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Field Trip: Otherworldly
Story and Photo by Dana Snyder
On the last day of my visit to the Bisti/ De-Na-Zin Wilderness in Northwestern New Mexico, I set out in the hopes of capturing astrophotography images of the formation known as the Alien Throne, located in the aptly named Valley of Dreams.
The trail wasn’t long or difficult….but required returning through this labyrinthian landscape in total darkness. Luckily, the group I was with had a wonderful Navajo guide, who was full of information, Navajo words, and histories, so I could just enjoy following and listening. After about an hour of hiking, we found ourselves surrounded by amazing hoodoos and bizarre formations, a dizzying display of what the wind and rain can do over the eons.
They silently populated the land, like a gathering of survivors, no doubt with stories of their own. It felt like a visit to a museum, sacred and profound. My visit was too short, and a return just might be necessary.
