Mountain Mom and Tots

McConkie Ranch Petroglyphs, Dry Fork Canyon, Vernal, Utah

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Before our visit to Dinosaur National Monument, the Mountain Fam visited some cool Petroglyphs located at McConkie Ranch in Dry Fork Canyon near Vernal, Utah. These rock art images date back to the Fremont People over 1500 years ago, and were really fun to see.

On this trip we were lucky to bring Big E and little g’s cousin, aunt and uncle along and pointing out the rock art to the tots along the trail was the best part of the hike. Carved warriors, painted figures, even a carving of a bear graced the walls of this 1 mile hike.

My sister-in-law is an anthropologist and her insight into the historical culture surrounding the McConkie Ranch Petroglyphs was especially interesting. For me it was tough to differentiate between actual petroglyphs and more recent imitations, but her knowledge of ancient peoples was helpful.

This trail is located on private land, is well marked and requires a small parking fee. It’s well worth it. Although the terrain on the McConkie Ranch Petroglyphs hike was difficult, the total hike was short and with a little creativity the tots found a good way down.

McConkie Ranch/Dry Fork Canyon Petroglyphs:

Getting There: From downtown Vernal take 500 North heading west. Turn right onto 3500 West, which becomes Dry Fork Canyon Road/Red Cloud Loop Road. Drive about 6.5 miles to McConkie Ranch Road, follow signs to parking area.

Distance: Approximately 1 mile.

Tips: Three Kings Trail also begins at this parking area and leads off to the right. The shorter Main Trail follows the cliff face to the left.

Dinosaur National Monument, Fossil Discovery Trail, Utah Colorado Border

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After viewing more than 1500 fossils at Dinosaur National Monument’s Quarry Exhibit Hall, the ranger suggested we take the tots on the Fossil Discovery Trail, a quick 1.2 mile walk from the Exhibit Hall to the Visitors Center. Since I thought the Quarry Exhibit Hall was so utterly amazing, I was especially interested in seeing what fossils would’ve looked like to the first paleontologists who searched this area. The Fossil Discovery Trail did just that.

The Fossil Discovery Trail offers a quick peak at fossilized remains of dinosaurs and clams still on the rock face. A trail brochure points out exactly where to look, as well as the arrows painted on the rock, but here little g found a fossilized leg bone of a sauropod dinosaur all on her own.

The hike had some steep sections that were tough for little feet, but it was easy to shorten the hike by choosing to just explore one of the three offshoot trails. Each of the spurs shows different kinds of fossils, but the dinosaur bones were the most interesting for us so we only went on that trail section.

The Fossil Discovery Trail would’ve been a perfect hour long hike, if my tots would’ve cooperated. Since little g is at the point where she wants to walk on her own but isn’t quite able to go the whole way without help, I ended up carrying her for most of the way.

Since his sister got to be carried, Big E wanted a shoulder ride too. When I just couldn’t take little g’s weight anymore, I tried bribing, coercing, enticing and playing to get her to keep walking. She just stopped to look at wildflowers. Finally when the visitor’s center was in sight my potty training toddler looked at me with a smile and said “I POOPED!” Why not wait five more minutes girl?

Overall the Fossil Discovery Trail at Dinosaur National Monument was a great hike, but next time I’ll be glad my kids are older.

FOSSIL DISCOVERY TRAIL INFO:

Trailhead: Start at the Quarry Exhibit Hall parking lot to hike downhill to the Visitors Center, or start at the Visitors Center and hike up.

Difficulty: Moderate

Length: 1.2 miles, 1 hour

Tips: Bring water and wear a hat and sunscreen. There is no shade. Also pick up a trail brochure for clues on where to see the fossils.

Dinosaur National Monument, north of Jensen, Utah, border of Utah and Colorado

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Last week I experienced something truly amazing – Dinosaur National Monument on the border of Colorado and Utah. The crowning attraction of Dinosaur National Monument is the world famous Quarry Exhibit Hall, a rock wall with more than 1,500 dinosaur fossils still embedded in stone.

I do not exaggerate when I say this should be one of the wonders of the world. Almost everyone has seen dinosaur skeletons in museums, but to see so many fossils still embedded in stone, the dinosaur remains in their final resting place – it was amazing.

This unique treasure was discovered in 1909 by Earl Douglass, a paleontologist who found a dinosaur spine literally sticking out of the mountain. Good thing he knew where to look.This area has many layers of fossilized remains due to its unique position as an ancient river delta. Dinosaur remains of stegosaurus, camarasaurus and diplodocus washed down river and congregated in one location, which later fossilized preserving the amazing wall of bone we have today.

Amazingly, since the skeletons of these dinosaurs are fairly common, and since nothing quite like this fossil wall exists elsewhere in the world, this tableau of history has been preserved as is for people to explore. The Quarry Exhibit Hall blew my mind, and the photos just don’t do it justice.

If you ever have a chance to visit Dinosaur National Monument, DO IT!

INFO:

Difficulty: Easy. A five minute shuttle ride from the visitors center transports guests to the recently renovated Quarry Exhibit Hall.

Time: 1 – 3 hours

Open hours: Summer 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. Although Dinosaur National Monument is open year round, reduced staffing affects the Quarry Exhibit Hall schedule. Click here for more details.

Tips: Although the Visitors Center and Quarry Exhibit Hall are air conditioned, I would still avoid visiting here in the heat of summer. It’s a desert after all.

Motherhood Moments: Acceptable Risk in the Outdoors

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I recently read this fascinating article from Psychology Today on why children need risky play. In it author Peter Grey reviews research by Ellen Sandester that says that children seek out risky play in the following six categories.

Great Heights – perhaps this is why little g and Big E try to rock climb up the fireplace
Rapid Speeds – sledding, snowboarding, skiing, bikes
Dangerous Tools – Big E asks to help cut vegetables, use the drill or hammer anything, anywhere
Dangerous Elements – Fire and deep bodies of water
Rough and Tumble – My favorite game growing up was tickle monster, now it’s my kids’ as well
Getting Lost/Disappearing – Hide and Seek, kids only play spaces

The article explains that kids crave play in this way to test their limits, learn how to handle fear and to feel thrill by combining the joy of freedom with a dose of danger. Risky play can help with emotional regulation of children, teaching them how to keep a level head when they feel scared or how to manage anger when rough and tumble play gets out of hand.

If free play involving some element of danger is so important to kids development, why is it so hard as a parent to let them do it? In general I allow my tots as much freedom as I can, at times resulting in being too lenient compared to other parents.

On a recent adventure to Bridal Veil Falls in Provo Canyon, Utah I was fine with my five year old son climbing this rocky slope, while my brother and sister in law stopped their four year old daughter halfway up. They were both being safe, and nobody got hurt.

Later, Big E decided to explore the back side of the fish pond, which was only accessible via a path on a steep section of mountain that could’ve easily resulted in sliding into the water. Since the water was only a foot or two deep (although it was frigid) I was fine with E exploring there, but again my niece was not allowed to go. In that moment I felt pressure to stop Big E from his risky play, since that’s what the other adults expected, but another part of me wanted to stop the adults from being so uptight.

I understand the play it safe mentality that parents use with kids. I do it myself as well. On most outdoor adventures I find myself issuing the same well used warnings to my kids that my brother and sister in law used with theirs. Be careful! Come down from there! You’re too far ahead, I have to see you!

Saying these things helps me feel like I’m in control of my children’s behavior, even though I know I’m not. I may control their location, I may have told them my expectations, but in any given moment I cannot force them to act in a certain way. I believe this is the trust of parenthood, how much freedom can I feel comfortable giving my children? As they grow, that amount must increase as well.

After reading Risky Play: Why Children Need It and Love It I’ve decided to stop trying to control every move my children make. If they are exploring the woods I will only allow myself one “Be Careful.” If they want to throw rocks in water, I’ll join in with them. I hope being involved with their play will mitigate the dangers I see and they don’t, and hopefully we’ll all be better off for it.

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