I took my spleen to Wupatki

Dan at Wupatki National Monument

Today we visited Wupatki, an ancient Indian pueblo about 800-900 years old. If you're going to the Grand Canyon, stop by. This is right on the loop with Sunset Crater. Wupatki is a modern Hopi word for "big house." (So, you kickin' back in your wupatki??)

Dan photographing the pueblo ruins.
About 300 people were thought to live at Wupatki.

A sunflower hangs its head at the end of its blooming season.

Isn't it amazing to imagine how many spleens lived here so long ago? It's thought that the people left when a volcano (now Sunset Crater) erupted 900 years ago. I looked at the lava fields and tried to imagine what that must have been like. And now, cozily tucked into bed posting these photos, I'm very grateful for a warm house and no need to evacuate suddenly into the night.

photos from the weekend's hike up a volcano

SP crater hike.
I make it look easy, eh?
(A friend of mine wrote, upon seeing this photo,
"Nice views. I hope you were able to enjoy
them on your klutzy waltz to the top." ha!)

So Sunday we hiked up SP crater, about 25 miles from here. (Don't worry mom, it's no longer active! The last time it erupted was 11,000 years ago. :)

It took 2.5 hours to get to the top, 800 feet high, because that baby was STEEP, a 35-45 degree angle. And difficult! You ever climb a sand dune? One step forward, two steps back. You know the feeling you get watching your feet sink into the earth and slide backwards as your hiking companion (and their rescue cell phone) disappears over the horizon? Yeah, it's awesome.

Seriously, it was a blast. Here are some photos from the day:

Walking up.

See the angle? It's pretty steep!

Dan at the top. The mountain ridges
all around are old volcanoes.

I'm really into flowers lately. They're
so striking against the Arizona sky.

There are more flowers than normal
because of the unusual amount of rain
this region has seen.