to use narrow passages to for cattle to reach the
green highland pastures above. 
Photo
of Independence Monument, a good example of the steady advance of
erosion on the rocks as the surrounding walls around this monument have
worn away. 
Old
twisted trees. I love to take photos of them... Image of monuments with
rooflike capstone rocks on their peaks. 
In
walking through the Colorado National Monument, the sandstone walls and
formations are witness to 1.6 billion years of natural history, with
numerous formation layers. 
As
we exited the park, we saw a few large houses that blended in well with
the natural landscape.