| The EDGE Day 6, Sunset Crater & Wupatki |
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| After leaving Flagstaff, we were on our way to Lake Powell again, however we stopped at Wupatki & Sunset Crater National Monuments along the way. This is Sunset Crater. It last erupted in the winter of 1064-1065. It is the most recent volcano to erupt, in the 6 million year history of volcanic activity in the Flagstaff area. |
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| Here is a photo of some of the volcanic rock that formed during a lava flow that followed the initial eruption. During a final burst of activity around 1250, red and yellow oxidized cinders shot out of the vent and fell onto the rim. The colorful glow from these cinders looked like a sunset, hence the volcano's name. |
| We always have time for a photo of the EDGE-lings at their finest. By this time if the word hike was mentioned, there were groans and noises coming for the mouths of babes. It's a good thing we went on the White House Ruins hike at Canyon de Chelly early in the trip. |
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| After leaving the Sunset Crater, we headed north to Wupatki Pueblo. By 1180 there were thousands of people farming the Wupatki landscape. This was not to say that there were plush fields, but rather the soils were not very rich in nutrients, and there was little rain. Only the diligent succeeded. Among the dwellings was the Wupatki Pueblo that had about 100 rooms. |
| Just to the right of the main structure was another structure and a recreation area. By this time we were out of the smoke and back into sunny skies. After we left the Wupatki Pueblo, we were off to Lake Powell. |
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| Once we arrived back at Lake Powell, the EDGE-lings went swimming at the same spot we were at before. Part of the process of getting ready to go to the lake was to put on sunscreen. Grandpa helped out Jonathan during the trip. Apparently Jonathan like Grandpa's help, but didn't like me taking a picture of it. |