Stephen F. Austin State University

The Travel Blog of the history faculty and students of Stephen F. Austin State University.

Showing posts with label SFASU. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SFASU. Show all posts

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Canyonlands National Park

Great visit to Canyonlands National Park.  While the students thought Chaco was a bit too dry and hot, they were all crushed we could only have two nights at Canyonlands.  We started the visit by watching the sun set at Split Top at the same time the moon came up.  The next day we hiked ten miles (round trip) to the confluence of the Colorado and Green Rivers.  While there, Dr., Bremer talked about water issues and the west while student Kevin talked about explorer John Wesley Powell who boated to the exact place we were at.  Dr. Dormady made comparisons between Powell and world explorers Dimid Pandya and Ibn Battuta.  After we hiked back we attended a park program on cowboys use of the area before it was declared a natinal park. We all slept REALLY well that night.

Newspaper Rock petroglyphs.

The cave the students slept in.  They were like little kids when they saw they were sleeping in a cave.


Moon rise at sun set in Canyonlands.

Prickly pear were in bloom - a rare sight.

Confluence of the Green and Colorado Rivers.  We were not and will not be near any of the flooding areas of the Green River.

Student David catches some shade after the five mile hike in.  Is he from Texas?

Students get some shade, rest, food, and water after the five miles in... knowing if you walk it in you have to walk it out.

Student Kevin talks about John Wesley Powell and the book Cadillac Desert.

Mesa Verde National Park

We rolled into Mesa Verde after two dusty, hot, days out in Chaco and the students were VERY happy to be up out of the desert floor.  We arrived a little later than planned due to some unexpected car sickness - but they bounced back fast and we had plenty of time in the park.  After visiting the excellent displays at Far View we visited the guided Cliff Palace tour.  It was a great comparison with Chaco's religious design versus the Cliff Palace defensive / shelter goals.  Back in camp Dr. Bremer went over Ancestral Puebloan culture.  Dr. Dormady talked about the effects of environment on social structure by highlighting the comparative case of the Andes.  We also took some time to talk about the Columbian Exchange - the exchange of bilogical material between the Afro-Eurasian Complex and the Americas.  Plants were the main focus, and students were asked to watch for and journal about the effects of the exchange as the trip continued.

Students Dan and Jordan view the Mancos Valley from an overlook in Mesa Verde.

The Cliff Palace.


Student Kayla conquered her fear of heights and shimmied down the ladders to get to the Cliff Palace.

The group takes 5 after the tour of Cliff Palace.