Geography of the Southwest

We escaped knee deep snow in Salida Colorado by the Arkansas River on Tuesday morning. Winter was in full force as we left in 6 below zero weather.
     Mary and I plus my son Bill were headed to Grand Canyon West to celebrate my son's Jon's fortieth birthday by walking on the SkyWalk. But first we had to find our way out of the Arkansas Valley over snow packed passes and ice sheeted roads. Noon found us stopped with friends in Durango for lunch then on to the Cameron Trading Post and Lodge for the night. But we couldn't resist the stop at the Four Corners monument to take a picture of my son in all four States!
     Through the years I have driven on the US 160 through the four corners and on to Tuba City and Flagstaff and I never tire of the drive. It always seems to show me some new hoodoos and ridge lines that can be seen anew in different lightings of the day. The shadows were long as we paused at the Four Corners and so are drive into Cameron Arizona finished in the dark.
    This was our first tine to stop and stay at the Cameron Trading Post and Lodge. This is off season so it was not very busy and the rates were inexpensive. Our room looked out on the Canyon and Old Suspension bridge over the Little Colorado River. Red Rock Cliffs in the Morning light..

I've been driving from Colorado to California most of my life. I can remember what it was like to drive on the old Route 66 before I-40. We would do the desert parts at night because we didn't have air-conditioned cars, but I think that is where my love of the geography of the Southwest began. The open space, the rounded petrified sand dunes give the landscape a soft sensual feeling that I find inviting. I could wander out there looking for the next canyon to peer into or wander up the canyon bottoms among the cottonwoods.
     There is some snow on the ground out here in the Four Corners region and the the temperatures are cold, but by the time we get down to Kingman Arizona I expect them to be warmer.  
   This time away from the river will be fun and family,  and another break from the snow we are having this year. But soon I will be back being Will by the River.