|
I drove on up the truly spectacular Dolores River canyon above Naturita. About 20 miles out of town, there’s a pull-out with one of those historical marker things. The plaque explained all about the history of Uranium mining in the region. It had pictures of actual miners and stuff. I stopped to record the info on the plaque with my camera.
When I turned around, I saw something I hadn’t noticed before on the cliffs on the opposite side of the road. Seven skulls showing very white against the dark red of the rock had been placed along the canyon wall directly opposite the sign lauding the day of the uranium mine. They appeared to be the skulls of elk or deer without any antlers. I stood looking at them for some time. Then I heard a soft chant in Navajo carried down from somewhere up above by the breeze, and I wondered if Navajo juju can reach all the way to China.
Pic #1 Walls of the Dolores Canyon
Pic #2 Informational mining plaque
Pic #3 Skulls on canyon wall
Pic #4 Zipping on out of the canyon near dusk
|