Monticello Box Canyon Part I

Wagonmaster Loren

The Alley is growing.  Linda/Newell and Dave/Deb got here a few days ago.  Good to see everyone and catch up on the summer.   Loren did a recon on the Monticello Box Canyon 10 days ago.  The colors were just beginning to turn then.  Martha, Wyn/Ki and Ken had never been all the way through the Box so we scheduled the trip for Martha's day off - Friday.  It was a glorious day.  Ki drove our pickup with Wyn, Wylie and me bringing up the rear.  We laughed about crossing the creek 100+ times (Cliffie's BIL counted a few years ago) and the fact it is a county/state road.  But I don't think the newbies really GOT it until they SAW it.  I wasn't going to take very many pictures but found myself oooooing and ahhhhhing once again.  I focus on new things every time.  It's also funny that Linda and I were in different cars yet we took many similar pictures. 

Cute little house- pumphouse? phonehouse? electric house?  Who know!

Monticello home

This huge root system is just one of many up from Monticello

I love this door into the backyard.

We stopped at the old schoolhouse.  We all got out to view the old building.  I took Wylie for a walk and saw a..........................................ssnnna

Loren and Linda

 Yes that little bitty thing was the snake.  We settled into a little BSing before realizing we were burning daylight.

Wyn, Linda and Marilyn

Ki and Loren

 We moved on and immediately found more gates and doors.

This warning sign makes you wonder just where ARE you going?

So many colors/shades on the same tree.

What stories the trees could tell.  There are so many huge trunks on this drive.

Old buildings.  They were built to last in this unforgiving climate.

And then there are the oranges.  They seem to be JUST coming out.

The limbs are even big on this tree.

Then we see the rock formations.

Can you find the house?

There has been rain this fall, the hillside still has a green sheen.

I LOVE this tree.

Following the Wagon Master.......

Then all of a sudden you see a cactus - still alive having survived the cold in the winter.

More colors popping out.

More rock formations

What is it with always looking down when out of
a vehicle?  hmmmm?

Let's climb the hill and go through the tunnel in the bottom formation.

Going............

................coming

I couldn't see in back of us so would hang my hand out and snap.  Most of them came out pretty good.

My MOST favorite picture of the day!

The highway sign is still there but the picnic area isn't.

So many colors.

Finally found some purple.

My second favorite pic of the day.

OK I have tried all day to get this published.  I have lost 1/2 of it twice now.  Hope this one works.