Penitente Canyon and Elephant Rock Introduction: rocks resulting from this eruption were unusually uniform in composition. This would imply that the ash cooled as a single unit. This Penitente Canyon unit is known as the Fish Canyon Tuff. Many The canyon itself is part of the La Garita sections of the Fish Canyon Tuff are over 4,000 Caldera, a volcanic eruption that occurred in the feet thick. The area at Elephant Rocks is mainly San Juan Mountains about 26-28 million years grassland with scattered massive boulders laid ago. It is said to be the largest known explosive out. It is also habitat to the rock loving eruption in the Earth’s history, sending ash as far Neoparrya, which flourishes in igneous outcrops off as the U.S. Eastern Seaboard. The resulting or sedimentary rocks from volcanic eruptions. deposit is called Fish Canyon Tuff, which is The Neoparrya is native to the San Luis Valley volcanic ash molded together, according to and is known to exist only here and in the Wet Colville. The resulting geological formations are Mountain Valley regions. The Fish Canyon Tuff ideal for the sport of rock climbing. makes up the Elephant Rocks and gradually The La Garita Mountains are a sub-range of erodes over time to provide the proper soil the San Juans in southwest Colorado and chemistry and growth conditions in order for comprising parts of the Rio Grande and the this plant to thrive. The recreation area is 378 Gunnison National Forests. This lesser known acres with an elevation of 7,900 feet managed wilderness area in Colorado is actually one by the Bureau of Land Management. The area Colorado's original five wilderness designations. has very little precipitation and cold La Garita means "the lookout" in Spanish, and temperatures. these mountains also serve as the primary source for the Rio Grande River which flows south and east through Colorado and into New Mexico and Statement of Purpose: Texas before dumping into the Gulf of Mexico. The Bureau of Land Management's National Large amounts of elk and deer thrive in the Landscape Conservation System contains and forests in the La Garita Mountains and this area highlights some of the American West's most is one of the richer places for hunting during the spectacular public lands so they may be season. One of the best parts of the Colorado protected, conserved, or restored. These areas Trail pass through the heart of the La Garitas are congressionally or presidentially and mostly being above tree line allowing for designated. The system includes national one of the most scenic sections of the trail. monuments, national conservation areas, national scenic and historic trails, wild and Elephant Rock scenic rivers, wilderness areas, wilderness study The significant features of the area are areas, and congressionally designated attributed the largest pyroclastic eruption in the management areas. world. The eroded ash forms the elephant- The Penitente Canyon and Elephant Rock shaped boulders. It is part of the San Juan areas are obvious candidates for conservation volcanic field and the La Garita caldera. The and preservation due to their unique geological San Luis Valley OWL: Penitente Canyon and Elephant Rock page 1 of 29 blueprints and rich cultural history. In addition, Other Amenities―Drinking water is available at the unique opportunities for climbing, hiking, the well house near the campground entrance and mountain biking make these areas typically May through October. A picnic shelter, extraordinary for students and adults alike. an interpretative kiosk, toilets and a trash dumpster are located in the day-use area at the entrance to Penitente Canyon. Check the Location: entrance kiosk for more information. Park Regulations: Refer to Penitente “Leave No Penitente Canyon is located north of Monte Trace” Handout Vista and south of Saguache, Co. From U.S. Elephant Rocks 285, turn west on Saguache County Road G. There are no existing facilities and amenities After six miles, you will pass the La Garita to note. Follow the “Pack in, pack out” and Trading Post. Go another 0.5 miles to a Y “Leave no trace” ethics and guidelines. intersection, take the left fork (County Road 38A). Travel 0.5 miles to the entrance to the recreation area on the right. Things to Consider: Elephant Rock―from the intersection of US 160 and CO 112 in the center of Del Norte, head Penitente Canyon―See Penitente Canyon north on CO 112 about three miles and turn left “Leave No Trace” Handout: Be aware of the (north) on Rio Grande CR 33. The Elephant possibilities of Bears, Mountain Lions, and Rocks begin almost immediately to the west of Rattlesnakes. Bring lots of water as this area has this road. To get to the Saguache County lots of sun exposure and is above 8,000 feet. portion, continue north about three more miles The trails are well maintained but athletic shoes until Rio Grande CR 33 becomes Saguache CR or hiking boots are recommended. 38-A. Elephant Rocks―Same considerations and similar features as Penitente Canyon. Agency Contacts: Saguache Field Office BLM/USFS Cultural and/or Natural 46525 Hwy 114 Saguache, Colorado 81149 History Information: 719-655-2547 Years ago, Penitente Canyon served as a place FAX 719-655-2502 of worship for Los Hermanos Penitente, a Spanish religious sect, around 1880. Pictographs discovered there depict game drives Site Information: through the canyon pre-dating even the Spanish The Canyon area is comprised of 4,552 acres settlement of the area. It is believed the panels that include a wealth of trails and routes for were created by either from Pueblo, Apache or hikers, mountain bikers, and climbers alike. The Ute tribes. following amenities are available: The canyon, which is now managed by the Camping―The area has two group campsites BLM, was once part of the vast Guadeloupe and fourteen single campsites. They cannot be Land Grant, which deals with Spanish lands that reserved and are filled on a first-come, first- were lost to the U.S. during the Mexican served basis. Fees for the group and single American War. Other rock art found in the campsites are posted at the fee area. Checkout canyon depicts what may have been a large time for all sites is at noon. There are some sites “net” set up at a narrow location in the canyon available for dispersed camping. designed to trap game chased between the high San Luis Valley OWL: Penitente Canyon and Elephant Rock page 2 of 29 rocks by native hunters. An act by three Hispanic men in the early 1980’s led to the name by which the canyon is now known. The men, members of the Penitente church who lived in the area, decided to paint a mural to honor the Virgin of Guadalupe, whose image, it is said, miraculously appeared on the cloak of an indigenous peasant near Mexico City in 1531, and who is highly revered by Mexican Catholics. Using a pallet of red, blue, black and white, they rendered the likeness of the Virgin against the red rock high up above the canyon floor. Atop the mural they painted in red the words “Con Sufrimiento y Consuelo” which translates to “With Suffering and Consolation.” Others have suggested the faded words read “Consuelo y Espiritu” (Comfort and Courage).The men also painted their names on the rocks at the base of the mural ― Victor, Abel and Victor ― signatures which are quickly fading due to erosion and weathering. But it didn’t take long before a drunk man with a pistol decided to use the painting for target practice and shot it up, completely obliterating the face and leaving pockmarks in and around it. Two climbers, Tom Helvie and Anna Kekesi, rappelled down the wall and plastered the bullet holes, but were unable to restore the face of the Virgin. Elephant Rocks See Penitente information for general cultural climate. San Luis Valley OWL: Penitente Canyon and Elephant Rock page 3 of 29 Objectives: 1) Students will be able to use dichotomous Using keys to identify local trees. 2) They will become familiar with relevant Dichotomous Keys Latin terminoloty in identifying genus and species of plants TOPIC: Tree Identification GRADE LEVELS: Standards: 3-12 English 4.1, Science 2.9 DURATION: 45 minutes pre-activity 2-3 hours on site Background: KEY WORDS: In science, classification is an important skill Dichotomous Key used to organize information. Field guides about Coniferous plants, or mammals, or insects, fungi, or anything else use various systems to sort and EQUIPMENT KIT & LOCATION: organize organisms. This systematic sorting Located at Saguache BLM Office allows the guide user to select and identify the Colorado Conifer Key unknown. Some field guides are organized by Dichotomous Key Book shape or color, but all field guides try to help the Topographical Map user conduct a process of elimination that Pencils ultimately leads to the correct answer or positive Resource Handout Booklet identification of the object in question. Science Notebooks One of the activities at Penitente Canyon focuses on dichotomous keys. A dichotomous SUMMARY: key provides a series of yes-no questions about Students will explore how to use a traits that help the user identify an unknown dichotomous key. In the classroom, students object. As students use the dichotomous keys, create and use a dichotomous key. In the they strengthen skills in observation, field, students use a dichotomous key to comparison and decision making. The key used identify Colorado conifers. in this lesson sorts and identifies Colorado conifer trees at Penitente Canyon. Because conifers maintain a consistent appearance throughout the year, this activity is suitable for any season.