Until Ranger Angela at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park talked about Colorado Nat'l Monument and how great the hikes in the canyons were, I'd thought this place was just some small park, with maybe an obelisk-type monument or statue of a miner ...duh! Little did I realize how stunning it is.
Miner John Otto came here in 1909 and fell in love with the place. It was due to his urging and rallying local support that it was named a national monument. In fact, he and his bride were married at the foot of 450-ft tall Independence Monument, but...
His insistence that they live in a tent near its base so he could be near the rocks and animals he loved drove poor Beatrice to a divorce after only a few weeks! While I was there, a young couple hiked up and began assessing the rock for the climbing route they were planning to take. No thanks - I'll enjoy the views from below.
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| Juniper berries anyone? The Utes used to use them for seasoning their food. |
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| These rippling sandstone layers are very thin and brittle |
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| A female collared lizard - I understand it's rare to see these critters. Lucky me! |
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| Lunch for a hungry hiker. |
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| They really don't want anyone lost! |
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| We spooked each other - a black-tailed jackrabbit. |
And of course, the park's most famous and sought-after animals, the bighorn sheep...
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| These horns can weight 30 pounds apiece and the ram carries it his whole life. |
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| Anyone wanna buy a rock? Actually, there's a lot more where this came from. |
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I've never seen a campground with a rest room on the national register of historic places...until now!
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