Well, if it’s a sunny day and there is a trail around, we’re on it. Church Rock trail yesterday, the Pyramid trail today. And, truth to tell, we’ve done the Pyramid Trail - back in 2011 - and that’s why we’re staying in this park. We first decided to visit the museum at the park. Beautiful museum with loads of Zuni Kachina dolls, carvings made out of trees, paintings, pottery and basketry from the past and other art.
They had several magnificent examples of sand art - the art of arranging the tiniest grains of sand into a painting.
This wonderful art collection is in a hallway of an administration building. I”m not even sure they advertise it much and what a shame. It’s always fun to come upon something so unexpected.
Here’s a huge trunk of wood with two sides. One side has a horse and a Native American chief
While the other has an eagle head. Gary and I looked at it for a while trying to determine if it was one piece or two. We could never see a break so think it is all one piece of wood.
But, they also had some modern Native American art. I particularly liked this piece.
What a cool find, hidden away in the back corridors of the Gallup Park offices. We were the only ones there during the 2 hours that we explored the museum's rooms. A hidden treasure. Now to the trail.
The trail is called the Pyramid Rock Trail, a nice trail with a payoff at the end of a 360 degree view of the Gallup area. We could see for miles and miles. This rocks are striated with about 6 different layers, in all colors from red to pink to grey to white. As we climbed we could see ourselves moving though these layers, through geologic time, we could see the lines between the layers as we stepped from the red layer to the white layer and on up into the pink layer.
How many millions of years did it take to build this rock up, layer after layer after layer?
We watched as ravens swooped and dove among the rocks soaring through the updrafts.
Notice the tenuous grip this tree has on its little bit of sand. What adaptation and perseverance this little bit of nature has.
And, what about this flower?
We had no trouble following this trail. Oh, my, who wears red hiking socks?
We rounded a corner and I recognized a bench where I had sat the last time we climbed this trail and a friend called us. Out in the wilderness, hiking along a trail and we have good enough cell reception for a telephone call.
Cute little hoodoo rocks here along the trail. We had seen these the last time we were here.
We climbed and climbed and finally reached the top. Look at these views? Can it get any better than this?
The views from the top were worth more than the climb. Here’s Church Rock where we climbed yesterday. Actually, our plan is to circle back to it today before we head back to the campground.
This was supposed to be a picture of Gary with scenery until a bug bit him.
As we headed back to the park, we saw the local cross-country teams gearing up for a hike at a nearby school that has a predominantly sand course. Up and over this sand rise and through the sand at top and at bottom 5 times.
Hey, I can still make it - after a year with very few trails in it, I can still get up the hill.
I sure agree with Edward Abbey when he waxes eloquently about hiking in the Southwest.
‘In the American Southwest, I began a lifelong love affair with a pile of rock.’
Edward Abbey
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