Did you know about this “painted desert”? Were you aware that there is more than one? More than one color, even? Oh ye of little faith. You will be, you will be.

Did you know there is a “little painted desert”

Would you watch it at sunrise, would you watch it with a fox? Well, good. I did not have anything to follow the fox line anyway.

Did you know that this little painted desert is about 20 miles north of I-40 right before you get to Winslow Arizona? It has spectacular reds, maroons, whites and even some yellow.

This used to be a travel stop like a rest area, managed by the state of Arizona. It has since been given back to the Navajo to manage. They do not mind visitors, however, respect the land and do not trash the place if you go looking for it.

Then this happened

Did you know that the sun can cause a crystal rainbow in a perfect circle under the right conditions? Those conditions largely consisting of the right type of moisture in the upper atmosphere and an ongoing eclipse. Sierra saw this right as the eclipse started taking place. I got some shoddy eclipse pictures, but this is my favorite.

We headed to THE Painted Desert

DId you know it is mostly famous due to it consistently being featured in early color westerns? It was very pretty, in a monochromatic way. You see, it is almost totally red. There is a reason for the color shift, but I refuse to spoil the surprise!

Did you know there is a Blue Painted Desert?

Technically referred to as the “Blue Mesa”, it exists inside the northern portion of the Petrified Forest National Park. This part of the desert has blues, reds, some white, well and some petrified trees.

Now the crux of the thing. Why is this one blue, the Painted Desert largely red and the “little painted desert” red, yellow, maroon and white? I promise this relates – did you know there is something called the “Grand Staircase”? It begins way up in southern Utah and works its way down to the Petrified Forest.

Now you know!

Sort of, anyway. The Grand Staircase is a two state long erosion field. As it goes south, it goes deeper into the rocks that make up, well, the ground. Each layer represents another step backwards in time! So, the blue mesa has different, older, minerals in it than the Painted Desert, which is made up largely of Iron Oxide, and the “little painted desert” further north and a larger mixture of minerals younger than the Painted Desert!

What next?

Never fear, we have a grand adventure planned. Geology can be educational, but I think this is really interesting and want to see it all play out!

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