Wupatki and Sunset Crater Volcano and MNA

Yesterday we drove back into Flagstaff and then north to two National Monuments - Wupatki and Sunset Crater Volcano.  Wupatki Pueblo was started about 1090 Ce and at the height if it's life, over 2000 people lived there.  There were over 100 rooms, ball courts, kivas, that were excavated and now preserved under the National Park System.  What is truly amazing is how did they live in the harsh environment and survive under the dry desert heat and winds?  By 1400 all the inhabitants have left and the pueblo fell into ruins from the forces of nature.  From a distance standing at this pueblo, you can see two other ruins, not open to the public.  This pueblo is located on the Little Colorado River and between this river and the small caches of water pockets, these Hopi Indians eked out a life.  We had to drive through Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument to get to Wupatki, see the mountains that define this Flagstaff area and also from a distance you could see the Painted Dessert.

After walking around the ruins and learning about Wupatki, we drove back into Sunset Crater and stopped and hiked along the lava fields.  Scientists believe that this Volcano erupted about 1000 years ago, a middle-of-the-road in terms of explosiveness and eruption.  Based on dating of downed trees, they believe Sunset erupted numerous times over a period of 150 years - from about 1050 to 1200 Ce.  The lava fields are amazing to see, and with the eruptions also came earth quakes, which had to affect Wupatki and neighboring pueblos.  To see how life has began again, and wild Apache plume - a beautiful pink flowering bush living in the middle of the cinder flow and pine trees growing in the middle of the lava field - amazing.

We drove back into Flagstaff and went to the Museum of Northern Arizona which explained how the ancient peoples lived, who they were (Zuni, Hopi, Navajo) and their life history was quite informative. This museum is a privately funded establishment and I was thinking when I got into their gift shop - to maybe get a piece of turquoise jewelry - well, not.  Cheapest piece was $1200. Pretty, but don't need it.

Tuesday we pack up and head north, driving around the eastern side of the Grand Canyon to a town called Glendale, Utah.  We will be centrally located to Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, the north rim of the Grand Canyon, and also be near Cedar Breaks National Monument.