Hole in the Ground Gang
Meteor Crater, Arizona:
We six are obviously traveling around looking at gigantic holes in the ground.
One day it is the Grand Canyon and the next, Walnut Canyon and Meteor Crater.
We left the Grand Canyon this morning and headed south on Highway 64 to
Flagstaff, where we bypassed the town altogether and continued east on I-40 to
Walnut Canyon National
Monument. We had a great time at the monument, hiking down the 250+ stairs
into the canyon and skirting the cliffs that hold the ancient dwellings. At this
point in time the entire park is not accessible to hikers due to a landslide.
Workers are still repairing the trail and it should be open by December 2008.
Walnut Canyon
Over 700 years ago, native peoples lived year-round in Walnut
Canyon. They built homes under large hanging rocks in the canyon, grew crops on
the rim of the canyon and gathered food from the abundant forest.
The trail at Walnut Canyon
Exploring some of the cliff dwellings in Walnut Canyon
A three-inch hairy resident of Walnut Canyon - can anyone identify this spider?
(I think it is a tarantula, but the white glossy powder stuff is throwing me
off.)
Walnut Canyon
Pueblo storage area above Walnut Canyon
Ancient dwelling on the rim of Walnut Canyon
RV NOTES: There is RV parking at the canyon. You may have to
circle the parking lot a few times to secure a spot, but you should be able to
find parking. Flush toilets available at the Visitor Center, plus a drinking
fountain, gift shop and mail drop. There are about 250 steps down into the
canyon - which means 250 steps back up to the rim. Take it easy and you will be
fine. Plan on at least 90 minutes down in the canyon, but try to spend more
time. No water or restrooms in the canyon. Don't forget your camera!
After our stop at Walnut Canyon, we continued a few miles to
Meteor Crater.
50,000 years ago, a meteor half the size of a football field smashed into the
earth in the middle of what now is Arizona. It left a hole in the ground that is
4000 feet across and over 500 feet deep. When the meteor hit the earth, it
vaporized and only a few fragments were left. Meteor Crater is the best
preserved meteor landing site in the world.
Another big hole in the ground
Mary at Meteor Crater
Holsinger Meteorite - Largest discovered fragment of the meteor that created
Meteor Crater
Smart Car: the RV parking lot below the visitor center
It was getting on in the afternoon, so we decided to stay
overnight in the
Meteor
Crater RV Park - conveniently located on I-40! They have full service
campsites, gas station and a fast-food joint called the "Hole Enchilada".
Hole... get it??
Woody cooked tonight. He grilled chicken breasts and tossed them with pasta,
broccoli, kalamata olives, onion, garlic, cherry tomatoes and parmesan cheese
for a super supper. He also served a tossed salad and a loaf of brown bread. We
had a great time enjoying our delicious supper in the middle of exactly nowhere
in Arizona.
Until my next update, I remain, your hole correspondent.
RV Park: Meteor Crater RV Park just off I-40, between Flagstaff
and Winslow, Arizona. Convenient for touring the Meteor Crater. $25. Full
service sites with free (slow) wifi, laundry, bath house, store, Mexican
fast-food, security. Some freeway noise.