Wanderers in Wonder

10/3/2020

Great visit in the old Durango Hood, but enough with our so-called civilization. Drove out of our former Ponderosa Pine Country neighborhood for points north, Blanding, UT hung a right on Utah 95 and pointed the truck west, Hanksville, UT. 

The cottonwoods were approaching their glowing autumn glory as we passed a grove snaking along on the northern edge of Butler Wash. The tawny teeth of Comb Ridge sitting atop massive walls of Wingate pointed the way West. Through Red Rock country and past newly named landmarks…Cheese Box Butte, Jacob’s Chair (all these newly named features come with scenic viewpoint pullouts, bring on the industrial tourists) we motored west toward the Henry Mountains. 

The Henry Mountains were the last named range in the lower forty-eight. For many years they appeared on maps as the ‘Unknown Mountains’. The mountains were finally named for Joseph Henry, the first secretary of the Smithsonian Institution in 1872. Incidentally our friend Andy was recently nominated to sit on the board of the Smithsonian. He will go through the vetting process over the next couple of months. The Navajo referred to the Henry’s as Dzil Bizhi Adin, ‘Mountain Whose Name is Missing’. 

The five peaks of the Henry’s were named for Joseph Henry’s children…Ellen (11,522 ft), Pennell (11,371 ft), Hillers (10,720ft), Ellsworth (8,235 ft) and Holmes (8,000 ft).

A pleasant evening…

Peace…Wanderers in Wonder.