Moments in Dirt and Ink

Bears Ears National Monument Click for map. Today is the day to try the long loop through the canyons of Owl Creek and Fish Creek and because it is so long, I will not be visiting ruin sites that may come up. (This is in the Cedar Mesa area, so the hiking fee is required. My $5 per person per week already paid covers this one.) I made breakfast the night before more so I wouldn't have to stick my fingers in water to wash dishes while it was freezing out than to make it go faster. Then down 5 miles of rough road my car can do only because it hasn't rained in months. The road stops at another pipe with welded on lettering marking more oil exploration. I should have an hour more than I need of light and have decided to do Owl Creek first since there is more of the Fish Creek Trail that I don't mind getting to after dark. There is one worrying thing. The sign says if you bring your dog, you should probably bring some webbing to help haul it over the 12 foot vertical c...

Bears Ears National Monument Click for map. I stopped by the ranger station to see if I could get wifi or otherwise make a call from there. Sure, if I've got Verizon. This is the second time I've found a station to have a Verizon repeater and wonder what they do to deserve such favoritism. She suggested that some people get signal on Starvation Knoll. I won't, but I may as well give it a try as it is the high point in the area. This is another developed site that will continue to be free although there are no bathrooms. The trail up to the top of the low hill is dotted with interpretive signs about the Mormons building road to come and populate this area. There is some mention of how there were already people here, so no myth of the empty land is going on, but they still felt they needed to spread here. And it ain't half bad being up so high looking out over Cedar Mesa. Out across the popular dispersed camping area is the flatter part of Comb Ridge an...