Piedras Marcadas Canyon

The northernmost part of Petroglyph National Monument is called Piedras Marcadas Canyon, which means "canyon of marked rocks." The urban development of Albuquerque butts right up against the boundary of the Monument. We actually had a very difficult time finding the parking lot as it is tucked unobtrusively right into one of the housing developments with only one small sign.

This afternoon we drove up to this furthest portion of the Monument to see a part we hadn't seen before --

This is the "better" part of the trail along the base of the escarpment. It was soft sand that you sunk into 2-4 inches with every step. In the wind, the sand drifted and portions of the trail were covered over. You had to sort of guess which was the right way to go. And it was VERY poorly marked!

Most of these images were believed to have been created between 400 and 700 years ago by the ancestors of today's Pueblo people and other native groups traveling through the area.

The petroglyph images were carefully pecked into the dark boulder surfaces with stone tools; they were deliberately planned and very important to traditional peoples.

Archeologists believe that groups traveled near and far from pueblos established on the Rio Grande and elsewhere to offer prayers and carve images sacred to them.

On the mostly east- and south-facing slopes you can see geometric forms, reptile and mammal images, masks and human figures, hand and footprints and many other petroglyphs whose complicated meanings were known only by their makers.

Some of the images are clear and distinct and others are hard to see unless the light is just right.

Some of the images are clustered close together --

While others stand in solitary splendor.

It was pretty nice when we started up with a light breeze, but by the time we finished the two plus mile loop the wind had gotten pretty strong again -- it was not a place you would have been wanting to be wearing contacts. We were really tired when we got back to the parking lot and even though we had packed water along, I immediately guzzled down a whole can of lemonade.

When we stopped to get gas, I was delighted to see a Church's across the street. There used to be a Church's in Spokane many years ago. When I was a nursing student, it was one of our favorite hang-outs -- we loved going there for chicken. I have to admit, the chicken was good, but not nearly as fantastic as I remembered.