 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| SHIP OF THE DESERT
TSE BI DAHI "ROCK WITH WINGS" IS SACRED TO THE NAVAJO INDIAN NATION. ANCIENT MYTH TELLS HOW THE ROCK WAS ONCE A GREAT BIRD THAT TRANSPORTED ANCESTRAL PEOPLE OF THE NAVAJOS TO THEIR LANDS IN WHAT IS NOW NORTHWESTERN NEW MEXICO. THE NAVAJO ANCESTORS HAD CROSSED A NARROW SEA FAR TO THE NORTHWEST, AND WERE FLEEING FROM A WARLIKE TRIBE. TRIBAL SHAMANS PRAYED TO THE GREAT SPIRIT FOR HELP. SUDDENLY THE GROUND ROSE FROM BENEATH THEIR FEET TO BECOME AN ENORMOUS BIRD. FOR AN ENTIRE DAY AND NIGHT, THE BIRD FLEW SOUTH, FINALLY SETTLING AT SUNDOWN WHERE SHIPROCK NOW STANDS. THE LEGEND OF THE ROCK SEEMS LIKE A METAPHOR, HINTING OF THE SITE'S MAGICAL POWER TO LIFT THE HUMAN SOUL ABOVE THE PROBLEMS OF DAILY EXISTANCE INTO AN AWARENESS OF THE GREAT SPIRIT. FROM ANCIENT TIMES TO THE MORE RECENT PAST, TSE BI DAHI WAS INDEED A PILGRIMAGE OF MAJOR IMPORTANCE, THE DESTINATION OF YOUNG MEN ENGAGED IN THE RIGORS OF SOLITARY VISION QUESTS. THE "SHIP OF THE DESERT" IS A DORMANT 40-MILLION YEAR-OLD VOLCANO PINNACLE. HIGH TRAP DYKES RUN NORTH FROM UTAH AND SOUTH FROM THE MAIN SPIRE. THE SILENT SENTRY RISES ABOVE THE FOUR CORNERS NEW MEXICO PLAIN. IT'S ELEVATION IS 7, 178 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL. ON A CLEAR DAY, SHIPROCK'S GHOSTLY IMAGE CAN BE SEEN FROM COLUMBINE PASS IN SOUTHWEST COLORADO. THE MONOLITH IS ONLY SIX MILES FROM U.S. HIGHWAY 666 AND THIRTEEN MILES FROM IT'S NAMESAKE, SHIPROCK, NEW MEXICO. FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE ROCK WAS CLIMBED IN 1939. SINCE 1970, SHIPROCK HAS BEEN OFF LIMITS TO CLIMBERS. ONCE AGAIN, RESPECT DUE TO A NAVAJO SACRED PLACE... IN THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT NEW MEXICO |
|
