Larry A. Smail's Blog

Balanced Rock…a favorite place of tourists.

The natural area known as the Garden of the Gods was definitely a place we wished to experience. Others had mentioned of this site and we anxiously waited to see the beauty.

Eagle nests

Prior to the travel to the garden we watched a short movie called, “How Did Those Rocks Get There?” Laurie and I strongly  disagree with all the theories concerning how the landscapes became to be, but we watched the movie. We are amazed at the constant bombardment as to the millions upon billions of years for individual places to have come to be.  There are serious issues with the Carbon dating techniques being used to determine ages, however, the thought process still insist of using this method to determine age without question. There are plenty of scientists who disagree with the measuring techniques, but I have listened to their talks as to how they are continually being pushed aside by museums and their colleagues. I guess a discussion should fall into a future entry here and not to take up space.

The red-orange rocks and high displays are truly a view to behold as we gazed upon the sky-reaching structures jut upward.  Years ago the area was known as Red Rock Corral.  The present name came to be when two men seeing the area in 1859 made claims the site would a great place for the gods to assemble to drink.

In past years many Indian tribes utilized the area. as well. The Apaches, Utes, Shoshones, Kiowa, Lakota and Pawnee spent time in the rock areas. The Ute still come and do ceremonies  here.  For example, the Utes clam of a spiritual connection to the red rocks.

We saw two nests of the Golden eagles perched into rock crevices. Mule deer were present and we saw five Bighorn Rams outside of the garden of the Gods site.

Pikes Peak

In the distance we saw Pikes Peak named after Zebulon Pike, an early American explorer. The gardens are registered  as a National Historical Landmark. Pikes Peak is 14,115 feet above sea level.