Melissa happened to see a reference in our atlas to a site with dinosaur tracks that we'd be soon going past. Its sign on the highway was literally a spray-painted piece of plywood propped on a fence post and a folding chair, so we were a little skeptical. My skepticism abated when the guy said admission was "a donation", and went away entirely when I saw the tracks. They were too imperfect to be fake.
Our guide said that was a claw from a theropod, Utahraptor maybe, but apparently it's some fish's gill plate.
He also said this was a corprolite (dung), but it's probably just some natural concretion.
The place is called the Moenkopi Dinosaur Tracks. As noted, our guide had some facts screwed up (he also had animals living together that were separated by tens or even hundreds of millions of years), but then again he's self-taught. I'm mostly glad he and the other caretakers respect the place and keep it open to visitors. We would highly recommend stopping if you're ever out that way. This is a good, sober review.
The place is called the Moenkopi Dinosaur Tracks. As noted, our guide had some facts screwed up (he also had animals living together that were separated by tens or even hundreds of millions of years), but then again he's self-taught. I'm mostly glad he and the other caretakers respect the place and keep it open to visitors. We would highly recommend stopping if you're ever out that way. This is a good, sober review.
Snow fell on us twice on our drive: on the first day in Southern Montana and Northeast Idaho, and this day, between Elephants Feet and Marsh Pass.
The sky cleared around Kayenta, giving us our first glimpses of Monument Valley.
The approach down to the San Juan River at Mexican Hat has the steepest grade I've ever seen signed.
The Sun had long set by the time the winding, confusing road delivered us to the campground at Hovenweep, where we enjoyed camp stove mac-and-cheese.
miles 40312.8-40579.9
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