Rock Art Canyon Ranch
Brantley Baird explains the Anasazi hogan structure to Ben
Harry's friend Steve Cohn recommended that we check out a place near Winslow called Rock Art Canyon Ranch. We knew we had stumbled onto to something interesting after checking reviews on Trip Advisor but were definitely convinced after talking to the owner Brantley Baird on the phone. Brantley sounds like and is a real cowboy. Brantley's family bought the ranch in the mid-1940's when he was about 10. He grew up on the ranch, which is about 25 miles outside of Winslow. The last 15 miles are dirt road. As a teenager he found his first Anasazi pot just sticking up out of the dirt. He was hooked. Now he has an amazing collection of native artifacts along with a staggering collection of old farm and ranch equipment and cowboy memorabilia. But the real attraction here is Brantley himself. He’s a real character who has a million stories and irresistible charm and yet clearly has great reverence for the people who once lived on this land.
But the adventure had merely started. He and Ben hopped into his 4-wheel drive vehicle and we gingerly followed in our van. At one point he slowed down and gestured toward the Golden Eagle flying in circles overhead. Then more dusty one lane roads through the range land and we stopped to see Anasazi ruins and a Navajo Hogan. As we walked toward the ruins there were shards of Anasazi Pottery scattered around with the familiar white and black designs.
More dusty roads and we arrived at the top attraction at the ranch -- The Canyon. After an overview from the observation platform he had had constructed he left us to explore the canyon on our own. We gingerly descended to the Canyon floor and were rewarded for the effort by the thousands of Petroglyphs on the Canyon walls. We wandered about, taking in the scene and taking lots of pictures. Then perched on rocks took off our shoes and socks and soaked out feet in the cool stream.
Here is an instance of how a private citizen can preserve, protect and find a way to share it with those who also appreciate it.
But the adventure had merely started. He and Ben hopped into his 4-wheel drive vehicle and we gingerly followed in our van. At one point he slowed down and gestured toward the Golden Eagle flying in circles overhead. Then more dusty one lane roads through the range land and we stopped to see Anasazi ruins and a Navajo Hogan. As we walked toward the ruins there were shards of Anasazi Pottery scattered around with the familiar white and black designs.
More dusty roads and we arrived at the top attraction at the ranch -- The Canyon. After an overview from the observation platform he had had constructed he left us to explore the canyon on our own. We gingerly descended to the Canyon floor and were rewarded for the effort by the thousands of Petroglyphs on the Canyon walls. We wandered about, taking in the scene and taking lots of pictures. Then perched on rocks took off our shoes and socks and soaked out feet in the cool stream.
Here is an instance of how a private citizen can preserve, protect and find a way to share it with those who also appreciate it.
Photos from Rock Art Canyon Ranch (placeholder)
Meteor Crater
Notice right hand holding on to railing: the wind was blowing 60 miles an hour !
Meteor Crater is one of those places where eventhough there isn't much to see, but you've got to see it anyway. It is, afterall, a big hole in the ground -- it's what you would expect if you tossed a ball into wet sand, only the ball is pretty big, and traveling pretty fast -- so fast, that it self distructs when it hits the ground and send the contents of a 3/4 mile hole in all directions.
Also, one of the coolest things about Meteor Crater is this is exactly what those craters we stare at on the Moon are like -- except a lot smaller. There was a display showing the relative size of this crater to those on the moon -- and this was a lot smaller, yet it was very big.
Two years ago this summer, my friend Rick Beyer went and filmed a documentary about the Tunguska "cosmic event" that happened in Siberia in the early 1900s. There is no such crater for the Tunguska meteor probably because it exploded prior to reaching the earth. It did flatten the trees
Also, one of the coolest things about Meteor Crater is this is exactly what those craters we stare at on the Moon are like -- except a lot smaller. There was a display showing the relative size of this crater to those on the moon -- and this was a lot smaller, yet it was very big.
Two years ago this summer, my friend Rick Beyer went and filmed a documentary about the Tunguska "cosmic event" that happened in Siberia in the early 1900s. There is no such crater for the Tunguska meteor probably because it exploded prior to reaching the earth. It did flatten the trees
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