Friday, June 20, 2014

Whispering Cave

 
 
 
After leaving Harper Corner, Joe drove us down a rather steep dirt road to a place in Dinosaur National Monument call Pool Creek.  It is here that we visited several interesting places.  I will start with the Chew ranch.    






According to the sign display, Jack Chew built this cabin in 1911.  In 1942 it burned.




 One of the Chew boys, Rial, then built this home, and today it stands vacant.  Being curious I tried all of the doors and found them locked except for the door seen below.  It opens up into a screened covered porch;  but the door to the house is locked.  After a quick inspection of the porch, I moved around the house looking through each window.  The house is largely vacant, except for the kitchen.  It is adorned with and old fridge and stove. 
  


While I was exploring, Mom and Joe were preparing lunch.  I know it doesn't look like much, but I'm sure I'm sure the Doritos tasted better than anything the Chew family ever ate. 



Just behind the house is a clump of trees that I thought was quite scenic against the red and white cliffs in the background. 



And on the other side of the house is the family privy.  Does anybody need a rest stop?  Haha.



A little further up the road is an interesting place called Whispering Cave.  All of us, yes even Mom, went into the cave to test it's unusual reputation.  It is about the length of half a football field.  A strong, cold wind comes from each end, and blows out at the middle where Mom is standing.  It is a natural air conditioner.   
  



Whispering Cave is at the bottom of the above cliff, and the photos below shows the road leading to it.




On the Chew property stand these two cabins.  I don't know their origins. 



Once again, in the town of Dinosaur, I got a photo of someone's abandoned house.  Times must have been tough for a lot of people around here.



Ah, back to Utah, finally.  If you really want to see dinosaur skeletons, you have to visit the part of the park that is in Utah.  Harpers Corner has great beauty, but no dinosaurs, and Vernal looks like the Garden of Eden compared to Dinosaur, Colorado. 



My next posting will feature a trip made to Cleveland Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry.  It is located in Utah, just south of Price.  I think you will really enjoy the pics I got, so check back in soon.