I was up at sunrise, packed up camp into the car and began preparing my pack for the hike to the Anasazi cliff dwelling known by the name “Fallen Roof Ruin”. As I readied my pack, making sure I had all the supplies that would be needed, a car pulled up and a strange little man jumped out. He came right over to me asking if this was the trailhead, and began telling me of all his wild adventures looking for ruins and getting lost at each location. He certainly seemed to have all the right gear, donned with what appeared to be brand new top of the line apparel. But I’m not sure he has much outdoor sense! Although he was headed for the same place as I, this would be the last I would see of this strange little character. I would later wonder…”where the heck did that guy go?”
The hike to the ruin was only 2.5 miles. That would be enough, as I was still hobbling from the epic hike in The Needles. I took three Advil and headed on down the trail. As the trail began its’ steep descent into Road Canyon, I encountered some very muddy areas. One spot in particular sent my feet flying as I cried out “Ohhhh sh…!” and landed on my you know what in the mud.
When I reach the canyon floor I looked around to take a mental note of the locations surroundings. Ok…two piles of cairns and a large rock outcropping to the north…that should be easy enough to find on the way out. Progress up Road Canyon was anything but easy. Lots of large boulders and undergrowth to negotiate and bash through. This would certain be no easy task in several weeks when all the plants grow out.
The treasure map I carried stated to follow the canyon for a couple of miles until it met up with a larger tributary, head right and look for a large red hoodoo capped with a white top. When you find that, you are very near the ruin.
When I located the hoodoo, I scanned the cliffs, but did not see any dwellings. So, I decided to climb the slickrock up to the hoodoo and begin searching the alcoves along the cliffs from there. I popped of a couple of shots of the hoodoo using the old starburst trick and proceeded to follow the cliff ledges down the canyon.
Within a quarter mile or so, there it was. It is quite obvious why this ruin is called Fallen Roof, a large portion of the sandstone above the structures had at some point fallen from the alcove directly in front of the entrance.
I spent a couple of hours here at this wonderfully spiritual place, ate some lunch and began my return to the trailhead. I wondered what ever happened to that strange little man? Lost again I suppose! Can’t worry too much about him though, it’s enough work just keeping myself out of harms way.
Upon return to the trailhead, I headed on down the road, not knowing quite where I was going to spend the night. The first stop on the way was a spot called Mulley Point. Several dirt miles off the highway, on the top of a semi-circle of cliffs called the Moki Dugout. Great spot with expansive views to the southwest stretching out to Monument Valley. After a number of photographs I proceed down the dirt switchbacks cut into the cliffs. What a ride!
Then it was over to Goosenecks State Park to view the San Juan River as it cuts its’ way through the desert. With the afternoon getting late, I needed to figure out where I was going to camp. Well the next stop is Monument Valley and I know there is a campground there. But, it is nothing more than a dirt parking lot with a PortAPotty in the corner. No thanks! So I decided, why not backtrack the half hour back up to Mulley Point and camp right there on the cliffs!
And was I ever glad I did. What a view! I pitched the tent a mere 10 feet from the edge of the cliff. Just need to be careful when I get up to go pee in the middle of the night! After a dinner of Ramen and canned chicken, I was graced with a beautiful sunset over looking Monument Valley in the distance. I primarily used my telephoto lens to bring in the fantastic shapes and colors of Monument Valley in the distance. After the show it was journal time and whoa…the stars…did I tell you about the stars yet…
Amazing. Almost looks gastroentestinal… Now I’m worried about the strange little man.
Loved the long shots of Monument Valley – gives one the feeling of the vastness of the desolate terrain. Wonder why the acient people decided to live there – tribal outcasts? protection from predators? Interesting that they made the windows (or maybe doorways?) square with window sills – just like our modern construction.