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Show THE SAX JUAX RECORD Thursday, Sept. 13, 1953, Page 7 Scenic Spendor In One of The Few Remaining Frontiers In This Magnificient Southwest Area A vast and almost unexplored area of spectacular scenic beauty lies practically Monticello's back door. Just around the northern end of the range of the Blue Mountains begins an expanse of terrain so rough that few have had the time and skill to explore the area in its entirity. Mile after mile of twisting rock wall separate the thousands of small vallejs that make up the eastern end of the area with deep canyons and high hills to the west. Thousands of slender spires of solid stone rise from the valleys and natural bridges and arches are common scenes. This mysterious valley is known as the Needles. Because of it's vast area and exceptional roughness, roads are almost unseen in the area. Until the time when roads make travel possible the quick and easy way to see the unbelievable sights is from the air. Pictures on this page weie taken from a plane belonging to Ed Hall of Western Mine Supply. The use of the plane makes it possible for the San Juan Record to give its readers a few scenes from the Needles. Along the east side of the Needles the cliffs surrounding thousands of small valleys give the feeling of a close up look at the surface of the moon and its cratersi The tan and red rock form strange figures as they rise in spires combined with natures unbelievable talent of balance. The formation of a perfect color scheme is completed by the back drop of green pinon and the blue of the distant hills as the scene stretches and is lost in the haze. at To the west the terrain becomes more level for a shoit distance then suddenly drops into the depth of the earth in a canyon etched by the twisting course of the Colorado River over a period of millions of years. At the bottom of the colorful walls of the canyon the Colorado still w inds toward the southw est so deep in the earth that the sun only reaches it for a short time each day. The sights along this canyon are unequaled anywhere. West from the river the scene returns to the high hills and green valley and the strange rock formations that nature seemed to enjoy playing with. For miles in all directions the eye can feast upon sights that are unbelievable in beauty and unlimited in space. This is the largest area of its kind in this section of the country. For those interested in studying the area from the ground Kent Frost, owmer of the B M Bar Ranch south of Monticello, offers jeep trips into the Needles. These trips take about ten days and are well worth the effort. Ten days ago we had the The slides were pleasure of sitting in at a showing of color slides taken In the Needles by Mary Beckwith of Los Angeles. and in were and ious workmanship. taken in the area on two pre outstanding beauty trips When this area of outstand ng scenic beauty is opened to travel for the public it will provied a new attraction for tourists unlike anything they have seen before. Along with Monument Valley, the Arches, The Natural Bridges andall the others,'1 The Needles will establish the proof that this area is the largest and most beautiful scenic area of them all. Record Photos w ith aerial assistance courtesy of Westei n Mine Supply Fred Cox f |