[Mile-marker 31]
After leaving the parking area, the downgrade on the Kayenta Formation
begins to steepen to the northeast until it becomes advisable to shift
into second gear. In about half a mile we descend a series of steep
switchbacks cut into the Wingate Sandstone on the steepening Ladder
Creek monocline (figs. 8, 29), and we reach the present upper end of the
old Serpents Trail (fig. 54), which is now an interesting foot trail. As
noted earlier, it is convenient to hike down this steep 2½-mile trail
and to have one member of the party drive ahead and await the hikers at
the parking area in the Devils Kitchen Picnic Area, near the foot of the
trail. One of many rewarding views seen during the hike is shown in
figure 55, another was seen in figure 10.
[Illustration: COLD SHIVERS POINT, looking north from fenced
overlook on east edge of Columbus Canyon. Named feature is
toadstool-shaped rock at upper right. Note dark Proterozoic rocks in
canyon bottom. (Fig. 53)]
[Illustration: TOP OF OLD SERPENTS TRAIL, looking northeast from
switchbacks above tunnel. Top of trail is seen at sign on lower
right. Grand Mesa forms right skyline. (Fig. 54)]
[Illustration: LOOKING NORTHEAST FROM OLD SERPENTS TRAIL, before
1950 when the trail was still used by autos and trucks. One of John
Otto’s old foot trails joins the old road at lower middle. Although
no thick lenses of sandstone appear in the Salt Wash Member of the
Morrison Formation in figure 21, in this view a lens about 50 feet
thick begins just around the corner near the base of the high bluff
across No Thoroughfare Canyon and is seen extending as far to the
left as the normally dry wash that drains the canyon. When water
flows down the wash after thundershowers (see p. 118) or from
melting snow, the sandstone lens takes in water (recharge) which
moves slowly down the dip of the lens to the northeast and supplies
several artesian wells. In turn, the light band of the Entrada
Sandstone beneath the cottonwood trees at the right middle and the
dark patch of Wingate Sandstone at the extreme lower right are
recharged in like manner, and they supply water to artesian wells to
the northeast. As the older and deeper sandstones on the right take
in water at higher altitudes, the water in them is under greater
artesian head when tapped by wells. If you think you see covered
wagons near the middle of the photograph arranged in a circle for
defense against attack by Indians, you are correct—a Western movie
was about to be filmed. (Fig. 55)]
[Illustration: Petroglyph]
[Illustration: SOUTH PORTAL OF TUNNEL THROUGH WINGATE SANDSTONE, on
west side of No Thoroughfare Canyon above East Entrance. (Fig. 56)]