Bushwhacking Through a Draw

Our intended goal was to drop into R— Canyon and hike a mile and a half to a unique white-colored ruin. When we walked to the rim of the canyon we looked to the north and then to the south. Nothing but sheer drop-offs for as far as we could see. I now had no other option but to act on Plan B.

Next to us was a short, but deep side-canyon that led into R—. It is known as L— Draw. I had studied it before and knew it would be thick with vegetation. But how thick I wasn't sure. I calculated that L— Draw was our best entrance into the canyon. 

Along the west side of the draw is a corral and beyond that an old road that leads to the bottom. I don't know what purpose the road served because it ended at the bottom.  But we were glad to follow it down. 

Immediately as we came to the corral, Jenna spotted a large ruin on the other side of the draw. It was built inside a narrow alcove, being rectangular in shape with perfectly squared corners. One side was adorned with intact windows, while on the other the walls had collapsed. Already we were happy we chose this new approach. 

As we descended into the side-canyon we spotted several other ruins, including a nice grainery with a window. The sun now disappeared behind the canyon walls and the November air became brisk. 

Jenna noticed a cave that begged to be explored. To get there we walked over a fence that laid flat on the ground, stepping atop sticks and reeds that grew along the bottom. By the time we got there we had cockleburs all over our clothing. 

Inside the cave it was high enough we could stand up; but it was devoid of anything. No ruins at all. Just a fence post near the front. I wonder if at one time it served as a holding pin for cattle? It's the type of cave that would have been fun to camp in as a kid. Judging from the sudden growth of vegetation just outside the cave, I'm sure there is water springing from the ground during wetter years. 

Now we began making our way to the mouth of this little-known side canyon. If we were to have no obstacles, our journey would be no more than a third of a mile. But to have no obstacles would be a luxury we would not enjoy on this day. 

There was no path, no wild game trail, no easy way to go down-canyon. Nothing but a wall of willows and thorns. I took off my jacket so it wouldn't snag. This was the kind of jungle where you needed a machete. 

We began to push through. Sometimes it was a matter of forcing yourself through the tangle of brambles. But at times the tangle was so thick and so woven together that passage was impossible. 

Sometimes it was a forest of thickets with hundreds of needle-like spines all up and down the slender branches. The tiny stickers pierced into our clothing and dug into our flesh, leaving several smears of blood on my hands. 

Sometimes I would step onto the supple vegetation, bending it to a horizontal position, then walk on top of it, a foot above the ground. Occasionally we found a short path free from obstruction, but without fail, it quickly became choked off. 

Jordan scrambled to the canyon wall where he discovered a somewhat unobstructed path. We followed suit and found it much easier than our previous route. Now all we had to do was duck under branches, crawl under a couple boulders, and push through occasional, but less frequent webs of branches. At last we were making progress! 

Jordan noted that a clearer path led to the bottom of the draw, but then I spotted an alcove above us that I wanted to explore. We climbed up the slope and over a boulder. Behind a huge cluster of thickets, completely obstructed from view, stood several well-protected Anasazi ruins. 

I admired the stone masons that built these structures over 800 years ago. The walls curved to fit the contour of the ledge with a wood-framed window. 

Past the graneries, in a low, but deep alcove was another chamber. Here sat another structure, not as well preserved as the first, but still mostly intact. The little cave felt dark and damp. The growth of thickets blocked the few rays of sunlight that had a chance of shining in. The entire ceiling of the alcove was black, possibly from ancient fires.  On the other side of the alcove sat the fallen bricks of a structure that had collapsed. 

We were quickly running out of our allotted time. We exited the alcove, back into the sunlight and trampled through the snarl of branches to the bottom of the draw. Knowing that we still had an arduous journey ahead, I quickly contrived a Plan C. 

I noticed the opposite side of the draw was now showing less vegetation, and was also less steep. I decided it was time for us to climb up the other side of the draw and exit the canyon. 

Unfortunately for us, we had time restrictions this day. My goal of hiking to the white-colored ruins would have to come at another time. 

We hiked over the hill where we finally arrived at the rim of R— Canyon. It was wide and long, with a few ruins dotting the opposite cliff . . . if you were keen enough to spot them. 

Jordan and Jenna took turns throwing rocks into the canyon, aiming for a pond at the bottom. I spend my time glassing the canyon for more ruins and picking out stickers from my clothing. ♠