On the Rainbow Trail

Where does the time go? I have been very negligent in posting to the blog. Summer has been just too much fun.

Recently, we made a llama trek to Rainbow Bridge. We followed the old 1909 Discovery Trail, "pioneered" by trader John Wetherill. I have "pioneered" in quotes because Navajos, Utes, and Paiutes and earlier native Americans had already been to this largest of the world's natural bridges. Also, prospectors were in the area at least by the late 1880s. There is also good evidence that savvy Wetherill had actually scouted out the route during the winter of 1908-09 so that he could be sure to lead his main employer at the time, archaeologist Byran Cummings, to the bridge for the official "discovery" in August of 1909.

Though the bridge can be easily reached by boat on Lake Powell, this trail around the north side of Navajo Mountain remains one of my all time favorites.