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On the hike up the creek that has its origin below Fishmouth Cave, we came across several habitation sites and were joined by some fellow hikers who caught up with us in the largest ruin. They took the lead and scrambled up a steep ravine into Fishmouth Cave. We sat in the shade and talked to them while they explored and discovered that the cave had been highly vandalized.
Hiking back to the car we headed up the road that parallels Butler Wash en route to the highway, when John thought he saw what could be a ruin east of the road. Because it was so far away we couldn’t be certain. We decided to go for another hike and bush whacked our way up the drainage toward the cliff face of a very large mesa. Arriving at a massive slick rock pour off, we scrambled around trying to find a way to get on top to get a better view of what we hoped would be ruins.
After numerous aborted routes, John found a way up and was able to glass the area in question. He returned in defeat, as the ruins had morphed into a hearder encampment. Shortly after sitting on some rocks to recover, we happened to look up a draw we could not see from the road and ‘discovered’
a fantastic ruin! Because it was too late in the day to find a route to the site, we made our way back to the car and to Bluff. A few local guides knew the site. It had not been named to help protect it.
That evening we attended our third Pow Wow and Rodeo in Bluff put on by the Navaho Nation. We both enjoy the remarkable spirit of the Indian dancers of all ages.
Hiking back to the car we headed up the road that parallels Butler Wash en route to the highway, when John thought he saw what could be a ruin east of the road. Because it was so far away we couldn’t be certain. We decided to go for another hike and bush whacked our way up the drainage toward the cliff face of a very large mesa. Arriving at a massive slick rock pour off, we scrambled around trying to find a way to get on top to get a better view of what we hoped would be ruins.
After numerous aborted routes, John found a way up and was able to glass the area in question. He returned in defeat, as the ruins had morphed into a hearder encampment. Shortly after sitting on some rocks to recover, we happened to look up a draw we could not see from the road and ‘discovered’
a fantastic ruin! Because it was too late in the day to find a route to the site, we made our way back to the car and to Bluff. A few local guides knew the site. It had not been named to help protect it.
That evening we attended our third Pow Wow and Rodeo in Bluff put on by the Navaho Nation. We both enjoy the remarkable spirit of the Indian dancers of all ages.
© Sharon Wheat
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