Our first stop in Utah was Monument Valley. It’s not a National Park or National Monument but rather a Navajo Tribal Park. In some ways, Monument Valley is the definition of the West. The rugged landscapes feel foreign, yet distinctly familiar thanks to Hollywood’s love affair with this land.
As we stepped out of the car onto the red-sand, it hit me. We were in Utah. The valley’s wild beauty seemed to be endless. Even the stormy skies added to the parks untamed appearance. After taking in the view, we decided to hike Wildcat Trail which is a four-mile loop through some of Monument Valley’s most scenic areas.
As we walked along the trail we drew closer to these sleeping giants; I later came to find out that the formations are called Buttes. Within their walls were numerous cracks, holes and other textures that probably housed tiny desert creatures. Besides the occasional hiker, we found ourselves alone. It almost felt like the desert was just for us.
We found a desert pup while hiking, or rather he found us. The name Shrubbery seemed fitting, so that’s what we called him. He happily trailed in front of us and occasionally looked back to make sure we were keeping up. By the end of the hike, we were ready to scoop him up and bring him home with us. As we neared the end of the trail, he joined a new group to start the hike all over again. Alas, he was a free spirit that could not be tamed.
After we finished the hike, we took the seventeen-mile scenic drive that winds throughout the park. At one point I saw a car drive up the red-dirt path and snapped these pictures. Does anyone else think that I should sell these to Toyota? Cause they look straight out of a car commercial.
You might ask why this land left such a lasting impression on me? At first I wasn’t sure. Was it the hike, or the views? I came to realize that Monument Valley represents the wild west to me, and I’m not talking about the wild west portrayed in Hollywood films but rather a desolate almost unbroken land. Land that is becoming rarer these days.
At first, I couldn’t understand why its human nature to want to change the wild, such as this, into a tourist-filled attraction. Honestly, I thought I was above that way of thinking. Funny enough, it was Shrubbery that taught me a fundamental lesson about human nature. In a way Shrubbery is like Monument Valley, he thrives on freedom. But that could change at any moment if someone decided to claim him as their own. Just like us, that person would have the best intention but fail to realize that if they tamed Shrubbery, they would change the core of who he is.
The same goes for this land; it’s human nature to look at a place like Monument Valley and see the potential to “develop and civilize” the park with the intention of making it more accessible for people to enjoy.
But in the end, both Shrubbery and Monument Valley are not meant to be “tamed” it’s their freedom and wildness that makes them who they are.
~Pin for Later~
The Comments
Utah National Parks Road Trip - The Beauty of Traveling
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Hortense Uhlman
magnificent post, very informative. I wonder why the other experts of this sector don’t notice this. You must continue your writing. I’m sure, you have a great readers’ base already!
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