Coronado National Monument

About two weeks after the last national monument, we hit the next one. The Coronado National Monument was very interesting. The Conquistadors walked over this barren land and through heat in very heavy armor (we actually tried some on) in search of Cebola (the seven cities of gold). We hiked up the mountain (drove most of the way) and as we hiked there were signs along the way of quotes from the expedition. The expedition was, of course, considered a failure because they did not find any cities of gold, but I thought one quote was especially poignant: "I have always noticed, and it is a fact, that often when we have something valuable in our possession and handle it freely, we do not esteem or appreciate it in all its worth, as we would if we could realize how much we would miss it if we were to lose it. Thus we gradually belittle its value, but once we have lost it and we miss its benefits we feel it in our hearts and are forever moody, thinking of ways and means to retrieve it. This, it seems to me, happened to all or most of those who went on that expedition, which Francisco Vazquez Coronado led in search of the Seven Cities, in the year of our Savior, Jesus Christ, 1540. For although they did not obtain the riches of which they had been told, they found the means to discover them and the beginning of a good land to settle in and from which to proceed onward." –Castaneda’s History of the Expedition, October, 1596

They were so caught up in finding some crazy mythical cities that they failed to notice the value of what we immediate around them. HHHHMMMM.....

Anyways, our kids were so proud of themselves to make it to the top of the mountain. It felt like we were on top of the world. You could see 360 degrees and it was a beautifully clear day so we could see forever!

It is funny; our kids show their personalities just by the way they hike. Reagan catches onto the idea immediately and is very single-minded to the task at hand (getting to the top). She doesn't want any help and is extremely determined. Chase wants to stay at the bottom just picking up rocks and sticks and throwing them. He dawdles... big time. Chase is quite content to stay in one spot explore the dirt immediately around him. Logan.... he is somewhere in the middle of Reagan and Chase. He loves throwing the rocks, but wants to get to the top as well. There is one more quote. A bit long, but I really enjoyed the description:

"From Coronado Peak the ranks of distant mountains seem to march across the plain. In silent procession they vanish over the horizon- and with them seems to go the urgent, pulsing time that man uses to count the years of a life or an age. In this perspective, past centuries blend into a timeless present…
Far below, where the green-banded course of the San Pedro River marks the valley floor, the expedition’s advance party crawls across the immense landscape. The marching line can barley be seen, so insignificant it is upon this spacious stage. Into the unknown these few men come undaunted. With them they bring the seeds of a new civilization. They look upon this great land as something to conquer. They will raise their crosses, declare dominion for God and King. They will name mountains and rivers and valleys after their saints. They are Conquistadors-God and Santiago give them strength.
There is an urge to dare in man; the difficult and the demanding challenge him. Goals and tools may change with the times, but the urge does not. Here on Coronado Peak that urge to dare, as it moved men four centuries ago, can be understood.
It is good that those dusty men below-fading now into distance and heat shimmer-are Spaniards. For they and their successors bring into North America a passionate culture that enriches our lives with rhythm and color, form and food.
With them comes the ardent soul of Spain and Mexico."