MQB001
Location: 37.4834594726562, -110.640998840332
Begin 3.4-mile approach through the long, winding watercourse lined by sheer-walled patinated sandstone
MQB002
Location: 37.4706649780273, -110.59504699707
Tie-off for powerboat and houseboat at lake level 3,600 ft.
MQB003
Location: 37.4699821472168, -110.591018676758
R @ Y into Mocqui Canyon; North Gulch to the L offers miles of hiking and route to the rim along an old San Juan Gold Rush-era cattle trail
MQB004
Location: 37.4688835144043, -110.586585998535
Vegetation and cattails cover many quicksand traps
MQB005
Location: 37.4696846008301, -110.582336425781
Primitive campsite: ideal place to basecamp; fire ring still in use. Nearby, a precarious set "Moki Steps" leads 200 ft. from the canyon floor to an intact set of ruins in the alcove above. Only confident scramblers should endeavor on these exposed climbs up sheer sandstone. Marvel at the ability of the Anasazi to live in such conditions, but do not disturb the surroundings.
MQB006
Location: 37.46728515625, -110.580680847168
Large sandslide used to exit canyon; entrance for road approach
MQB007
Location: 37.4646987915039, -110.568733215332
View of ruins in alcove above
MQB008
Location: 37.4639015197754, -110.567581176758
Scramble up sandy, grass-lined banks
MQB009
Location: 37.4641151428223, -110.567085266113
Halfway up from canyon floor, a large bank juts out providing a perfect lunch spot and access to ruins on high alcove above
MQB010
Location: 37.4614181518555, -110.565200805664
Grove of wildflowers overtakes the canyon banks.
MQB011
Location: 37.4630661010742, -110.563568115234
Spot ruins on south canyon wall
MQB012
Location: 37.4598503112793, -110.562309265137
Unclimbable, defaced Moki steps to third set of ruins
A set of well-preserved ruins high above the canyon
Location: 37.4650459289551, -110.566856384277
©Andrew Matranga
Entrance to a small dwelling
Location: 37.4650459289551, -110.566856384277
©Andrew Matranga
Anasazi ruins high in an alcove
Location: 37.4652519226074, -110.566940307617
©Dale Diulus and Andrew Matranga
Climbing Moki Steps
Location: 37.4602928161621, -110.561882019043
These steps, chisled centuries ago, lead hundreds of feet up a sheer wall. Not long ago, someone had chipped the handolds to prevent climbing. ©Dale Diulus
Close up of Moki Steps
Location: 37.4601898193359, -110.563117980957
Leading up a sheer wall, the Puebloans used these steps to access their dwellings high above the canyon. ©Andrew Matranga
Ruins high above the canyon
Location: 37.4705200195312, -110.58171081543
©Andrew Matranga
Quicksand
Location: 37.4689674377441, -110.585945129395
©Andrew Matranga
Sandslide
Location: 37.4658699035644, -110.580780029297
©Andrew Matranga
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