Friday, October 6, 2017

Shiprock

Farmington, NM  High 81  Low 52

We left Price and headed towards Moab. Figured we’d boondock a few miles south of town but when we reached that point, it was only 11:30 in the morning and we decided to push on a little further. Well, a little further because a little further and finally after 316 miles we ended up at the fairgrounds in Farmington, NM. We stayed here last June and really like it because there is nobody around.

I had one thing I still wanted to see in June, but we ran out of time. This ride was the only thing planned for this stop other than relaxing. Well maybe laundry.

This is Shiprock

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Shiprock is a monadnock which is an isolated rock hill, knob, ridge, or small mountain that rises abruptly from a gently sloping or virtually level surrounding plain. It is what is left of a volcano’s throat after years of erosion. It’s peak elevation is 7,177 feet above sea level and rises 1,583 above the plains of the Navajo Nation.

People used to be able to climb the formation but in 1970 the Navajo Nation declared the rock to be sacred and it is considered extremely important to the people and their religion.

The name Shiprock dates from the 1870s because the peak resembles an enormous 19th century clipper ship.

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You can see the rock for miles from the highway, but getting to it is a little more complicated since there are no signs. I found some pretty good directions on the internet and we eventually found the dirt road leading out to the rock. I wouldn’t recommend trying to drive that road in a car and definitely not in the rain.

Sunset in New Mexico

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12 comments:

  1. That is something that I would love to see. Beautiful sunset!

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  2. I see a reunion in New Mexico. 😉

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  3. I'm glad to see the Navajo protecting a sacred site. We have desecrated so many of them.

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  4. Thanks for sharing the pics, beautiful. I had no idea that formation was what's left of the volcano’s throat, I learn something everyday. :)

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  5. On my list of places to visit after reading all the Tony Hillerman stories that take place around it.

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  6. Shiprock looks beautiful.
    Gorgeous NM sky. Just like I remember it.

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  7. When I lived in NC several years ago I passed by Shiprock on my way to and from California every year. For sure I took tons of photos each time I saw it!

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  8. We've been in that situation many times. We end up assuming we know where we'll stop but when it's too early we move on. Usually that means stressing to figure where we're going to stay.

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  9. Shiprock looks awesome!! I would love to see that!!
    Your last picture of the sky at sunset is gorgeous!!!

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  10. What a great sight and the sunset is just gorgeous.

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  11. looks like a good place to stay - I guess Ship Rock is a smaller Devil's Tower

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  12. I'm reading an Anne Hillerman (daughter of Tony Hillerman) novel where the action is located in Ship Rock and around the Navaho Nation.

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Thanks for visiting today. I look forward to reading your comments. Have a beautiful day.