Jul 052017
 

Traveling along scenic highways 160 and 89, we visited un-named rock formations as well as the Wupatki and Sunset Crater Volcano National Monuments. Early in the morning the sun shone then clouds built. A cold rain storm accompanied us and painted the clouds in the colors of bruises and saturated the orange sedimentary and black volcanic rocks. It reminded me of a visit to Pompeii on a rainy day, where a community was engulfed in an volcanic eruption.

In Northeastern Arizona along the scenic highway160 two sandstone towers emerged from the grasslands.  I was puzzled that there was no sign, naming them.

In Northeastern Arizona along the scenic highway160 two sandstone towers emerged from the grasslands. I was puzzled that there was no sign, naming them.

A closeup of one of the towers reveals the layers of sediment that forms the structure

A closeup of one of the towers reveals the layers of sediment that forms the structure

A cold rain storm passed through the Wupatki National Monument saturating the deep orange sandstone used to build this ancestral Puebloan village

A cold rain storm passed through the Wupatki National Monument saturating the deep orange sandstone used to build this ancestral Puebloan village

A neighboring house has a beautiful view

A neighboring house has a beautiful view

A closer view of the ancient Puebloan home

A closer view of the ancient Puebloan home

The Sunset Crater Volcano gave the ancient Puebloan people new challenges for cultivating crops

The Sunset Crater Volcano gave the ancient Puebloan people new challenges for cultivating crops

The volcanic rock hosts new plants and makes for a treacherous hike

The volcanic rock hosts new plants and makes for a treacherous hike

Northern Arizona looking west from the grasslands to the forest to the San Francisco Peaks

Northern Arizona looking west from the grasslands to the forest to the San Francisco Peaks

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