I dropped by the Petrified Forest National Center on the way to my campground on Saturday; as usual, this was very informative and a ranger told me that a great way to introduce myself to the Park was to take the Historic Blue Forest Trail, an “off the beaten path hike;” this turned out to be a great suggestion! I also stopped briefly at the Painted Desert Inn (pictured above). This is a place where travelers along the old Route 66 stopped to get their “kicks.”

Next morning, I started along this recommended trail; the very first mesa along the way vividly illustrated why this is called the painted desert. Every band represents a step going back in time; the layers revealed here go back about 220 million years. This is truly a treasure trove of the Triassic!

Through the entire four hours of this hike, I did not encounter any other person. I expected to experience a great sense of solitude but instead the presence of the past, not only the deep geologic past. But the human past, here dating back some 13,000 years, was very present and the varied geologic structures were evocative.

Could this perhaps be a spirit house?

Surely some interesting creatures make us of these convenient nooks and crannies.

Finally, I encountered the first petrified wood log; what an amazing feeling to be touching something so ancient (dating back 217.8 million years according to the local paleontologists). So deeply buried in time, preserved in stone, and now available for us (and many visitors from and unknown future) to touch! I felt transported deep into the past.

These logs aren’t small.

They are varied and beautiful.

Here is a log that is nearly intact but fractured.

Here is a log falling gradually into a deep, dry gulch.

Long log fractured as if by a giant cleaver.

As I approached the Blue Mesa, a new palette of colors was revealed!

Some of the path segments along the ridge crests were a little exposed, particularly when subjected to strong gusts of wind!

When I returned, my van was still the only vehicle in the parking near the trailhead.

I noticed that many of the high points in the park were occupied by ravens, presumably giving them great vantage points from which to observe potential food. These birds are a little scruffy close up, but majestic perched on their “thrones.”

The weather cooperated by providing light clouds to shelter from the sun and the cool breezes (sometimes quite strong) made it physically very comfortable. This was a wonderful visit; now on to the Northern Rim of the Grand Canyon!