El Morro National Monument, NM

This is another place in New Mexico that is a bit off the beaten track and well worth visiting. The main attraction is Inscription Rock that includes Native American Petroglyphs, signatures from the Spanish, and some from later American arrivals.

We had an interesting conversation with one of the rangers about how older rock carvings are admired and protected, and how a modern carving would be considered defacing. He told us that after it became a National Monument, they actually decided to remove all signatures carved after, I believe it was 1906 including the signature of the infamous Kit Carson. Just something to ponder. It is a beautiful setting.

Along the trail to the signatures.



The water hole that drew people to this area



Protecting the water hole --- gees, I like anything that makes me look smaller. :-)



I just love beautiful rocks with great patterns



A few of the many carvings.







Some Native American Carvings





We had snowed on us at lower elevation that day, and it was threatening, but we decided to take plastic bags for the cameras and head up to the top of the mesa.



The mammoth rock formations are beautiful



This one's face felt like the ancient spirits were watching.



It was well worth the hike up the mesa---the views were fantastic in all directions. Here is looking down on those huge rock formations from the top of the mesa



A windswept pine tree



Deep and beautiful box canyons.





The trail along the top of the mesa was across the uneven rocks and marked in most areas with slight carvings in the rock and carins. They tell you to look for the next carin before leaving a carin and they have carved some steps in the rock. So worth it!





Had to really hang on to the dogs---but such a great place to sit and enjoy the vistas.



And on top of the mesa are the ruins of a pueblo---it is right before the trail heads down the mesa



The sky was very cloudly, but only spit out a few white flakes on us and the cameras. :-)

If you are ever on I-40 in western New Mexico, head on down to El Morro!

1906?

How come Kit Carson is "infamous"?? Not being a smart a$$, just curious.

Kit Carson

Quote:

Originally posted by watizname How come Kit Carson is "infamous"?? Not being a smart a$$, just curious.

Quote:

Originally posted by watizname How come Kit Carson is "infamous"?? Not being a smart a$$, just curious.

Well, maybe just a wee bit romanticized---except I am sure Marshall Dillon and Miss Kitty were for real!

Just can't trust those leftist plots!

Thanks Bob--- and yes, the real Kit Carson was an interesting person and El Morro is very interesting and in fantastic country.

[Edited on 4-10-2012 by DianaT]

Thanks for the info on Kit, DianaT. I guess it all depends which side of the fence your on as to whether a historical figure, almost any of them, is a hero or infamous. They all seem to have some kind of skeleton in their closet.

Quote:

Originally posted by watizname Thanks for the info on Kit, DianaT. I guess it all depends which side of the fence your on as to whether a historical figure, almost any of them, is a hero or infamous. They all seem to have some kind of skeleton in their closet.

I was just looking at my western New Mexico maps, and boy, both Gila Cliff Dwelling and El Morro are wayyyyyyyy off the beaten track, for sure. That fact makes them all the more interesting, to us anyway. Can't wait to go visit them.

As for the treatment of Indians in the 1800's by the USA, tho the "manifest destiny" mentality was really prevalant, there were a LOT of folks in positions of power in Govt. and elsewhere in the west that tried their best to look out for the Indian's interests, mostly unsuccessfully as the rabble that were moving west were mostly uneducated, very greedy, hated Indian's as nothing more than dangerous pests and barbarians, and wanted them all dead, and the decision-makers in Govt. aided them. From my point of view it was all understandable given the circumstances, but not pretty, as Diana said. It was a vastly different time, that is for sure, but the stigma still lingers. The Indian's are still trying to recover, but the vast majority have made it into the 21st century and are doing quite well, as it should be, thanks to the Casinos and their associated enterprises, etc.. Both my Brother-in-law and my son have long worked for, and advised various Tribes and Nations and can attest to their progress----but there are still some very real problems, mostly associated with dependence on the Govt., and now the Tribal enterprises, by some. Individual self-determination is being pushed within the community, with some success, but there is still progress needed. The internal structure of Indian society is in many cases different than our's, so it is a problem for mutual understanding and progress.

That's my soapbox for the day.

Barry

Quote:

Originally posted by Barry A. I was just looking at my western New Mexico maps, and boy, both Gila Cliff Dwelling and El Morro are wayyyyyyyy off the beaten track, for sure. That fact makes them all the more interesting, to us anyway. Can't wait to go visit them. As for the treatment of Indians in the 1800's by the USA, tho the "manifest destiny" mentality was really prevalant, there were a LOT of folks in positions of power in Govt. and elsewhere in the west that tried their best to look out for the Indian's interests, mostly unsuccessfully as the rabble that were moving west were mostly uneducated, very greedy, hated Indian's as nothing more than dangerous pests and barbarians, and wanted them all dead, and the decision-makers in Govt. aided them. From my point of view it was all understandable given the circumstances, but not pretty, as Diana said. It was a vastly different time, that is for sure, but the stigma still lingers. The Indian's are still trying to recover, but the vast majority have made it into the 21st century and are doing quite well, as it should be, thanks to the Casinos and their associated enterprises, etc.. Both my Brother-in-law and my son have long worked for, and advised various Tribes and Nations and can attest to their progress----but there are still some very real problems, mostly associated with dependence on the Govt., and now the Tribal enterprises, by some. Individual self-determination is being pushed within the community, with some success, but there is still progress needed. The internal structure of Indian society is in many cases different than our's, so it is a problem for mutual understanding and progress. That's my soapbox for the day. Barry

I really like your last sentence. ---not the one about a soapbox, but the last one of the paragraph

One thing I always find interesting during the time of Manifest Destiny and beyond when the Western Native American Nations were being destroyed is how much support they had in the East. The Native American Nations in the East had been pretty much destroyed a long time ago, so it was quite convenient for many Easterners to side with the Western Native Americans. Just one example----there was quite a movement including newspapers who really supported the Nez Perce and were hoping they would make it to Canada.

It is an interesting history and one I believe should be read from many different perspectives, and there are MANY.

OH, and when you visit New Mexico in those off the beaten tracks, remember that our goal is to get off the interstates as often as possible! The road to the Gila Cliff Dwellings is VERY slow---both ways---take food and water!! But it is worth it!

This trip we had no camping equipment with us and we no longer have a camper or trailer, so yes, we were at the mercy of the motels. And for us, it is more difficult and we travel with our dogs----especially with the little one on chemo, we just can't leave them, besides, they love to go.

On the first day we left from the El Centro area after our dental appointments in Holtvile. We have not lived in that area for about 6 years, but still like our dentist out there! We drove to Wilcox, Arizonia.

The next day we checked our Silver City, NM and there are several motels there and we thought we might return there after visiting the Gila Cliff Dwellings, but decided to head east where the road forks as we thought it would be a faster road ---- the first part is very slow, but BEAUTIFUL.

It was a very long day, longer than we wanted, but oh well, that happens. We ended up in Truth or Consequences. There there are a number of chain motels but we picked a less expensive one called the Oasis. We almost passed it up as there were a couple of long term residents there which is usually a sign that we don't want to stay there. But we are glad we checked it out---all remodeled and quite nice and a good value.

So if you stayed in Silver City and left early for the cliff dwellings, you would have plenty of time to return to Silver City or head for Truth and Consequences. There was a lodge out there that we did not check out.

El Morro is not as far off the main road and the road is very good----nice road, not much traffic. We left Santa Fe in the morning, drove through the snow from Albuquerque almost to Grant where the road heads south to El Morro. So again, we didn't arrive until the afternoon. While it is only a 2+mile loop trail, it is not a fast trail---certainly not as fast as it would have been 20 years ago---- as it switchbacks up to the top of the mesa and it is uneven walking on top. So we did not want to end up in the middle of nowhere, so we looped back up to Gallup.

We seldom plan a head---- but we do try to judge time and distance to where we can find a motel and sometimes we find towns with no motel and have to travel further than we want, but that is the price we pay for going day by day.

In thinking about where we might go, we do depend on the computer to google the name of towns and see what might be there.

When do you think you might go? It does get hot around there!

Diana--------You mention that it gets "hot" around there------possibly forgetting that we live in Redding, Ca where it often is around 110 degrees in summer. We also lived in El Centro. NO PLACE other than Death Valley is too hot for us.

Probably go in the fall as we love the high desert in Fall.

Thank you so much for all the good info-------you travel the way we do, and it is the only way we like to do it, other than camping.

Barry