Touring Monument Valley

Yesterday evening as the sun set behind a partially cloudy sky, sunbeams washed over the spectacular formations of Monument Valley, Utah.  Sometimes the rocks would be illuminated for less than a minute, but it gave an interesting variation to the most photographed landscape on Earth.

(Click on pictures to enlarge)

This morning Nancy got me up early enough to photograph the sunrise over Monument Valley as viewed from the campground.

View of Monument Valley from Goulding's Campground

After breakfast we took a Navajo-led tour of the valley and saw more of the formations there.

West Mitten Butte

Ear of the Wind

A Navajo horseman came to the end of the trail at John Ford's Point.  

Later he rode back to the parking area so tourists could pay $2 to get on the horse for a memorable photograph.  The tour guide joked that it costs a dollar to get on the horse and another dollar to get off.

Navajo Horseman at John Ford's Point

At one of the arches where we stopped there were some rock engravings depicting antelope.  The guide said that they were probably over 800 years old.

Sometimes it is difficult to see the rabbits, chickens, and other animals that the Navajo guide says are represented by the shapes in the rocks.  However, we did recognize this formation with its more modern interpretation: Snoopy on His Doghouse!