Fool Hollow Recreation Area - Show Low, Arizona

Fool Hollow Recreation Area - Show Low, Arizona 

This was our morning greeting on March 24!!! We were wearing shorts two days ago.

We had successfully avoided seeing snow for the entire winter, until now. We were in Show Low, Arizona elevation 6349'. Granted, it was not a substantial amount of snow, but it was also unexpected.

Petrified Forest National Park is located in northeastern Arizona. Named for its large deposits of petrified wood, the park covers about 346 square miles, encompassing semi-desert shrub steppe as well as highly eroded and colorful badlands. The northern part extends into the Painted Desert. It was declared a national monument in 1906 and a national park in 1962.

Averaging about 5,400 feet in elevation, the park has a dry windy climate with temperatures that vary from summer highs of about 100 °F to winter lows well below freezing

The Petrified Forest is known for its fossils, especially fallen trees that lived in the Late Triassic Epoch, about 225 million years ago. The sediments containing the fossil logs are part of the widespread and colorful Chinle Formation, from which the Painted Desert gets its name. Beginning about 60 million years ago, the Colorado Plateau, which is the location of the present day park, was pushed upward by tectonic forces and exposed to increased erosion. All of the park's rock layers above the Chinle, except geologically recent ones found in parts of the park, have been removed by wind and water. In addition to petrified logs, fossils found in the park have included Late Triassic ferns, cycads, ginkgoes, and many other plants as well as fauna including giant reptiles called phytosaurs, large amphibians, and early dinosaurs. Paleontologists have been unearthing and studying the park's fossils since the early 20th century.

The park's earliest human inhabitants arrived 13,000 years ago. These Clovis-era people are the ancestors of Native Americans. By about 2,500 years ago, Ancestral Pueblo farmers were growing corn and living in subterranean pit houses in what would become the park. By one-thousand years ago Ancestral Pueblo farmers lived in above-ground, masonry dwellings called pueblos and gathered in large communal buildings called great kivas. By 1450 AD,  Ancestral Pueblo farmers in the Petrified Forest migrated to join rapidly growing communities on the Hopi Mesas to the northwest and the Pueblo of Zuni to the east–these locations are still home to thousands of descendant community members today. More than 1000 archeological sites, including petroglyphs, have been discovered in the park. These ancestral places remain important to descendant communities. In the 16th century, Spanish explorers visited the area, and by the mid-19th century a U.S. team had surveyed an east–west route through the area where the park is now located and noted the petrified wood. Later, roads and a railway followed similar routes and gave rise to tourism and, before the park was protected, to large-scale removal of fossils. Theft of petrified wood remains a problem in the 21st century. It is actually a federal offense to remove a piece of the petrified wood. It is a good thing Lisa did not pocket a few pieces when no one was around. 

Karma and Lisa walking through the scattered petrified wood.

That's a petrified log of wood she is sitting on. The log has literally turned to stone.  Karma tested it, and he could not bite it. I guess that was one stick he could not play tug toy with. 

Lisa swears that someone used a lawnmower type of object to get the bluff top so flat and smooth.

Chunks of petrified wood are scattered in the field. 

This was the largest piece of petrified wood we saw. This is about 60' long and 5' diameter at its base.  Years ago, the National Park decided to maintain this as one piece and used concrete and epoxy in an attempt to keep it intact.  They have since decided to let nature take it's course, so the tree trunk is exposed to wind and weather.  Because of its overall weight, it has cracked in multiple places.

This is the base of a petrified tree trunk. Scientists say this tree lived millions of years ago.

A petrified log that is slowly being exposed from the elements. It has been buried for many, many years and is slowly being exposed from the erosion.

The colors in this piece were very unique.

The brilliant blue sky was pretty impressive also. We were blessed to be here on such a glorious day. We are noticing and appreciating the little things more and more. The Lord blessed us with all this beauty. We are constantly finding joy in so many things we had  previously taken for granted. When life is hectic with work and family, we often don't take the time to find joy.

These are several views of the painted desert. The pictures honestly do not show the same splendor as seeing it in person.

Taking time to find joy and appreciate God's gifts has done us both so much good.

We are always amazed when we learn these kinds of things.  When we were in Tulum, Mexico, we learned that the Mayans tracked the Solstice and knew there were 365 days in a year.  They figured all of this out without high tech computers. They displayed great engineering understanding that rivals modern day. 

Massive chunks of petrified wood are just scattered all over. There is still petrified wood that is becoming exposed due to erosion.  As the elements erode material, more petrified wood is exposed.

These were from the Mount Petrified Forest.  When we saw these four rock formations, we thought they resemble people. We see so many faces and animals etched into the rocks. We always get tickled when one sees something bizarre that the other does not see.

Mark sees George Washington in this one.  We were not sure if it is the nose or the powdered wig the rock is wearing (Lisa thinks it is the wig) that made us see ole George. We had a good giggle over this one.

This is a petrified log crossing the void/mini canyon.  Years ago, the National park system supported it with concrete to prevent it from collapsing.  Currently, it is being left alone and when it collapses, it collapses. They have decided to intervene less and let nature occur.

Petrified logs are still becoming exposed by the elements from the side of the cliff.

Lisa wanted to join the card game with Corydon Cooley and Marion Clark as they gamble for 100,000 acres. Unfortunately, she did not have a winning hand.

This is a great story.  We find many of these in our travels.