Roger decided to take the full week of Thanksgiving off, so we could have a short road trip prior to Thanksgiving on Thursday. Nine Mile Canyon was our first stop on our way to Moab and Arches National Park. Neither one of us had been here before, so my expectations and reality were a bit off. For one thing Nine Mile Canyon is not a box or dead end canyon, but rather a 40 mile canyon of gravel roads which during the late 1800's was a major road to and from Price Utah and important for the development of the entire area. This may be of interest to Kim, as the road was carved through the rugged canyon by the all Black 9th cavalry around 1886. Were
they stationed at Fort Davis?
What makes Nine Mile Canyon important to most of us today is the history left behind by the Fremond Indians who lived throughout Utah as early as 400 AD (though not established as a group until around 700 AD) and mysteriously left by 1300 AD. They left amazing petroglyphs on the rocks up and down the canyon. These were etched into the rock by stone tools and have
survived weather, time, and the more than occasional rife shot and thief.
While there are many side canyons you can hike into, a lot of great sites are just off the road and easy to climb to.
The one below is probably the largest and most well know. It is off a small side canyon and about 10 feet from the ground. It is called the Hunting Party.
The canyon has been used for a variety of things, including ranching and mining. Most of the old homes are abandoned now, but leave a history all their own.
Kim, here is the challenge - I think this next photo would be beautiful as a water color. I'll try if you will. Chris? What about you?
On a frustrating note, the canyon has now been opened up to more mining and oil exploration which has increased truck traffic and road improvement. Progress is good, I guess, but in this case I fear for an increased lose of history through pollution and mindless destruction of the sites.
Off to Moab:
I'm wondering whether I should pretend I didn't read the challenge! I know you want to see what I have painted, but you have to trust me, if they were any good I would have shown them to you. However, in the spirit of challenge, I accept, though you may end up having to wait until after the move before I will get time and access.
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The hunting party looks great doesn't it? Imagine, it has stood there all these years. Thankfully nobody decided to carve their names across it, like on some of the places in Egypt.
I particularly like the last photograph, the way the light catches the mountains.
Is the canyon really 9 miles long?
I forgot to say that the 9th, along with three other regiments were based at Fort Davis. They arrived in 1867 and were the first Buffalo Soldiers based there. No, I'm not a Geek, but Fort Davis is such an interesting place, so I looked it up!
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