In my 74 years, I've never enjoyed watching something so much as I have enjoyed these videos! Thank you so much for taking us along. Your respect of the past and your connection to the people/places are quite special and refreshing. Thank you. I've climbed some mountains today! I've enjoyed the solitude, the 'Presence', the Peace.
Those spirals on the petroglyphs at 14:18 are the symbol for water. The big one with the two petroglyphs that look like bird's feet (what you called turkey tracks) is the petroglyph that means a spring that you have to dig down to get. The little spirals up and to the right, attached to the longer lines, tell you that the water is not always there. They indicate water pools there after a storm. The far left shows two safe paths to get to the water. (What you called a necklace) The longer the lines inside the spiral, the more water there is at that site. The bird's feet always mean you have to dig. And yes, Clud Lightening and rain on the petroglyph at 15:43 which ties into the petroglyph to the right indicating pools only during or right after a storm. My brother and I found a site like this in the desert west of Las Vegas, NV, and followed the petroglyphs of a spiral with the bird's feet to a site the petroglyphs that read water was there. We dug down and found a spring that produced a large quantity of clear spring water. The hole filled so fast that it cleared all our mud we'd created hile digging the hole, in seconds. When you're in the desert, there's nothing more important than finding water, and thus, there are a lot of petroglyphs that show how to get to good water.
I lost a friend to a flash flood while we were in the backcountry of the desert southwest. We were in a canyon without any signs of rain, and my friend was holding the 16-foot boat while I went back to park the truck and trailer. Suddenly, a thunderstorm occurred about 15 miles away, and a massive wall of water, about 50 feet high and the width of a football field, came down and washed him and the boat into the Colorado River. Despite an extensive search of the area and river, we never saw him again. Flash floods are extremely dangerous and can happen faster than one can run. Therefore, it's essential to be aware of the weather situation in surrounding areas when exploring canyons.
Hi Andrew, im a 56 Dine women. When i was young, many native families had cows and sheep. They sometimes lose livestock. My dad and I would horse back canyons searching. Many times, I come across cliff dwelling. I was told to stay away and leave it alone. I did. But i was very curious, i appreciate your videos. Thank you for your reverence. I do believe education is very important. I give thanks to my ancestors for everything they endeavor for me to be here. My people fled to these cliff dwelling to hide from being taken to forts. Some families hide their children from boarding school, so the canyons cliff dwelling has held hundreds of my people thru hundreds years. You are doing an awesome job. Thank you, God bless.
@@Desert.Drifter That latter day return to the cliffs would explain why some of your finds are in perfect condition. Seems like there were periods of re-habitation after the great abandonment that will never be well understood. Caves with soil bottoms can be excavated and dated, rock floors obviously cannot.
Read that stating away from cliff dwellings is bc a terrible sin and curse was brought by strangers from the south who were welcomed but they brought some spiritual evil with that affected their hosts That is all that I can remember
@@deborahharvey854 This story probably refers to the traders and people of Central America coming north. We know this happened by the presence of artifacts only available from the south and west like seashells from the Pacific, many macaw burials, copper bells, rare feathers from tropical birds, and ball courts. They probably brought diseases that the people of the Southwest had never been exposed to. Without natural immunity, the effects could have been devastating.
According to the Hopi, the painted feet on the wall mean that a baby was born at that house. Great adventure. Hiking in these canyons is endlessly wonderful, thankyou for posting.
@@SusanHill-x9u yeah but they couldn’t ever leave once they got big.. I can’t imagine climbing when I’m even 3-4 months pregnant. I fell over just walking at that stage, basically they prob had to stay in there for months until they had the baby. Or it’s a birthing cave made for pregnant women, I’ve heard of that too
As a restoration professional and ecologist, I can't tell you how thankful I am for those who document places like this and also demonstrate SAFE and RESPECTFUL methods to travel in these sensitive locations. I know many do not condone or encourage doing what you're doing or going in these areas. I have issues with that because documenting them is critical and there are not enough "professionals" actually doing it, so the "amateur experts" are left to such work as you are so brilliantly doing. This architectural history does have a lifespan! One earthquake or major event landslide or just time alone will erase this physical history someday and this type of video documentation (et al) will be all that will be left for others to learn from. Thank you for sharing this and taking the time to make such wonderful videos…
Thank you for sharing this. I’ve been torn over the different ethical debates about showing these sites on the internet given their fragility and sensitivity. I understand both perspectives, and it’s a very tough gray area… I appreciate hearing your perspective. If you don’t mind my asking, what part of the country have you/do you do restoration and ecology work in?
@@Desert.DrifterI have found that many content creators do not disclose the location in their videos. Keeping these locations secret keeps them safe, and I am happy for that. Keep up the good work.
@@CapricornGirl9I too am grateful for this. Most of these sites are well known to many of us, who are concerned with such places, and "sharing them" isn't the necessary goal except to other academics, researchers, or those of the First Nation cultures that protect them. Many of the most pristine sites are near impossible to reach unless well-skilled in high-angle rope work, land navigation, and multiday treks in the backcountry.
@@Desert.DrifterThe more people learn about other ways of life, the more everyone’s minds open and wonder can take place and add to brainstorming for us all. Education about a location’s fragility and guidance on how to respect these places is awesome. May you always be safe and steady, guided to the places that want to be shared and shown.
I live in a tiny house- 8’ wide and 26’ long. For us, the house is our kitchen, a place to shower and keep our things, and a place to lay our heads at night. All of our “living” happens outdoors! I imagine these ancient people lived in much the same way. So cool to see!
I live in a HUGE old house, I'm almost 3/4 of a century old now... Built this place over 50 years ago back when the wife and I planned on having a passel of kids!
Your guess about copper being used to make the green paint was spot on. The Ancestral Puebloans made green paint by mixing malachite (green copper carbonate) with animal fat or plant sap. Very cool to see it preserved, thank you!
Beautiful site. The green paint and intact doors and dwellings, proves to me, their homes were painted bright and beautiful. I can see traces of bright paint on other sites, usually red and orange with patterns across the tops of the walls, but the colors are so faded, they look purposely erased. I have been studying the ruins for a number of years now, because I can see where some (anything the Calvary could find) of these places have been purposely destroyed. They liked to pour oil down the faces of Native dwellings and burn them out. This site is in pretty good shape. This is what all of the sites protected by canyon walls should look like. Not piles of rubble under the ledges. Natives built their homes to be protected from weather and the enemy. It's a nice change to see something this complete. Thank You for sharing this with us. The red paint splattered everywhere is blood spilled there. Was someone's baby killed? I've seen red splatter before in sites where war was waged. That red wall grabbed me. Then I saw the footprints. Wow! I interpret that wall as pain and blood spilled.
A Ute woman replied on one of the other strings. She said the dots are the spirits who are watching over the babies or children of the inhabitants. It’s not blood. It’s benevolent.
I'm old and of native origin, mostly north central native, not many sites exist off native people in this area, a few mounds but nothing as preserved as the sites you go to and the respect for them shows in your videos, I can feel their lives through what you share ..I would never be able to see them at my age if not for you, thank you.
Notice no "key stone" arches. Just flat door tops -- I don't remember the name for that type of building. Native Americans never invented the key stone for building. The Olmecs did invent zero, which is considered one of the great advances in mathematics. The Arabs did it in the "Old World". I collect trivia.
I can imagine a parent putting their baby's foot print on the wall and then when the child is older the parent takes them there and shows them and says "that was made by your foot when you were very small". I can then imagine that child/person treasuring that experience for their lifetime and maybe even telling their children or doing the same. What a treat. The humanity seeps through if you are paying attention. Thank you.
I have been putting marks on the doorways of our homes since my children were little, if I painted , I copied the marks on a roll of paper with their name and age , I am doing it with our great great children now, and whenever anyone comes over we measure and compare and have a great visit . It's a small thing that didn't cost any money, but everyone has enjoyed it for 60. years
@@williamburdon6993my family used to do that at the grandparents house all we have left is pictures of the wall with the names and dates but it's an awesome memory and a tradition that each family now has at our own house's
Footprints on that wall is that ceiling! It looks like many generations must have lived in this space! I love the green painted unit that you found earlier with it's design still quite nice! Thank you for taking me along!
@@Henley3276it's just crap to you what a dull life you must live you can skim the surface or you can dive deep diving deep leaves much more to behold stop hating yourself try some spirituality in your diet that will help and I don't mean religion I'm not poking fun are trying to insult I'm being serious
I've NEVER seen a thousand+ yr old Anything in such a perfect state of preservation! If I hadn't seen that wattle-and-daub wall for myself I wouldn't have believed it! What a score!
I was thinking they must have built it right before they stopped cliff dwelling. That place looks like a recreation it's so new. I hope it stays that way for another eon.
@@mikomaxwell6313 Or visit Europe in general. The guy in the video also does not know the age of these things, as he explains often enough. An archaeologist needs to date them.
In my 65 years I was lucky to have spend time exploring ancient sites from the Fremont culture in Wyoming and Utah to the Pueblo cultures of The desert southwest. My wife is a potter who wanted to study the designs of native cultures. Along the way I have seen amazing sites and explored the roads less traveled. Your narration in your videos is breathtaking you feel the land you hear the call of the next vista. Kudos and my respect for your hard work.
@@davidhiatt5384 yes, of course, I knew that, and I have seen people firing in Mexico in an open fire too. I was just wondering if this was an unusual use of the cliff space as a kiln?
@@julieisthatartTo me, the thick pillar acted as a windbreak of some kind. It must’ve been extremely windy near the opening of that area, so if you wanted to keep a fire going and protected, it seems to me that you would do it behind the pillar toward the interior of the cave. It’s not impossible that they had other means of using that windbreak to create a fire hot enough to be a kiln.
The owl was a spirit. Intense, you felt it though. Whenever I found a kiva, I felt spiritual, a sense of survival, family. I’m crying when I saw the ladder posts. You are a lucky man.
One thing I never heard you talk about is snakes and other bitting critters. You walk at times with nothing protecting your ankles or lower legs. I used to hike/hunt in areas like you travel into. I always see Rattlesnakes everytime I go out. You put your hands and feet into some pretty dangerous areas. Seems maybe you might be doing hikes when it's super cold and that would make sense. I love your channel very much. you take us into some great areas. I'm 81 now so yuo are my proxy on these hikes. Your commentary is spot on and easy to understand. Thanks for doing what you do my friend. Take care and be safe.
From a rural Flagstaff boy of 67 living in NZ. I saw a lot of amazing ruins and natural wonders while growing up in the southwest. You're recording of your adventures is absolutely epic!! These native Americans are my roots ! Their connection with the lands around them is my connection with the land around me! You will always carry the imprint of these days within you. I know this and I thank you. Across time we walk.
Seeing an owl... they are a carrier of ancient knowledge and a bringer of deep, mystical wisdom. When animals present themselves to us we need to take notice as you did. Thank you again for your knowledge and courage Andrew! It's always a treat to watch what you've discovered.
I just lost a friend of 20 years. Your soothing voice, kind eyes and desert adventure calmed my nerves. Thank you so much for being you and doing what you do @DesertDrifter
A friend is precious to have. Every day is a gift, every heartbeat. Memories live on even after a death happens. I've lost a whole lot, but yet remember everything I have lost because I haven't "lost" them at all. It's said "Death isn't the cruelest thing, it's the being forgotten that is."
The imprint of the tiny baby feet touched me in a truly emotional way. I just imagine a proud Father and Mother holding their baby up and placing their tiny feet there. They never imagined how many years it would still be there for us to see all this time in the future. And that people all around the world would see those prints. How incredible
This one made my mumma heart cry, so beautiful that a parent at some point wanted to show the world their pride and joy and have memory of how precious they were and now we've all got to see and share her pride and wonder at their joy
The image of some ancient parent painting their babies feet is so cute. Its like they managed to capture a tiny spark of joy and preserve it for many generations beyond their time.
Exactly! The image that came to my mind was of many, many happy parents celebrating the birth of their child and recording it there. Imagine bringing that child to that same wall and pointing to one particular foot print and saying, 'See? You were once that small and now look at you!' A birth certificate for all to see and for a very, very long time!'
There’s scripture that says wherever the believers put their feet then that land will be theirs as an inheritance. So, in the video’s “in Search of the Real Mt Sinai” they carved their feet into the rocks there. It’s an ancient hebrew thing to do. Also Look up Las Lunas, NM commandment rock they were commanded to carve the covenant on the doorposts to their cities and they did. It’s pretty amazing.
@@Desert.DrifterThe Ute woman, Brenda, who replied on another string in these comments, said that the many dots on the rock face represented ancestral spirits watching over the tribe’s children. It’s not implausible that painting a baby’s feet and imprinting them on the rock symbolized their being watched over by the spirits and could’ve been part of a common baby ritual. Perhaps even a naming ritual for all we know. I imagine it had some significance beyond just being “cute. “
These videos blow my mind. I live in England and we’ve thousands of years of history but with the exception of some Castles and buildings we’ve hardly anything so well preserved and untouched that shows how the normal people lived. The wattle and daub was exceptionally well preserved. Thanks.
Extremely dry climate, and very remote. Sadly, deliberate preservation requires considerable resources to keep human destruction at bay so it is difficult to pull off.
@Turner7834 WHAT UTTER RUBBISH, WERE ONE OF THE BEST COUNTRIES ON EARTH FOR ANCIENT HISTORY & ARTIFACTS INCLUDING "WATTLE & DAUB" MADE STRUCTURES & "THATCHED ROOVES" TO MENTION JUST A FEW !!!! YOU MUST WALK ROUND WITH YOUR EYES SHUT & LIVE IN IGNORANCE !!!
We can still see the wagon tracks from when your ancestors came for manifest destiny dude. It’s crazy for sure.. like it was yesterday, they’re permanently imbedded in.
Your respect for the structures is refreshing. I watched another video of another guy who traipsed through the dwelling. After watching you with your respect which in my book, honors the ancients. I appreciate your videos.
The people who were at this site had developed unique technique in using reeds and wood to reinforce there stone and mortar . I believe this is why there is the state of preservation that exists today . Unusual to see still so many door stones . Wonderful site . Great style in your film making . You just keep refining what you do . From filming and narration to editing .
As someone who has been blessed with these type of journeys I cant tell you how much I enjoy your videos. I am about a minute from 70 and my knees are not the same for the climbs. Shade and cool water for all your adventures, thank you so much for taking us along!
Those little rooms would have been awesome compared to sleeping in the cold. We live better than kings past. Very grateful to have hot running water and a warm bed. Great videos my friend. Thank you!
I couldn't help but wonder if you've contacted some kind of archaeological organization to go out and formally document this place. It's incredibly beautiful and amazingly intact. The fact we can still see how these hidey holes were constructed always gives me chills of awe.
I am amazed at your stamina climbing up to these awesome cliff dwellings on mostly nothing. I'm 82 this month and a new subbie. I love going with you to places I could never get to. Your canyon walks are so inspiring and serene. To see these cliff dwellings up close makes my imagination go back hundreds of years to visualize these remarkable peoples.
This 83-year-old NEEDS you to continue making these adventure videos as I can no longer do those long hikes. I can still do a few day-hikes, but the more remote sites are now beyond my ability to visit. I must depend on you!
Spectacular finds! The green “paint” I have never seen nor heard of before. The small room with the ladder and roof still on it. The waddle and daub walls. All so great to see in place and original instead of as a reconstruction. Thank you! (And thank your wife for supporting your adventures.)
Thanks for your amazing videos! Fortunately at 85 years old I am still able to do some of what you do here in Sedona Az. I especially enjoy bushwacking/steep hikes to take photos/videos in places no human being has visited (energy spots). A few thousand miles of hiking in the canyon's of Az and some jungle hiking in Costa Rica in my life so far. Retired mathematician/physicist.
I really enjoy your videos. I am 78 and can no longer backpack and watching your videos brings back lots of good memories for me. I love Utah and have explored quite a few different places in the state and had the honor of visiting some very nice ruins over the years. I have also noticed how sites have been disturbed and things such as pottery shards are much scarcer, unfortunately. I really appreciate your emphasis on leave things as they are for others to enjoy. Keep up the good work.
I used to hike around the Wind River area in WY untill I got multiple sclerosis. Saw many teepee rings and such, many artifacts. They were tougher back then than we are now. I love being able to get out again, and see through your eyes. Thank you! Many years I visited the Moab area. Saw many ruins on that trip. Thanks again for taking me back out there again. I miss it.
Dear Mr. Drifter, I am nominating Mrs. Drifter for wife of the year for driving all that way and then waiting in the car for you. She is a keeper. Regarding the baby footprints, I have seen them down river from Collins canyon at the hand print panel and right at the top of the panel two baby foorprints. Then up river from Moon House at a site baby footprints impressed into the mud of the roof construction. You have a gift ,my friend, and we all benefit from it. Thank you for your videos.
I thought I seen a ring on his finger in one of his videos! I would never be content to wait in the car, I would be right there beside him. Or maybe I would be off on my own because I don't know if he would let me collect rocks and arrowheads and meteorites. Not to mention coins or gold or silver or turquoise... I could definitely leave the pottery shards and tools and stuff behind.
I know in my life time I will never get to see those amazing places so I sure am pleased to get to see them through your videos. Takes you back to a difficult era in time and helps to see how these small groups of people lived! Thank you so much!
I’m a feelings kind of person, so I love it when you talk about how a place feels. Please be careful; you’re such a treasure to so many of us who get to see the world through your eyes.
How privileged are you to be able to see first hand these awesome wonders of the land and the remnants of past humans who lived there🌈❤️💜💚💙 Thanks for taking me along👏👏👏
Your video titles can seem like click-bait, but then you actually deliver the goods! Thanks for bringing us along. I appreciate your authentic, calm storytelling.
Drifter... thanks for sharing your adventure with us. I admire your respect for the ancients and they're way of life and what they have left behind for us to wonder at. Your work and your integrity is muchly appreciated. God bless you Young Man!! Ax
@Desert.Drifter thanks for the hike and views. Can you please tell me the maker of your cap? Ive been looking for that style and all i can find are those truckers caps which make me look like frankestein's monster! Hehee. Seriously, who makes your cap? Thanks
I have never seen a less-than-ruined ruin with paint before you showed me today. I am astounded. I am no longer looking at some fallen down rocks. I am looking into a person's pantry, front room, and kitchen.
It’s not silly to think that animals communicate with us, or at least they try to. The owl knew what you were looking for and she showed it to you. She was being friendly, but one can’t blame her for showing caution when dealing with our species. Thank you for bringing us to this amazing place
Thanks for the tag along ! I’m 80 years and have dreamed for years of having the adventures you’re enjoying but never have and won’t have. I’m on the east coast and never was much inclined to travel. Your filming is pretty remarkable and much appreciated . I can almost visualize myself there. Safe travels in the future !
The first priority of these ancient people was survival. It was almost a continuous thing. It's something that we take for granted now, with our modern amenities. Pretty amazing how they maneuvered around these steep cliffs. What is really intriguing is how they got those footprints and other pictographs put on those surfaces, because of their height and angles. This was really great. Cheers!
Maybe it's the time of the year but I'm surprised at the lack of spiders and their webs. Loved seeing the baby's feet (thank you mom or dad for sharing your child with us🥰). Hundreds of years later WOW! Can you imagine raising a child or children on that cliff?
Fantastic to see the infant foot marks. Little did these people know how long evidence of their existence would last. Thanks for another wonderful video. CynthiaB
I love the way he talks about how it makes him feel and what it makes him reflect on. Feelings that only one could truly feel being face to face with these structures
Andrew thanks. I'm 73 and have been hiking in the Southwest mostly southern Utah and the Arizonia Strip. I have volunteer for the BLM where I reinvestigated sites that had not been seen since the 70's just to update their status. I started hiking these areas in the late 80's so I have seen a lot. I have seen lots of structures not many with stucco and paint and as someone commented these were probably brightly colored over the stucco. Its impossible to go out to these canyons and not viscerally feel the presence and spiritually of these people. And yes an animal spirit guide is always welcome. An owl is special. Trying to interpret the symbols to say the least is difficult. I have heard from current native Americans some explanations some I believe and some I question. Andrew, again thanks for your respect, your knowledge, your courage, and great videos. I am watching. Stay Safe.
It's like you read my mind, I always worry about you and always pray for your safety. Stay safe, I'm truly grateful for the amazing sights you take us to!!
That first little ruin is one of the most beautiful ruins I’ve ever seen. I don’t ever recall seeing a painted structure before. Whoever built it was a craftsman. I’ve lived in my 19ft travel trailer for a couple years now and I can definitely relate to living in a small space. Owls are harbingers. Thanks again for sharing these videos! Amazing! 🦉😎✌🏼
I just found your channel the other day, and I've been enjoying so many if your videos. Thank you so much. I mean it. Thank you SO much! I'm almost 70 and have many physical challenges that completely forbid even idea of attempting to do what you seem to do so naturally. But, my friend, you give me the experience I would never otherwise have by posting these stunning videos! What a wonderful thing it is to see and be aware of what is in these ancient sites. I appreciate your respect for the land and the artifacts and glyphs. Wow. Just WOW. Your video quality is SO perfect and as you share your journeys, it is as if I/we have been there with you! I had no idea there were so many ancient sites like this. The imagination of old civilizations is intriguing. Something new for older, limited folks to experience and appreciate. You are the BEST!! I am grateful beyond words for your channel. Thank you for braving the elements for us! I wouldn't last 5 minutes sitting on a park bench in those high temps. I do get worried for you when you scale those rock faces and ledges! Amazing. And thank you for your advice to folks who may follow in your footsteps, the appreciation of preservation. You live the motto of "Take only pictures, leave only footprints". Thank you again! 💞❤💞❤💞
I've seen that type of cryptobiotic soil. I didn't know what it was. I feel so bad now because I walked on it thinking it was just old dried out dead plants. Darn! Thanks for teaching me what it is. Won't do that again. Love your videos! Thank you!
I wouldn't know either and I do beleive I have encountered that stuff as well, I just thought it was oddly dried out mud. I will respect it now if I see it again. That is why videos like this are so valuable
Owls, especially great horned owls are amazing creatures. I had the good fortune to see one when I was younger. I had taken a break along a trail in the woods of Pennsylvania and in a hemlock tree about 20 feet in front of me I saw these huge eyes open. Realizing it was an owl I sat very still. He/she leaned forward on the branch and with about 6 flaps of its wings was 60 feet higher in the tree. I will never forget that.
I really felt your emotion in the moment you realized there was a child's footprints painted on the wall, it really says something about your humanity and I mean that in the best way. Thanks for your great videos I look forward to each and every one of them.
My wife and I live in Warrnambool Australia and just love watching your videos; amazing sites, so well presented, your gentle and sensitive commentary. Love it. Thank you! P&S
I just wanted to thank you for the wonderful videos. You show the proper respect to the ancients. Your skills with camera work is top notch too. The babies footprints were the highlight of my watching. Keep these videos coming. I can't get out there as much as I want, anymore so it's nice to watch it a through your eyes.
I think for the most part these people lived outside. The whole area out there was their living space. The small enclosed space would have been just for shelter when sleeping and keeping warm when the temperatures dropped.
Working and gathering all summer to store your grain and wood you'll need for the winter under these sheltered crevasses that typically gather water run off. Then huddling in the winter waiting for the spring again. This is beautiful land. I couldn't imagine trying to live off it. I was amazed at how m life is actually here in the Mohave and southwest. This place must have been heartbreakingly beautiful before it turned into desert country.
What do you think are the odds about discovering these things that nobody else has. I mean can you tell if any other people have been there besides the Indians. Like I'm just wondering you know are there still a lot of undiscovered ruins are you know are they all discovered have they all been documented have archaeologists really explored these areas well I mean what's the deal what's the background have they done a lot of extensive carbon dating or other means of dating have they looked at all kinds of things have they studied the wood rings just anything to you know date them really really knock it down I'm just wondering.
Hey Andrew, I was an avid back packer, hunter and back country guide. I appreciate the reverence you show to our ancestors in your videos. Since I haven’t been able to hike since breaking my ankle about a year ago, I’m extremely grateful to explore with you. Now for a couple of tips that you can use in the desert ir the mountains. 1 - keep a marine air horn in you pack easily accessible. These are safer to use than bear spray. The nice thing about using these is you don’t have to worry about when direction and usually setting it off will scare off any kind of an animal that may be threatening you. Not to mention, they can also be used to get peoples attention if you ever find yourself in a situation that you need help. This is the size that I carry because I found it to be the Most reliable and they don’t weigh very much. 2 - super easy to carry tent and sleeping bag heaters. I carry these in my pack, I especially like the large ones because I can open them and throw one in the tent and one in my sleeping bag and then just warm up good before I go to sleep and they will help. Keep you comfortable all night long. Again, not very much weight and you can take multiple ones with you for multiple days. I have used these to keep warm in the high altitudes of Colorado up around 13,000 feet in late fall when the ridges can get extremely cold. If I come up with any more tips, I hope you don’t mind if I share them with you. I am definitely looking forward to getting my hiking feet back under me. I’m getting back out and exploring the backcountry around Tucson, Arizona, where I currently reside. Thank you William Brown
Once again I am compelled to tell you, many Thanks. I would not have the joy of seeing these places if not for your curiosity, passion, and your generosity in sharing your treks.
Hands down the most interesting sites I've seen on any channel so far. The green paint, large petroglyph panel (mercifully not defaced), the small footprints, and THE KIVA! WOW! Thanks for sharing this one!
Wow, man, what a trip! I've had similar experiences in side canyons of the Gila country. I know the feeling; like you're being watched. barely tolerated., those walls closing in. Thanks for being so respectful. Peace.
Great Work !!!! It's wonderful to see how native tribes lived way back when !!!!! Great Finds !!!!! I. Don't think anyone ever Been To These places , you MIGHT be the first, and first to FILM. Thank you so much !!!! And to see alot of not destroyed is wonderful !!!! Teresa
Don't be naive. He's not randomly stumbling across undocumented sites. These sites are all on public land and mapped, documented, and monitored by government archaeologists. He's visiting known sites because exploring a canyon with nothing in it wouldn't make very interesting youtube content.
5 месяцев назад+13
Could be surprising but water and desert can be a dangerous combo. I’m an avid desert hiker and only once I’ve felt a real fear of death. I was camping half-way between a mountain and a canyon. At night a few raindrops hit the tent and I quickly realised that if it starts to rain I’m a goner. The bare terrain hardly absorbs any water so if it would’ve rained, the water from the mountain would’ve swept me down to the gorge. Luckily it was just a drizzle but a valuable lesson on choosing a campsite. Thanks for informing about the cryptobiotic soil.
I have explored this canyon many years ago and am happy to see it looks the same as it did. I hiked it during a dry spell though. Thank you for not giving out the exact location to your explorations. Too many people completely destroy these amazing sites.
Its in the Bears Ears National Monument, Grand Gulch to be exact. Its called the green house ruin along with a bunch more ruins and is well known about. Marked trails the whole way.
What an incredible place!! The rock formations alone are stunning. The petroglyphs were amazing, especially the "necklace". The 'wattle and daub" wall are surprisingly well preserved. What really got me was the baby footprints...they made me smile but also made me sad at the same time. Your narration is always so soothing, and so informative. Thank you so much. I'm glad that the canyon flooding wasn't any worse than it was, and you were able to get out safely.
To say this is astounding is an understatement! It doesn't seem the canyons/ancestors weren't taunting you but more guiding you to show who they were. The large pictograph looked to be the story of creation with the one wearing the necklace the creator and spin offs of other worlds from him. Thank you for this wonderful video.
Thanks for your videos. It has inspired me (a 61 year old backpacker and serious hiker from way back) to get out and do a couple more trips with my adult sons. Love it !!!
Wow! Thank you for this wonderful snapshot of history. I can't get over how complete, how intact, those structures were. This is maybe the first time ANYBODY has seen that level of preservation in this type of site outside of a handful of hikers. Great production, also. That green paint has me mesmerized, it can't be very common? That's part of what I really enjoy about your videos, I see things I want to go learn more about so.... off to google I go! Thanks again. -Swirls, meandering lines - I read someplace that it's theorized they may have indicated the path or map of a waterway, the swirls "watering holes," or other points of accumulation. The people either "you are here," or other clans. Who knows though, but... maybe. Kinda like a system of community built free KOA campsites for seasonally nomadic hunter gatherer clans.. the hand prints, "we were here..."
The wind blows down the canyon, blows dust and ghosts words long gone, down the canyon thoughts and dreams. Time blows down the canyon, passed stone and mud, mud and sand and sage, stone stacked on stone, bourn back down by time, worn away, good walls, good memories, worn away. Water flows and rages and lays down and dies, lizards and snakes and grasshoppers watch the owl to see where she will go, who she will kill how she will ride the wind through time. A laughing child defies time, walking on the stone, riding the wind, riding time through tomorrow as though yesterday never was. Today. And again. And again Time blows down the canyon, blows dust and ghosts, rages and dies.
This was remarkable. Glad you were safe. I loved this video & especially the entire wall with dots and hand/footprints in red. Reminds me of Hawaiian petroglyphs where entire families would come from all the inhabitd islands to bury their babies' umbilical chords in holes dug in the lava. There are lots of similarities. I also loved the Kiva with the partial ladder, the owl, your backpack dinner. Glad to see they are now putting pnut butter/honey in little packets. We didn't have all that backpack food. We dried our own everything & dispensed our pnut butter into a plastic tube. I never got into the Utah/Arizona/Colorado areas for backpacking. Having only weekends, we hit the Sierras, so these videos are just wonderful for an old person like me. Keep 'em coming. & thanks. Oakland Ca
What an amazing day. So many things like the green paint, the footprints and kiva, the owl. Sometimes it makes you want to weep. Thank you for sharing.
There are spots close to where I live in the Pilbara Region of Western Australia that shows similar spirals. Different people making the same or similar patterns. Strange and wonderful.
Perhaps you found a birthing place. I know there are birthing caves where the women would go when the time came. I'm just wondering if maybe this is one of those places. My heart truly soars with emotion during your videos. I especially cherish the fact that you educate preservation of not only these sacred ruins, but of the land surrounding them as well. ✨Thank you!✨
Have watched several of the canyon climbers. This is the best preserved dwellings I have seen. The grainery closure stones just blew me away! First I have seen amongst the climbers.
You have a healthy intuition, the ancients direct you to their past abodes because you always share a humble respect for their way of life and though you don’t know them by name your videos keep them alive and significant to us, your viewers. I wrote the previous prior to seeing the baby footprints at the last site you filmed and I have to share my thoughts on why I think the parents did this. I believe that all humans, regardless of generation feel the need to record their lives in the reality we call life. We cherish our children more than anything else in the world and want to preserve the proof of their existence for all whom come after us. Not unlike the footprint on our birth certificate and the bronzed baby shoes parents used to hang on the rear view mirror of their 1950’s automobiles to share their love and there reason for living; their children’s existence!
Clearly my favorite episode. What other given to be with you on this canyon visit. I'm so intrigued by the petroglyphs. And the wall drawings. I totally should have been a anthropologist in the American Southwest.
I wish I still had the legs and back to do this. Growing up in south-central Colorado, I believed that the only place one could find actual cliff dwellings was Mesa Verde or the dwellings removed from Mesa Verde and taken to Manitou Springs CO. Even in college my assumption was that Chaco Canyon was the only other dwelling besides Mesa Verde. So Andrew, thank you for taking me/us on your journeys, and allowing us to see these remote dwellings. And thank you for modeling reverence and respect forthe Ancient Ones. This is a wonderful video!
I never seen anything like you show us Andrew. The places are beyond beautiful, beyond amazing. To think of who could have been there, how long they stayed. Some of those pictures on the rock looked familiar to me. I'll keep to myself because it would only be a guess. I look forward to all of your videos and the peace it brings me. And I'm sure besides you wife, someone always know where to go look for you if you not back in a certain length of time. I know they would find you. But hey we are who we are and were still going to worry and pray for your safe return and a new video of wonder.
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In my 74 years, I've never enjoyed watching something so much as I have enjoyed these videos! Thank you so much for taking us along. Your respect of the past and your connection to the people/places are quite special and refreshing. Thank you. I've climbed some mountains today! I've enjoyed the solitude, the 'Presence', the Peace.
What a beautiful comment!
One of the best comments I've read in months. 🙏🤠👍
I agree! ❤
Respect Elder and, yeah, I concur.
Im walking with ya!
Those spirals on the petroglyphs at 14:18 are the symbol for water. The big one with the two petroglyphs that look like bird's feet (what you called turkey tracks) is the petroglyph that means a spring that you have to dig down to get. The little spirals up and to the right, attached to the longer lines, tell you that the water is not always there. They indicate water pools there after a storm. The far left shows two safe paths to get to the water. (What you called a necklace)
The longer the lines inside the spiral, the more water there is at that site. The bird's feet always mean you have to dig.
And yes, Clud Lightening and rain on the petroglyph at 15:43 which ties into the petroglyph to the right indicating pools only during or right after a storm.
My brother and I found a site like this in the desert west of Las Vegas, NV, and followed the petroglyphs of a spiral with the bird's feet to a site the petroglyphs that read water was there. We dug down and found a spring that produced a large quantity of clear spring water. The hole filled so fast that it cleared all our mud we'd created hile digging the hole, in seconds.
When you're in the desert, there's nothing more important than finding water, and thus, there are a lot of petroglyphs that show how to get to good water.
😮 amazing it's still giving water the life of the desert ❤
@@jada4334 yeah, after all these years, it was/is still there. It really is remarkable!
Thankyou for explaining that.
Do you know what the red prints mean around 20:22?
@@joelleperry2057 They are ancestral spirits watching over the living.
I lost a friend to a flash flood while we were in the backcountry of the desert southwest. We were in a canyon without any signs of rain, and my friend was holding the 16-foot boat while I went back to park the truck and trailer. Suddenly, a thunderstorm occurred about 15 miles away, and a massive wall of water, about 50 feet high and the width of a football field, came down and washed him and the boat into the Colorado River. Despite an extensive search of the area and river, we never saw him again. Flash floods are extremely dangerous and can happen faster than one can run. Therefore, it's essential to be aware of the weather situation in surrounding areas when exploring canyons.
So sorry for your loss.
@@karensagal8230 thank you
@@karensagal8230 Thank you for your kind words.
@@Erica_Brenda Your welcome. Hope you are doing alright, remember your friend is in a better place.
@@karensagal8230 Thank you. Yes. He is. I do know that. Thank you for your kind words. :)
Hi Andrew, im a 56 Dine women. When i was young, many native families had cows and sheep. They sometimes lose livestock. My dad and I would horse back canyons searching. Many times, I come across cliff dwelling. I was told to stay away and leave it alone. I did. But i was very curious, i appreciate your videos. Thank you for your reverence. I do believe education is very important. I give thanks to my ancestors for everything they endeavor for me to be here. My people fled to these cliff dwelling to hide from being taken to forts. Some families hide their children from boarding school, so the canyons cliff dwelling has held hundreds of my people thru hundreds years.
You are doing an awesome job. Thank you, God bless.
Thank you for sharing a piece of your story. I really enjoyed reading it. Ahéhee'
@@Desert.Drifter That latter day return to the cliffs would explain why some of your finds are in perfect condition. Seems like there were periods of re-habitation after the great abandonment that will never be well understood. Caves with soil bottoms can be excavated and dated, rock floors obviously cannot.
Read that stating away from cliff dwellings is bc a terrible sin and curse was brought by strangers from the south who were welcomed but they brought some spiritual evil with that affected their hosts
That is all that I can remember
Thanks for that. In my mind, it looks as though they left the stuff for when they come back. Who to say they’re not gonna. Leave it alone everybody.
@@deborahharvey854 This story probably refers to the traders and people of Central America coming north. We know this happened by the presence of artifacts only available from the south and west like seashells from the Pacific, many macaw burials, copper bells, rare feathers from tropical birds, and ball courts. They probably brought diseases that the people of the Southwest had never been exposed to. Without natural immunity, the effects could have been devastating.
According to the Hopi, the painted feet on the wall mean that a baby was born at that house. Great adventure. Hiking in these canyons is endlessly wonderful, thankyou for posting.
@@AgathaR-v5y a very good reason for the ancients to be there (the red dots) to oversee and protect.
Imagine having a baby up there. How would a pregnant person even leave or get in towards the end?
@@BrandyRUclips99 maybe the mother lived there.
@@SusanHill-x9u yeah but they couldn’t ever leave once they got big.. I can’t imagine climbing when I’m even 3-4 months pregnant. I fell over just walking at that stage, basically they prob had to stay in there for months until they had the baby. Or it’s a birthing cave made for pregnant women, I’ve heard of that too
@@BrandyRUclips99 Native Americans of that era were physically adapted to that lifestyle. It’s hard to compare yourself to that.
As a restoration professional and ecologist, I can't tell you how thankful I am for those who document places like this and also demonstrate SAFE and RESPECTFUL methods to travel in these sensitive locations. I know many do not condone or encourage doing what you're doing or going in these areas. I have issues with that because documenting them is critical and there are not enough "professionals" actually doing it, so the "amateur experts" are left to such work as you are so brilliantly doing. This architectural history does have a lifespan! One earthquake or major event landslide or just time alone will erase this physical history someday and this type of video documentation (et al) will be all that will be left for others to learn from. Thank you for sharing this and taking the time to make such wonderful videos…
Thank you for sharing this. I’ve been torn over the different ethical debates about showing these sites on the internet given their fragility and sensitivity. I understand both perspectives, and it’s a very tough gray area… I appreciate hearing your perspective. If you don’t mind my asking, what part of the country have you/do you do restoration and ecology work in?
@@Desert.DrifterI have found that many content creators do not disclose the location in their videos. Keeping these locations secret keeps them safe, and I am happy for that. Keep up the good work.
@@CapricornGirl9I too am grateful for this. Most of these sites are well known to many of us, who are concerned with such places, and "sharing them" isn't the necessary goal except to other academics, researchers, or those of the First Nation cultures that protect them. Many of the most pristine sites are near impossible to reach unless well-skilled in high-angle rope work, land navigation, and multiday treks in the backcountry.
@@Desert.DrifterThe more people learn about other ways of life, the more everyone’s minds open and wonder can take place and add to brainstorming for us all. Education about a location’s fragility and guidance on how to respect these places is awesome.
May you always be safe and steady, guided to the places that want to be shared and shown.
Your respect is appreciated.
I live in a tiny house- 8’ wide and 26’ long. For us, the house is our kitchen, a place to shower and keep our things, and a place to lay our heads at night. All of our “living” happens outdoors! I imagine these ancient people lived in much the same way. So cool to see!
I was just thinking the same.
We live tiny too! So much closer to nature in a small house.
9 by 23 for me..tiny homes unite!!
I live in a HUGE old house, I'm almost 3/4 of a century old now... Built this place over 50 years ago back when the wife and I planned on having a passel of kids!
I wish outside was livable for more than 3 months a year where I live. You'll have to enjoy it for the both of us
Your guess about copper being used to make the green paint was spot on. The Ancestral Puebloans made green paint by mixing malachite (green copper carbonate) with animal fat or plant sap. Very cool to see it preserved, thank you!
Good info I was curious about the green paint
Beautiful site. The green paint and intact doors and dwellings, proves to me, their homes were painted bright and beautiful. I can see traces of bright paint on other sites, usually red and orange with patterns across the tops of the walls, but the colors are so faded, they look purposely erased. I have been studying the ruins for a number of years now, because I can see where some (anything the Calvary could find) of these places have been purposely destroyed. They liked to pour oil down the faces of Native dwellings and burn them out. This site is in pretty good shape. This is what all of the sites protected by canyon walls should look like. Not piles of rubble under the ledges. Natives built their homes to be protected from weather and the enemy. It's a nice change to see something this complete. Thank You for sharing this with us. The red paint splattered everywhere is blood spilled there. Was someone's baby killed? I've seen red splatter before in sites where war was waged. That red wall grabbed me. Then I saw the footprints. Wow! I interpret that wall as pain and blood spilled.
*cavalry
A Ute woman replied on one of the other strings. She said the dots are the spirits who are watching over the babies or children of the inhabitants. It’s not blood. It’s benevolent.
I'm old and of native origin, mostly north central native, not many sites exist off native people in this area, a few mounds but nothing as preserved as the sites you go to and the respect for them shows in your videos, I can feel their lives through what you share ..I would never be able to see them at my age if not for you, thank you.
"hold fast"! (1Thess.5 :21)
Notice no "key stone" arches. Just flat door tops -- I don't remember the name for that type of building. Native Americans never invented the key stone for building.
The Olmecs did invent zero, which is considered one of the great advances in mathematics. The Arabs did it in the "Old World".
I collect trivia.
I can imagine a parent putting their baby's foot print on the wall and then when the child is older the parent takes them there and shows them and says "that was made by your foot when you were very small". I can then imagine that child/person treasuring that experience for their lifetime and maybe even telling their children or doing the same. What a treat. The humanity seeps through if you are paying attention. Thank you.
I have been putting marks on the doorways of our homes since my children were little, if I painted , I copied the marks on a roll of paper with their name and age , I am doing it with our great great children now, and whenever anyone comes over we measure and compare and have a great visit . It's a small thing that didn't cost any money, but everyone has enjoyed it for 60. years
@@williamburdon6993my family used to do that at the grandparents house all we have left is pictures of the wall with the names and dates but it's an awesome memory and a tradition that each family now has at our own house's
Footprints on that wall is that ceiling! It looks like many generations must have lived in this space! I love the green painted unit that you found earlier with it's design still quite nice! Thank you for taking me along!
@@williamburdon6993it's what life is really all about money isn't that cool it has no personality or creativity it's very dull in my opinion
@@Henley3276it's just crap to you what a dull life you must live you can skim the surface or you can dive deep diving deep leaves much more to behold stop hating yourself try some spirituality in your diet that will help and I don't mean religion I'm not poking fun are trying to insult I'm being serious
I've NEVER seen a thousand+ yr old Anything in such a perfect state of preservation! If I hadn't seen that wattle-and-daub wall for myself I wouldn't have believed it! What a score!
I was thinking they must have built it right before they stopped cliff dwelling. That place looks like a recreation it's so new. I hope it stays that way for another eon.
Who says it's a thousand+ years old?
Visit Spain . You’ll have your mind blown ever minute
@@hans7856the dude in the video .. did you even watch? He says it the first minute
@@mikomaxwell6313 Or visit Europe in general. The guy in the video also does not know the age of these things, as he explains often enough. An archaeologist needs to date them.
In my 65 years I was lucky to have spend time exploring ancient sites from the Fremont culture in Wyoming and Utah to the Pueblo cultures of The desert southwest. My wife is a potter who wanted to study the designs of native cultures. Along the way I have seen amazing sites and explored the roads less traveled. Your narration in your videos is breathtaking you feel the land you hear the call of the next vista. Kudos and my respect for your hard work.
I was wondering if that small room that was so blackened and with only the small opening might be a kiln? what does your wife think, is that possible?
Native kilns were pits dug into the ground later they adopted the beehive earthen kilns.
@@davidhiatt5384 yes, of course, I knew that, and I have seen people firing in Mexico in an open fire too. I was just wondering if this was an unusual use of the cliff space as a kiln?
Thank you David
@@julieisthatartTo me, the thick pillar acted as a windbreak of some kind. It must’ve been extremely windy near the opening of that area, so if you wanted to keep a fire going and protected, it seems to me that you would do it behind the pillar toward the interior of the cave.
It’s not impossible that they had other means of using that windbreak to create a fire hot enough to be a kiln.
The owl was a spirit. Intense, you felt it though. Whenever I found a kiva, I felt spiritual, a sense of survival, family. I’m crying when I saw the ladder posts. You are a lucky man.
One thing I never heard you talk about is snakes and other bitting critters. You walk at times with nothing protecting your ankles or lower legs.
I used to hike/hunt in areas like you travel into. I always see Rattlesnakes everytime I go out. You put your hands and feet into some pretty dangerous areas. Seems maybe you might be doing hikes when it's super cold and that would make sense.
I love your channel very much. you take us into some great areas. I'm 81 now so yuo are my proxy on these hikes. Your commentary is spot on and easy to understand. Thanks for doing what you do my friend. Take care and be safe.
From a rural Flagstaff boy of 67 living in NZ. I saw a lot of amazing ruins and natural wonders while growing up in the southwest. You're recording of your adventures is absolutely epic!! These native Americans are my roots ! Their connection with the lands around them is my connection with the land around me! You will always carry the imprint of these days within you. I know this and I thank you. Across time we walk.
Not nearly as much of that kind of thing to see in NZ. Some of the old Pā sites are interesting but you still have to use quite a bit of imagination.
What part of NZ?
Hopefully you are not close to Mordor lol JK
Seeing an owl... they are a carrier of ancient knowledge and a bringer of deep, mystical wisdom. When animals present themselves to us we need to take notice as you did. Thank you again for your knowledge and courage Andrew! It's always a treat to watch what you've discovered.
Thanks for continuing to watch and support the channel!
The answer to the question is 3! Lol!
Yup, yup. Owls are indeed a powerful presence.
Or they are just looking for a snack/meal...
@@CarsCatAliens That, too...
I just lost a friend of 20 years. Your soothing voice, kind eyes and desert adventure calmed my nerves. Thank you so much for being you and doing what you do @DesertDrifter
I’m so sorry for your loss.
Condolences on the loss of your friend. May you always have good memories of them.
A friend is precious to have. Every day is a gift, every heartbeat. Memories live on even after a death happens. I've lost a whole lot, but yet remember everything I have lost because I haven't "lost" them at all. It's said "Death isn't the cruelest thing, it's the being forgotten that is."
I'm so sorry. I lost a dear friend 9 months ago and my mom to COVID 2 years ago. I was thinking the same thing about Andrew's voice in this video.
I am truly sorry to hear that you lost a friend of 20 years..
The imprint of the tiny baby feet touched me in a truly emotional way. I just imagine a proud Father and Mother holding their baby up and placing their tiny feet there. They never imagined how many years it would still be there for us to see all this time in the future. And that people all around the world would see those prints. How incredible
This one made my mumma heart cry, so beautiful that a parent at some point wanted to show the world their pride and joy and have memory of how precious they were and now we've all got to see and share her pride and wonder at their joy
The image of some ancient parent painting their babies feet is so cute. Its like they managed to capture a tiny spark of joy and preserve it for many generations beyond their time.
Well said
Exactly! The image that came to my mind was of many, many happy parents celebrating the birth of their child and recording it there. Imagine bringing that child to that same wall and pointing to one particular foot print and saying, 'See? You were once that small and now look at you!' A birth certificate for all to see and for a very, very long time!'
I wonder if the baby giggled or cried 😆🥰
There’s scripture that says wherever the believers put their feet then that land will be theirs as an inheritance.
So, in the video’s “in Search of the Real Mt Sinai” they carved their feet into the rocks there.
It’s an ancient hebrew thing to do.
Also Look up Las Lunas, NM commandment rock
they were commanded to carve the covenant on the doorposts to their cities and they did.
It’s pretty amazing.
@@Desert.DrifterThe Ute woman, Brenda, who replied on another string in these comments, said that the many dots on the rock face represented ancestral spirits watching over the tribe’s children.
It’s not implausible that painting a baby’s feet and imprinting them on the rock symbolized their being watched over by the spirits and could’ve been part of a common baby ritual. Perhaps even a naming ritual for all we know. I imagine it had some significance beyond just being “cute. “
These videos blow my mind. I live in England and we’ve thousands of years of history but with the exception of some Castles and buildings we’ve hardly anything so well preserved and untouched that shows how the normal people lived.
The wattle and daub was exceptionally well preserved.
Thanks.
In this context, I believe "wattle and daub" = "adobe."
Same here watching from U.K. and enjoying these films a lot
Extremely dry climate, and very remote. Sadly, deliberate preservation requires considerable resources to keep human destruction at bay so it is difficult to pull off.
@Turner7834 WHAT UTTER RUBBISH, WERE ONE OF THE BEST COUNTRIES ON EARTH FOR ANCIENT HISTORY & ARTIFACTS INCLUDING "WATTLE & DAUB" MADE STRUCTURES & "THATCHED ROOVES" TO MENTION JUST A FEW !!!! YOU MUST WALK ROUND WITH YOUR EYES SHUT & LIVE IN IGNORANCE !!!
We can still see the wagon tracks from when your ancestors came for manifest destiny dude. It’s crazy for sure.. like it was yesterday, they’re permanently imbedded in.
Your respect for the structures is refreshing. I watched another video of another guy who traipsed through the dwelling. After watching you with your respect which in my book, honors the ancients.
I appreciate your videos.
The people who were at this site had developed unique technique in using reeds and wood to reinforce there stone and mortar . I believe this is why there is the state of preservation that exists today . Unusual to see still so many door stones . Wonderful site . Great style in your film making . You just keep refining what you do . From filming and narration to editing .
What i like about this show is this young man has a lot of respect for nature & past history, bless his heart respect the ancient world...🌹👍👍👍👍
As someone who has been blessed with these type of journeys I cant tell you how much I enjoy your videos.
I am about a minute from 70 and my knees are not the same for the climbs.
Shade and cool water for all your adventures, thank you so much for taking us along!
Those little rooms would have been awesome compared to sleeping in the cold.
We live better than kings past. Very grateful to have hot running water and a warm bed.
Great videos my friend.
Thank you!
Yes, much we take for granted
I couldn't help but wonder if you've contacted some kind of archaeological organization to go out and formally document this place. It's incredibly beautiful and amazingly intact. The fact we can still see how these hidey holes were constructed always gives me chills of awe.
It is just amazing how people lived in those cliff dwellings 800 to 900 years ago. AWESOME!
I am amazed at your stamina climbing up to these awesome cliff dwellings on mostly nothing. I'm 82 this month and a new subbie. I love going with you to places I could never get to. Your canyon walks are so inspiring and serene. To see these cliff dwellings up close makes my imagination go back hundreds of years to visualize these remarkable peoples.
This 83-year-old NEEDS you to continue making these adventure videos as I can no longer do those long hikes. I can still do a few day-hikes, but the more remote sites are now beyond my ability to visit. I must depend on you!
Spectacular finds! The green “paint” I have never seen nor heard of before. The small room with the ladder and roof still on it. The waddle and daub walls. All so great to see in place and original instead of as a reconstruction. Thank you! (And thank your wife for supporting your adventures.)
Thanks for your amazing videos! Fortunately at 85 years old I am still able to do some of what you do here in Sedona Az. I especially enjoy bushwacking/steep hikes to take photos/videos in places no human being has visited (energy spots). A few thousand miles of hiking in the canyon's of Az and some jungle hiking in Costa Rica in my life so far. Retired mathematician/physicist.
Way to stay young! Bravo!
...that no one's visited for a while, anyway
I hope I can say the same think at your age! Thanks for sharing!
I really enjoy your videos. I am 78 and can no longer backpack and watching your videos brings back lots of good memories for me. I love Utah and have explored quite a few different places in the state and had the honor of visiting some very nice ruins over the years. I have also noticed how sites have been disturbed and things such as pottery shards are much scarcer, unfortunately. I really appreciate your emphasis on leave things as they are for others to enjoy. Keep up the good work.
I used to hike around the Wind River area in WY untill I got multiple sclerosis. Saw many teepee rings and such, many artifacts. They were tougher back then than we are now. I love being able to get out again, and see through your eyes. Thank you! Many years I visited the Moab area. Saw many ruins on that trip. Thanks again for taking me back out there again. I miss it.
Moab is just a parking lot for Subaru's now with Patagonia bumper stickers.
Dear Mr. Drifter, I am nominating Mrs. Drifter for wife of the year for driving all that way and then waiting in the car for you. She is a keeper. Regarding the baby footprints, I have seen them down river from Collins canyon at the hand print panel and right at the top of the panel two baby foorprints. Then up river from Moon House at a site baby footprints impressed into the mud of the roof construction. You have a gift ,my friend, and we all benefit from it. Thank you for your videos.
I thought I seen a ring on his finger in one of his videos! I would never be content to wait in the car, I would be right there beside him. Or maybe I would be off on my own because I don't know if he would let me collect rocks and arrowheads and meteorites. Not to mention coins or gold or silver or turquoise... I could definitely leave the pottery shards and tools and stuff behind.
I know in my life time I will never get to see those amazing places so I sure am pleased to get to see them through your videos. Takes you back to a difficult era in time and helps to see how these small groups of people lived! Thank you so much!
For the ancient ones, the smaller the space, the easier it is to keep warm
Easier to build also
All that wood in the winter.
Thank you so much for sharing your life with us.
@@poundtowntwistedarts1359👈 Gets no support, resort to giving himself a thumbs up for a lame comment.
Agreed. They spent most of their lives outdoors, and the shelters were mostly used at night and in inclement weather.
I’m a feelings kind of person, so I love it when you talk about how a place feels. Please be careful; you’re such a treasure to so many of us who get to see the world through your eyes.
How privileged are you to be able to see first hand these awesome wonders of the land and the remnants of past humans who lived there🌈❤️💜💚💙 Thanks for taking me along👏👏👏
Your video titles can seem like click-bait, but then you actually deliver the goods! Thanks for bringing us along. I appreciate your authentic, calm storytelling.
The dots are rain . The art work is a prayer . A representation of whats needed most . A picture of faith .
Your work is just fantastic, Andrew! What a joy! What a lovely group of people you've gathered here, too! Greetings, Gratitude and Respect to ALL!
Drifter... thanks for sharing your adventure with us. I admire your respect for the ancients and they're way of life and what they have left behind for us to wonder at. Your work and your integrity is muchly appreciated. God bless you Young Man!! Ax
The pleasure was all ours! Thank you for taking us along. Stay safe and God bless.
This is quickly becoming my favorite channel. Thank you.
Glad you enjoy it!
@Desert.Drifter thanks for the hike and views. Can you please tell me the maker of your cap? Ive been looking for that style and all i can find are those truckers caps which make me look like frankestein's monster! Hehee. Seriously, who makes your cap? Thanks
@@Desert.Drifter✌️see my comment request above
I like the longer videos. You could make an hour-long video and I would be happy to watch it.
I have never seen a less-than-ruined ruin with paint before you showed me today. I am astounded. I am no longer looking at some fallen down rocks. I am looking into a person's pantry, front room, and kitchen.
Good to remember; Take nothing but Photo's and memories, leave nothing but footsteps.
The preservation here is REMARKABLE! What a find! It is entirely likely that no one has even seen that site in 1000 years!
It’s not silly to think that animals communicate with us, or at least they try to. The owl knew what you were looking for and she showed it to you. She was being friendly, but one can’t blame her for showing caution when dealing with our species.
Thank you for bringing us to this amazing place
It's probably smarter for us to pay attention to what the animals are trying to tell us than what politicians do tell us.
Just Look at the wattle and daub, they knew what they were doing. It is lovely. thank you.
The green cannot be foilage based. It would decay to brown and black very quickly. Oxidized copper is most likely
I was thinking the same. If the green was from chlorophyll, microbes would have eaten it long ago.
I thought the exact same thing. There’s a lot of copper in the area, so it’s likely accessible to a degree.
Also fades, unless you strap copper to the wall.
The oxidized copper ore would be the mineral malachite.
Was thinking same copper flakes ground into paint
The people had so much ingenuity, creativity and were so determinedly industrious! I feel great love and nostalgia for their invaluable hearts!
Thanks for the tag along ! I’m 80 years and have dreamed for years of having the adventures you’re enjoying but never have and won’t have. I’m on the east coast and never was much inclined to travel. Your filming is pretty remarkable and much appreciated . I can almost visualize myself there. Safe travels in the future !
Glad you enjoyed the trek!
The first priority of these ancient people was survival. It was almost a continuous thing. It's something that we take for granted now, with our modern amenities. Pretty amazing how they maneuvered around these steep cliffs. What is really intriguing is how they got those footprints and other pictographs put on those surfaces, because of their height and angles. This was really great. Cheers!
Clearly you've never lived in CA. "Life in the fast lane" was one wrong step/ missed paycheck from disaster the entire time 😂
@@Loralanthalas I've never lived in California. Life In The Fast Lane is a song by The Eagles.
The first priority of all peoples is survival.
Courtesy of Half Vast Flying
This Hobbesian philosophy went out of style 450 years ago.
I envy their life
Maybe it's the time of the year but I'm surprised at the lack of spiders and their webs. Loved seeing the baby's feet (thank you mom or dad for sharing your child with us🥰). Hundreds of years later WOW! Can you imagine raising a child or children on that cliff?
Fantastic to see the infant foot marks. Little did these people know how long evidence of their existence would last. Thanks for another wonderful video. CynthiaB
in other cliff dwellings similar structures lining the cliff rim exist, perhaps an ancient form of toddler-catchers!
I love the way he talks about how it makes him feel and what it makes him reflect on. Feelings that only one could truly feel being face to face with these structures
And often on the verge of tears😊😮❤
Andrew thanks. I'm 73 and have been hiking in the Southwest mostly southern Utah and the Arizonia Strip. I have volunteer for the BLM where I reinvestigated sites that had not been seen since the 70's just to update their status. I started hiking these areas in the late 80's so I have seen a lot. I have seen lots of structures not many with stucco and paint and as someone commented these were probably brightly colored over the stucco. Its impossible to go out to these canyons and not viscerally feel the presence and spiritually of these people. And yes an animal spirit guide is always welcome. An owl is special. Trying to interpret the symbols to say the least is difficult. I have heard from current native Americans some explanations some I believe and some I question. Andrew, again thanks for your respect, your knowledge, your courage, and great videos. I am watching. Stay Safe.
It's like you read my mind, I always worry about you and always pray for your safety. Stay safe, I'm truly grateful for the amazing sights you take us to!!
Glad you’re still alive and kickin’. Thanks for taking us along on another awesome hike!
Thank u for showing the heritage that most people don't realize is out there
That first little ruin is one of the most beautiful ruins I’ve ever seen. I don’t ever recall seeing a painted structure before. Whoever built it was a craftsman. I’ve lived in my 19ft travel trailer for a couple years now and I can definitely relate to living in a small space. Owls are harbingers. Thanks again for sharing these videos! Amazing! 🦉😎✌🏼
I just found your channel the other day, and I've been enjoying so many if your videos. Thank you so much. I mean it. Thank you SO much! I'm almost 70 and have many physical challenges that completely forbid even idea of attempting to do what you seem to do so naturally. But, my friend, you give me the experience I would never otherwise have by posting these stunning videos! What a wonderful thing it is to see and be aware of what is in these ancient sites. I appreciate your respect for the land and the artifacts and glyphs. Wow. Just WOW. Your video quality is SO perfect and as you share your journeys, it is as if I/we have been there with you! I had no idea there were so many ancient sites like this. The imagination of old civilizations is intriguing. Something new for older, limited folks to experience and appreciate. You are the BEST!! I am grateful beyond words for your channel. Thank you for braving the elements for us! I wouldn't last 5 minutes sitting on a park bench in those high temps. I do get worried for you when you scale those rock faces and ledges! Amazing. And thank you for your advice to folks who may follow in your footsteps, the appreciation of preservation. You live the motto of "Take only pictures, leave only footprints".
Thank you again! 💞❤💞❤💞
Can you all hear that baby giggle?
Thanks for THE most amazing video . Kindest regards to your wife for lending you to us all.
I've seen that type of cryptobiotic soil. I didn't know what it was. I feel so bad now because I walked on it thinking it was just old dried out dead plants. Darn! Thanks for teaching me what it is. Won't do that again. Love your videos! Thank you!
I wouldn't know either and I do beleive I have encountered that stuff as well, I just thought it was oddly dried out mud. I will respect it now if I see it again. That is why videos like this are so valuable
I was fortunate to have a scout leader that taught us what it was on a camping trip in southern Utah.
I’m glad to hear it was a helpful piece of information. Thank you for taking it to heart
Owls, especially great horned owls are amazing creatures. I had the good fortune to see one when I was younger. I had taken a break along a trail in the woods of Pennsylvania and in a hemlock tree about 20 feet in front of me I saw these huge eyes open. Realizing it was an owl I sat very still. He/she leaned forward on the branch and with about 6 flaps of its wings was 60 feet higher in the tree. I will never forget that.
I really felt your emotion in the moment you realized there was a child's footprints painted on the wall, it really says something about your humanity and I mean that in the best way. Thanks for your great videos I look forward to each and every one of them.
Your videos are much appreciated! Most of us would never get to see the beauty of our country's ancient past. Thank you and God bless!!!
My wife and I live in Warrnambool Australia and just love watching your videos; amazing sites, so well presented, your gentle and sensitive commentary. Love it. Thank you! P&S
I just wanted to thank you for the wonderful videos. You show the proper respect to the ancients. Your skills with camera work is top notch too. The babies footprints were the highlight of my watching. Keep these videos coming. I can't get out there as much as I want, anymore so it's nice to watch it a through your eyes.
I think for the most part these people lived outside. The whole area out there was their living space. The small enclosed space would have been just for shelter when sleeping and keeping warm when the temperatures dropped.
For defense too.
Working and gathering all summer to store your grain and wood you'll need for the winter under these sheltered crevasses that typically gather water run off. Then huddling in the winter waiting for the spring again. This is beautiful land. I couldn't imagine trying to live off it. I was amazed at how m life is actually here in the Mohave and southwest. This place must have been heartbreakingly beautiful before it turned into desert country.
What do you think are the odds about discovering these things that nobody else has. I mean can you tell if any other people have been there besides the Indians. Like I'm just wondering you know are there still a lot of undiscovered ruins are you know are they all discovered have they all been documented have archaeologists really explored these areas well I mean what's the deal what's the background have they done a lot of extensive carbon dating or other means of dating have they looked at all kinds of things have they studied the wood rings just anything to you know date them really really knock it down I'm just wondering.
@@kayhansen9229 Most of it has been explored and plundered.
That's your guess
Hey Andrew,
I was an avid back packer, hunter and back country guide.
I appreciate the reverence you show to our ancestors in your videos. Since I haven’t been able to hike since breaking my ankle about a year ago, I’m extremely grateful to explore with you.
Now for a couple of tips that you can use in the desert ir the mountains.
1 - keep a marine air horn in you pack easily accessible. These are safer to use than bear spray. The nice thing about using these is you don’t have to worry about when direction and usually setting it off will scare off any kind of an animal that may be threatening you.
Not to mention, they can also be used to get peoples attention if you ever find yourself in a situation that you need help.
This is the size that I carry because I found it to be the Most reliable and they don’t weigh very much.
2 - super easy to carry tent and sleeping bag heaters.
I carry these in my pack, I especially like the large ones because I can open them and throw one in the tent and one in my sleeping bag and then just warm up good before I go to sleep and they will help. Keep you comfortable all night long.
Again, not very much weight and you can take multiple ones with you for multiple days. I have used these to keep warm in the high altitudes of Colorado up around 13,000 feet in late fall when the ridges can get extremely cold.
If I come up with any more tips, I hope you don’t mind if I share them with you. I am definitely looking forward to getting my hiking feet back under me. I’m getting back out and exploring the backcountry around Tucson, Arizona, where I currently reside.
Thank you
William Brown
I sent an email with some links to you as well. Maybe you can figure out how to add them back on here since RUclips washed out the links.
Once again I am compelled to tell you, many Thanks. I would not have the joy of seeing these places if not for your curiosity, passion, and your generosity in sharing your treks.
Hands down the most interesting sites I've seen on any channel so far. The green paint, large petroglyph panel (mercifully not defaced), the small footprints, and THE KIVA! WOW! Thanks for sharing this one!
Wow, man, what a trip! I've had similar experiences in side canyons of the Gila country. I know the feeling; like you're being watched. barely tolerated., those walls closing in. Thanks for being so respectful. Peace.
Great Work !!!! It's wonderful to see how native tribes lived way back when !!!!! Great Finds !!!!! I. Don't think anyone ever Been To These places , you MIGHT be the first, and first to FILM. Thank you so much !!!! And to see alot of not destroyed is wonderful !!!! Teresa
Don't be naive. He's not randomly stumbling across undocumented sites. These sites are all on public land and mapped, documented, and monitored by government archaeologists. He's visiting known sites because exploring a canyon with nothing in it wouldn't make very interesting youtube content.
Could be surprising but water and desert can be a dangerous combo. I’m an avid desert hiker and only once I’ve felt a real fear of death. I was camping half-way between a mountain and a canyon. At night a few raindrops hit the tent and I quickly realised that if it starts to rain I’m a goner.
The bare terrain hardly absorbs any water so if it would’ve rained, the water from the mountain would’ve swept me down to the gorge. Luckily it was just a drizzle but a valuable lesson on choosing a campsite. Thanks for informing about the cryptobiotic soil.
Great very interesting,wish I could join u but I'm 73 and my days of hiking are over,but I enjoy watching u
One thought have u ever come across any rattle snakes or mt.lions?
@@johnshiner3295Many of both.
I have explored this canyon many years ago and am happy to see it looks the same as it did. I hiked it during a dry spell though. Thank you for not giving out the exact location to your explorations. Too many people completely destroy these amazing sites.
As curious as I am to where all the places are that Drifter goes, I agree. It’s best to keep quiet. 👍
Agree!
Its in the Bears Ears National Monument, Grand Gulch to be exact. Its called the green house ruin along with a bunch more ruins and is well known about. Marked trails the whole way.
What an incredible place!! The rock formations alone are stunning. The petroglyphs were amazing, especially the "necklace". The 'wattle and daub" wall are surprisingly well preserved. What really got me was the baby footprints...they made me smile but also made me sad at the same time. Your narration is always so soothing, and so informative. Thank you so much. I'm glad that the canyon flooding wasn't any worse than it was, and you were able to get out safely.
Wattle and daub.
@@karennewberry4694 Sorry about that! Arthritis contributes to typos all too often. Thanks for letting me know.😄
To say this is astounding is an understatement! It doesn't seem the canyons/ancestors weren't taunting you but more guiding you to show who they were. The large pictograph looked to be the story of creation with the one wearing the necklace the creator and spin offs of other worlds from him. Thank you for this wonderful video.
Thanks for your videos. It has inspired me (a 61 year old backpacker and serious hiker from way back) to get out and do a couple more trips with my adult sons. Love it !!!
Wow! Thank you for this wonderful snapshot of history. I can't get over how complete, how intact, those structures were. This is maybe the first time ANYBODY has seen that level of preservation in this type of site outside of a handful of hikers. Great production, also. That green paint has me mesmerized, it can't be very common? That's part of what I really enjoy about your videos, I see things I want to go learn more about so.... off to google I go! Thanks again.
-Swirls, meandering lines - I read someplace that it's theorized they may have indicated the path or map of a waterway, the swirls "watering holes," or other points of accumulation. The people either "you are here," or other clans. Who knows though, but... maybe. Kinda like a system of community built free KOA campsites for seasonally nomadic hunter gatherer clans.. the hand prints, "we were here..."
The wind blows down the canyon, blows dust and ghosts
words long gone, down the canyon
thoughts and dreams.
Time blows down the canyon, passed stone and mud,
mud and sand and sage,
stone stacked on stone, bourn back down by time,
worn away, good walls, good memories, worn away.
Water flows and rages and lays down and dies,
lizards and snakes and grasshoppers watch the owl
to see where she will go, who she will kill
how she will ride the wind through time.
A laughing child defies time, walking on the stone,
riding the wind, riding time through tomorrow
as though yesterday never was.
Today. And again. And again
Time blows down the canyon, blows dust and ghosts,
rages and dies.
Beautiful poem
Haunting.
you really captured something there ❤
Beautiful meaningful poem good job
Spectacular video. The Kiva with ladder was unbelievable. Baby footprints and petroglyphs were also amazing to see. Thank you for taking us there.
I don't do heights. Thanks for walking me through this.
If I was there, I would probably cry, absolutely incredible, just incredible.
Beautiful scenery, history, and philosophy. Thank you for sharing everything.
This was remarkable. Glad you were safe. I loved this video & especially the entire wall with dots and hand/footprints in red. Reminds me of Hawaiian petroglyphs where entire families would come from all the inhabitd islands to bury their babies' umbilical chords in holes dug
in the lava. There are lots of similarities. I also loved the Kiva with the partial ladder, the owl, your backpack dinner. Glad to see they are now putting pnut butter/honey in little packets. We didn't have all that backpack food. We dried our own everything & dispensed our pnut butter into a plastic tube. I never got into the Utah/Arizona/Colorado areas for backpacking. Having only weekends, we hit the Sierras, so these videos are just wonderful for an old person like me. Keep 'em coming. & thanks. Oakland Ca
What an amazing day. So many things like the green paint, the footprints and kiva, the owl. Sometimes it makes you want to weep. Thank you for sharing.
Yes! The little foot prints nearly did me in.
Thanks Phyllis, the owl was a special guest for sure
There are spots close to where I live in the Pilbara Region of Western Australia that shows similar spirals. Different people making the same or similar patterns. Strange and wonderful.
Perhaps you found a birthing place. I know there are birthing caves where the women would go when the time came. I'm just wondering if maybe this is one of those places.
My heart truly soars with emotion during your videos. I especially cherish the fact that you educate preservation of not only these sacred ruins, but of the land surrounding them as well. ✨Thank you!✨
Have watched several of the canyon climbers. This is the best preserved dwellings I have seen.
The grainery closure stones just blew me away! First I have seen amongst the climbers.
You have a healthy intuition, the ancients direct you to their past abodes because you always share a humble respect for their way of life and though you don’t know them by name your videos keep them alive and significant to us, your viewers.
I wrote the previous prior to seeing the baby footprints at the last site you filmed and I have to share my thoughts on why I think the parents did this. I believe that all humans, regardless of generation feel the need to record their lives in the reality we call life. We cherish our children more than anything else in the world and want to preserve the proof of their existence for all whom come after us. Not unlike the footprint on our birth certificate and the bronzed baby shoes parents used to hang on the rear view mirror of their 1950’s automobiles to share their love and there reason for living; their children’s existence!
Clearly my favorite episode. What other given to be with you on this canyon visit. I'm so intrigued by the petroglyphs. And the wall drawings. I totally should have been a anthropologist in the American Southwest.
Absolutely gorgeous scenery🙏 The great flood laid down wonderful beauty for us to enjoy😄
I wish I still had the legs and back to do this. Growing up in south-central Colorado, I believed that the only place one could find actual cliff dwellings was Mesa Verde or the dwellings removed from Mesa Verde and taken to Manitou Springs CO. Even in college my assumption was that Chaco Canyon was the only other dwelling besides Mesa Verde. So Andrew, thank you for taking me/us on your journeys, and allowing us to see these remote dwellings. And thank you for modeling reverence and respect forthe Ancient Ones. This is a wonderful video!
I too have never seen anything look so perfactly preserved
i have only seen reconstructed ruins. It is so impressive to see undisturbed ones. Your beautiful spirit makes this even better.
I never seen anything like you show us Andrew. The places are beyond beautiful, beyond amazing. To think of who could have been there, how long they stayed. Some of those pictures on the rock looked familiar to me. I'll keep to myself because it would only be a guess. I look forward to all of your videos and the peace it brings me. And I'm sure besides you wife, someone always know where to go look for you if you not back in a certain length of time. I know they would find you. But hey we are who we are and were still going to worry and pray for your safe return and a new video of wonder.