Navajo Mountain

16-Oct-73

By: Barbara Reber

After the very successful South Guardian Angel trip, four of us went on to climb Navajo Mtn. We made a fast tour of Zion Headquarters and headed east to Hwy 89, which now goes thru Page, Arizona. One crosses over the Glen Canyon Dam, an amazing engineering feat and a giant abortion of the beautiful canyon country. A paved road, Indian 22, now connects Page with the rest of the Navajo Reservation. We were looking for the dirt road which goes north to Inscription House and Navajo Mountain Community. This is 53 miles of Arizona red dirt. The road to Navajo Mtn. is approximately 1/4 mi south of the Community. The average? vehicle can go northwest approximately 3.5 miles to the fuel tanks, after which a 4WD vehicle is necessary.

We hiked up the road to where at one point, there is a magnificent view of Monument Valley to the east. At a crest in the road we came to some ducks and found the remains of an old trail. We followed this trail to the end and then went cross country to the road again. The summit now has Navajo TV transmitters and many evidences of man and gun. This has to be the most disappointing of the Desert Peaks as there is no view from the summit. This is a huge forested mountain and the highest and largest lump in Southern Utah and Northern Arizona.

HISTORICAL NOTE:

To the Navajo this mountain is one part of the Sky Supporters. The northern Support is called Pollen Mountain, which is female. Her head is Navajo Mtn. Utah, her body is Black Mtn, Arizona, and her feet are Balukai Mesa, Arizona. Navajo Mtn, is regarded as holy by the Navajos who live within sight of it. There seems to be no particular reason why this is true. The general attitude is anyone living in the area dwells on sacred land and partakes of great blessings.

"Navajo Sacred Places", by Editha L. Watson; Window Rock, Arizona, 1964.