Penitente Canyon, CO

[RGINN]

Camped here in the northern San Luis Valley. The Penitentes were active in this area and sometimes used the canyon for Semana Santa ceremonies. Some years back, some of them hung down from the rim on tire swings and painted a mural of the Virgen de la Guadalupe. Above her head they wrote, 'Con Sufrimiento y Consuelo'. Or maybe 'Consuelo y Espiritu'. Later on, somebody came along and used it for target practice, destroying her face. Great place to camp, but had to throw up a quick shelter for the storm that was comin in. Promised rain, but didn't deliver. Check out the pictographs, which are probably prehistoric Apache.

 

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[WannaDig3687]

You are always challenging me to learn. Good! I had no idea who you were referring to, so, I looked it up.

https://history.denverlibrary.org/news/hermanos-penitentes-southern-colorado-and-northern-new-mexico


That last pic is awesome when double clicked!

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Wonderful area to take photos!

 

[cyzak]

Your idea of camping is a lot like mine no tent only tarp needed if rain coming. Folks who know me think I'm crazy but I like being out in the open gives me a better feeling on the outside world.

 

[diggingthe1]

Great pictures, I love that last one. There are a lot of interesting things to explore around there. Did you see any snakes, the locals would always warn us of rattlers in that area when my wife and I lived in Alamosa. There was a big Native American war to the south of there.

 

[old digger]

Nice! It's interesting in the way you set up your bedroll protection. Some of the nomad prehistoric Indians would use a buffalo hide in the same manner. I found one such site similar, but was surrounded on all side, and was about three feet deep. You kind of had to jump into the small area, (about eight foot by ten foot. I found a projectile point with one notch (Possibly not finished) ,and a scraper in the bottom. It was sandy at the bottom.

 

[cyzak]

Great pictures, I love that last one. There are a lot of interesting things to explore around there. Did you see any snakes, the locals would always warn us of rattlers in that area when my wife and I lived in Alamosa. There was a big Native American war to the south of there.

Were was this Native American war located if I might ask and who with.

 

[diggingthe1]

Were was this Native American war located if I might ask and who with.

Sorry cyzak, I cant find anything to back up what I said. Maybe I heard it from the locals, or maybe I read it somewhere. It sure sticks out in my memory. I remember it was in the flat part north of the Rio Grande before you get to the foothills. West of Del Norte and North. It might have been just because someone found more points than usual. I will keep looking for for something to reference

 

[cyzak]

Sorry cyzak, I cant find anything to back up what I said. Maybe I heard it from the locals, or maybe I read it somewhere. It sure sticks out in my memory. I remember it was in the flat part north of the Rio Grande before you get to the foothills. West of Del Norte and North. It might have been just because someone found more points than usual. I will keep looking for for something to reference

No problem what so ever there were quite a few Indian wars in that area back in the day it was always and interesting place to go for a walk about.

 

[A2coins]

I am drooling what an adventure

 

[A2coins]

Someday Someday