Lets Be Safe Out There.

One important issue, we strive to make our visitors aware of, is safety.  Much of the Four Corners area is a wilderness and, unless you’ve done your homework, many people come to the Center unaware of what to expect when they’re out seeing the sites.

The basics are to carry at least two liters of water per person; leave for your destination with a full tank of gasoline; bring healthy, high protein snacks; and we always recommend bring a meal to have as a picnic.  Charged cellphones are helpful, but in many areas, good luck getting a signal.  The same goes for Wi-Fi and Satellite service, so those GPS units might not be as reliable as you believe them to be.

Instead of depending on battery power, depend on your own brain power.

Bring maps of the area you want to explore; stop at the Center as it has a vast variety of local maps.

Bring a compass with you; it is easy to become lost in a forest and/or canyon area where “it might all look the same”, or landmarks are not easily discernible.

This might sound silly to most, but wear a pedometer!  500 steps equals approximately a quarter of a mile; you’ll know how far you have walked, how far still to go, and how far back to your vehicle, or trailhead entrance.

If you’re only driving around to see sites, depend on your odometer.  From a major roadway, set the odometer to zero to verify the distance you are traveling to a site.  Bring paper and writing utensil with you; mark down road signs, landmarks and those odometer readings to help you get to your destination, or back track if you become lost.

We, at the Monticello Welcome Center, want you to, not only, enjoy your adventure to the fullest, but be safe doing it.

~ Mary Cokenour ~

How to Take a Memorable Photograph.

Now you might be thinking that this will be a lesson on taking photographs using some type of electronic device (camera, phone, tablet, etc), but you would be very mistaken.  This is a lesson in using your mind and your senses to create a memorable moment in time; hopefully ever in your memory.

San Juan County is full of Indian ruin sites, rock art sites, huge rock formations and, most of all, spectacular views; taking photographs is a given.  Sometimes though, you have to put the device down, and take a photograph in a whole new way…with your mind.  Take, for example, an experience I had on County Route 291 which overlooks Cottonwood Canyon.  Standing on a cliff edge, taking photographs with my camera when I suddenly heard two ravens calling to each other.  I put the camera down, turned to see where they were, and suddenly they took flight.  Flying overhead, the flap-flap-flap of their beating wings could be heard loudly; a slight wisp of air touched my face…could this have been from those massive wings!?!  Now this is where the amazement comes in….the flapping of their wings was the only sound in the entire canyon area to be heard.  I didn’t move; I didn’t want to make a sound myself; I didn’t lift my camera up for a photograph; the sound of the clicking shutter would have destroyed the magic of the moment.

Off the pair flew, deep into the canyon area; and just with my senses of sight, sound and touch, this moment will be in my memory forever more.  A photograph would not give me this incredible memory; it would not allow me to experience the sound and feel of the ravens’ wings, nor the sight as they flew through the canyon area below.

There comes a time when the rushing around to take photos, to make noise has to be put aside….enjoy, simply stand still and enjoy the moment of where you are.

~ Mary Cokenour ~

Make Monticello Utah Your Home Base for Adventuring!

 

Monticello, Utah is centralized in the Four Corners region of the Southwest. From our location, you can access National, State and Navajo Tribal Parks with ease; day trips to the states of Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico are a breeze.

After a day of adventuring, come home to a peaceful town overlooked by the majestic Abajo Mountains. The stars shine brightly in the night sky; reach out and you can almost touch the moon.

Come to Monticello, Utah; we have your adventure and your serenity.

~ Mary Cokenour ~