Mom, dad, or madam

LIFE-CHANGING ADVENTURE

BY REBECCA FENDING

Before setting out on this life-changing adventure into the American Southwest National Parks, I read a biography of legendary Native American Photographer Edward Curtis. This set the stage for my experience with 35 other travelers to a portion of our land I’d never seen, except in photographs. Our first stop was Mesa Verde National Park, which protects some 5,000 Puebloan sites, including 600 cliff dwellings, dating back to A.D. 550. Impressive Cliff Palace was essentially a city of more than 150 rooms and 20 circular underground kivas used for spiritual ceremonies. All sites were built with bones and rocks as tools and waterproofed with pitch from pinion pine trees. We continued our breathtaking trip by boarding the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in Durango, Colorado. The rail, which has been in continuous use since 1882, provides an ideal vantage point to take in the Colorado high country wilderness of the San Juan Mountains. While navigating through winding mountain passes and river rapids, we relished tall aspen forests turning yellow in late September. Our guide aptly quoted the ancient Indian phrase “Ya at eehi,” meaning, “Everything on the surface of Mother Earth and in my life is good.” Indeed, the Navajo Bears Ears National Monument was 100% restored and slightly expanded from its original 1.3-million-acre boundaries in early October by President Biden. Another absolute high point was arriving at Arches National Park. It felt like a playground where one could see over 2,000 red sandstone arches like Delicate Arch, a free-standing 65-foot loop of rock, and Balanced Rock, a 128-foot stone pillar that supports a boulder balanced upon it. Some of these formations conjure up images of people, layer cakes and even cruise ships! We stopped at Navajo Bridge to appreciate a soaring influx of endangered California condors that have been returned to nature there and in other western locations through a successful breed and release program. Continuing on to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, we arrived opportunely with fewer travelers and more colorful trees. It is the wilder side of the famous expansive canyon and a day’s drive from the more frequented South Rim. Passing bighorn sheep nestled in a heavenly habitat, we entered Zion National Park in Southwest Utah. Daunting cliffs of red Navajo sandstone amongst pink, white and vermillion cliffs and blue skies, define this popular hiking and climbing park. Grand finale: otherworldly Bryce Canyon National Park is most memorable for its six square miles of pillar hoodoos and seemingly endless amphitheaters. Its trails drop 2,000 feet from the 9,000foot Paunsaugunt Plateau. A dramatic backdrop for the changing light and hues which create a glow from within; a photographer’s delight.