Petrified Forest National Park

 Out on a hike across Blue Mesa Trail in the badlands of Petrified Forest Nat'l Park, I came across another hiker, a giddy happy hiker who claimed this arid desert park as his favorite.  While I cannot agree with him, still it was a fun and lovely day exploring this small park situated along old Route 66 in eastern Arizona.  


Amazing thing #1:  Petrified wood becomes stone over millions of years when first the tree grows along a river bank which floods and downs the trees in the water.  Along comes volcanic ash to cover the trees which soak up the minerals in said ash and turn the wood fibers to silica.  Water retreats leaving multiple layers of sand and sediment on top of the petrified wood, erosion occurs, and voila...petrified wood is exposed in the now dry desert for all of us to marvel at.  When the petrified pieces break, it resembles the splinters left on the ground after chopping wood, only these chips are dense rock. Simply amazing.  

Don't attempt stealing petrified wood.  You are warned.








Amazing thing 2:  Painted Desert Inn along Route 66 served food and refuge to tourists from 1926 to 1985 along this scenic getaway.  Now lovingly restored as a museum, the old inn is beguiling and stunningly beautiful and colorful in bright desert hues.








Thing 3:  Very little remains of Route 66 except a string of telephone poles and a rusted Studebaker.  But it was nostalgic and super cool to visit what remains.





Thing 4:  Our first ever hilarious hieroglyphics!




To honor my husband, this one I dubbed 
"Sandhill Crane Skewers Duck Hunter in Fit of Hateful Revenge."





Thing 5:  A lonely hike along an old CCC road and deep into the blue hills of the park.  My hats off to Aaron for his patience while I hiked solo.

Our good deed for the day came when we gave a ride to an older couple walking for miles down the road to their car.  They'd attempted this same hike but were dissuaded by the daunting exposure and sheer precipitous cliffs on either side of the narrow trail.  Indeed I lost my courage a couple of times but mustered resolve and soldiered on.  







 

Petrified Forest National Park;  a small treasure hidden in the arid eastern Arizona desert, a place of wonder.











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