This past December we had a member of the community drop off a modern bone they had found in the crawl space under their place of work. We quickly recognized that it was probably a large bird bone, and guessed that it was possibly one of the larger long-legged birds that inhabit the Colorado River corridor. We consulted with some of our paleo colleagues to obtain some technical books and papers that might have pictures of what we were looking for. After several searches we learned that the bone was a lower leg bone (tibiotarsus) of a Great Blue Heron! We even learned something ourselves during this search - these types of birds have a patella, or “knee cap” - something that not all birds have.

Can you tell if this is a left or right tibiotarsus?

the patella

We encourage people to bring their rocks and fossils by for us to identify (we do not do appraisals however).

Special thanks to Ashley Kort Morhardt (WitmerLab at Ohio University), Ashley Fragomeni (The Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology), Wayne Thompson (South Dakota School of Mines and Technology), Frank Varriale (Johns Hopkins University), and Laura Wilson (University of Colorado at Boulder).

Trip leader, Zebulon Miracle, demonstrating

Still, this hardy group learned how to tell the types of trees on the Grand Mesa apart, what birds were common to the area, the story of mankind’s use of the Mesa dating back thousands of years, and a demonstration on how the mountain was formed. We can’t always promise good weather on a Museum trip. But we can promise an adventure you won’t soon forget. And if that wasn’t enough to send participants home smiling, hot drinks at Blink Coffee always does the trick!  Thank you to Cheryl Sweers for sharing the photographs.

Snowshoe Trip 2012 group

September 23-24, 2011

We top the 9,000-foot ridge and see the tavaputs (beautiful sunrise, Ute). The sun’s rays highlight the east-facing slopes where the trees are changing color. The maples are so red that your eyes hurt to look at them. Yes, I said maples–Big-tooth maples. Orange, yellow, green-crazy beautiful trees and scrubs–all turning in the crisp morning dawn. The beyond-blue sky makes the perfect frame for photos of the leaves. No doubt a Fremont woman gazed at the colors, marveled, then returned to gathering. I cannot help but think her heart quickened at the site–the beauty and the warning of approaching of winter.

After pausing at the ridge, we journey down into the valley. We are looking for petroglyphs (forms pecked into rocks) and pictographs (forms painted on rocks). Today we search for the Fremont (400AD-1300AD) rock art. Because there are no Fremont people living today, we cannot ask them what the forms mean. “Your impressions are as valid as mine,” muses Zeb Miracle, Curator of Anthropology for MWC. “Look at one form at a time, adjust your eyes then slowly scan to the next. You’ll see more detail. ”

I do just what he recommends–I see a snake, a coyote, a scorpion (zoomorphs). I see hunters and big-horn sheep. Is it an elk or a deer? “It’s bugling,” someone says. I wonder where are the women and children? There is a silhouette of a man wrapped in a blanket with antlers on his head–an imposing, ominous anthropomorph (human qualities). He is painted in the shape of a trapezoid, a tell-tail sign of the Fremont style. Dare I say, otherworldly?

I look away from the forms and see snake grass blooming in tiny yellow flowers, rabbit brush, asters both purple and yellow, east-facing sunflowers, and bright red Indian paintbrush. A crevice lizard refuses to move from his chosen sunning rock. The wings of a hawk reflect silver against the cloudless sky–soaring just because he can. Tracks are everywhere in the soft brown soil–bison, elk, deer, horse and bear scat. Oh my!

Mike Perry, Executive Director of MWC, calls attention to a granary incredibly perched high on the side of a vertical sandstone wall. Modern-day archaeologists have to rope-off in order to investigate some sites. Why did the Fremont build the granaries in such impossible places? Everyone has specific ideas–in case of flood, invasion, a sign of prosperity, or could they be like the ubiquitous water tower that proudly names a city? It is anyone’s good guess.

We are privileged to be here in this “lost land.” The University of Utah requires a permit to enter Range Creek, and it shows. There is no sign of trash, trampled bushes, or impromptu camping sites. I inhale deeply–the air is full of life–everywhere you look there is health. Artists would find the light to be perfect, not unlike Taos. I count myself lucky to be here and especially with like-minded people. We are distinctly reverent.

As we depart, we stop at a sandstone wall where we see spiraling line designs (abstract, not found in nature). Perhaps this is a sign for Sipapu (Ute) to guide the Fremont into the underworld. Yet again, we become quiet, staring at the efforts of someone so long ago. What was he saying to those who would make meaning of his carvings? I think the design is pleasing, a comforting good-bye leaving us, the intruders, to our thoughts.

John Foster, curator of paleontology at the Museum of Western Colorado’s Dinosaur Journey in Fruita, holds a rock chunk from western Wyoming. The exterior looks more like petrified wood than native rock. Picture by Christopher Tomlinson of The Daily Sentinel

Curator John Foster was featured in the January 2 issue of The Daily Sentinel, unveiling the newest addition to Dinosaur Journey - a 2.87 billion year old metamorphosed rock.  Check out the story here. This specimen is scheduled to be on exhibit in the late spring.

“One of the seven deadly sins is greed. When wed to any other, such as anger, pride or even sloth, a medium for thievery results. Crime in western Colorado has a history and unfortunately, a presence.”

Read the whole story here. Thanks to Beacon Magazine and Sandy Cameron for sharing.

The school had two outhouses in the back for both boys and girls. In the front sat a swing set made of steel. The back south side of the school had another swing set and a merry-go-round. Today, this playground still sits on a beautiful lawn, landscaped with flowers and trees that are at least 100 years old…

Read more of the November Local Lore here. Thanks to the Beacon Magazine for sharing.

Frances Wheeler. Photo by Wes Allen, Museum of Western Colorado

Frances’ poems capture 75 years of experiences gained while living on the family ranch northeast of Steamboat Springs. Her poetry is filled with humor, wisdom and experience. She now lives in Fruita, Colorado where five generations of her family also live.

Frances is the author of several books including From the Pages of her Heart, Looking Down the Lane, Rocking Chair Rhymes. She has performed at many cowboy poetry gatherings.

Join us for our annual Grand Junction Cowboy Poetry Gathering, November 4 and 5. Read more about our poets here and you’ll find the schedule here.

Tom Sharpe. Photo by Wes Allen, Museum of Western Colorado

Tom was born and raised in Trinidad, Colorado and spent much of his youth riding day labor and breaking colts for area ranchers. After graduation from college in 1971 with a degree in Animal Nutrition and Reproduction, Tom drifted across the country working cattle in 10 states. Fluctuations in the cattle market caused him to seek a real job with good hours and a steady paycheck. He took to selling real estate. Now, after a few years at “hard labor”, Tom finds himself back on the horses. He currently rides day labor for area ranches, starts colts, gives a few lessons and works with some problem horses.

Tom learned his first poem back in the mid 1960s and has put to memory a fair number of classic and contemporary poems since then. He started writing poems back before it was popular but hid them for he didn’t want his friends to know he was writing. Tom has a great love of words, especially when they are well put together.

He starts colts and does preliminary horse show training as well, and also shows versatile ranch horses. He also works with many young riders and works hard every day at becoming a better horseman himself.

Join us for our annual Grand Junction Cowboy Poetry Gathering, November 4 and 5. Read more about our poets here and you’ll find the schedule here.

Terry Nash. Photo by Wes Allen, Museum of Western Colorado

Terry was raised near Idalia, Colorado on a farm/ranch operation. In the late ‘60’s, after the farm was lost in an estate battle (the subject of one of his poems) Terry drifted into a thirty-five year career trucking, although never getting too far away from farming and raising beef.

Today, the horses, cattle and hay that Terry and his wife, Kathy, raise are the mainstays of a semi-retired life he now leads in Loma, Colorado, writing and reciting cowboy poetry and spendin’ as much time a’horseback as possible. Terry has recently recorded a CD entitled “Calf Pullin’ Made Simple.”

Join us for our annual Grand Junction Cowboy Poetry Gathering, November 4 and 5. Read more about our poets here and you’ll find the schedule here.