Day 31: Tuesday, May 13th
Monument Valley, UT
I didn't know that Monument Valley was in the middle of the Navajo Nations Tribal Park, until I started researching the area for our trip.
There was a small loop that you can drive through to see some of the buttes and spires in the area, if you have a 4 wheel drive and don't mind the bumpy washed out road. But much of this area was off limits to the general public and you needed to have a Navajo guide take you if you wanted to go.
Today, we hired a Navajo guide to take us into Monument Valley.
His name was Lorenzo and he had grown up in the Canyon de Chelly area, but his mother's side of the family had lived in the area for many years. He spoke slow and low, making it hard for those in the back seats of the SUV to hear, but he was an excellent guide. He explained many things to us about the Navajo way of life and told us stories of his youth. He answered our questions about the Navajo customs and history, as well as the formations, and took us to see a cousin's hogan and her wool spinning demonstration.
This is the famous Hwy 163 heading south toward Monument Valley.
Looking toward Monument Valley and various homes dotting the landscape.
The western Mitten.
The Three Sisters.
Posing with the Three Sisters.
The wind was blowing sand and it was so dusty.
The Western Mitten and another butte I can't remember. Can you see the dirt road winding it's way along the floor?
This was where we stopped to see the traditional hogan and wool spinning demonstration.
Called "the Hub". Like a wagon wheel hub and the spokes.
I was glad not to be the driver on this road.
Sun gods eye. Can you see the eye lashes made by the water and mineral stains?
Ear of the Wind.
The Big Hogan.
Lastly, we were driven up to this scenic overlook.
Later in the afternoon, Natalie and I took a 3.5 mile hike around the western Mitten. There was only one other person on the trail. It was sandy in many places, but really a nice hike with up-close views of the Mitten.
The famous Forest Gump scene where he stops running and says, " I'm gettin kind of tired. I think I'll go home now."
Just as we were wondering where he made that turn, we saw this sign.
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