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Buttonwillow's adventures
Colorado National Monument
In July I traveled to the Colorado National Monument. This is a national monument located very near Grand Junction, Colorado. This is an area of canyons and towering rock formations that have been shaped over time by geologic faults, wind, and water. The rock found at the monument include gneiss, (pronounced niss which rhymes with hiss) and schist, with sedimentary rock on top. This includes Wingate Sandstone. There are many hiking trails. The views are spectacular. There is beautiful flora (plants), and lots of different fauna (animals). Let's take a look!
One of my first stops was here. This was a trail that ranchers used to herd livestock up to the top of the monument for grazing. Carved out of the side of a cliff, it looked very scary to me! The Grand Valley is in the background.
Look closely....this little fellow was just off the hiking trail. Next time you go hiking, look carefully as you walk along. There are many creatures that we probably never see!
Unfortunately, this was not an uncommon find as I hiked different trails. We should always follow the rule of, "Pack it in, pack it out." We should also leave places cleaner than we found them. Smoking in natural settings can also cause wild fires.
As promised, the views are spectacular. The next photos are just a sample of what you will see when you visit Colorado National Monument.
As promised, the views are spectacular. The next photos are just a sample of what you will see when you visit Colorado National Monument.
There are numerous hiking trails throughout the monument. Some are short, easy hikes, while others are longer and more difficult. Let me show you some of the trails.
All of the trails are well marked. Some have stone cairns (pronounced like the girl's name, Karen). These are shown below. They are a marker, made of piled and stacked stones to help hikers see where the trail goes.
Many of the rock surfaces have small depressions. Moisture from rain gathers in these depressions, and provides water for animals.
I'll end this part of my adventure with a couple more photos. These were just off the road. See how well they blend into their surroundings?
Finally, remember to look carefully as you are out and about exploring. You never know what (or who) you might see!
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