Originally Posted by amanuensis

Yes, my compass is totally broken.

I couldn't see the point of going to the Four Corners. It is not even in the right spot. Although amazingly accurate considering how primitive surveying was at the time.


https://www.ngs.noaa.gov/INFO/fourcorners.shtml

I am a professional genealogist, so I attend continuing education seminars from time to time. One of those seminars was a week-long deep dive into historical surveying methods since understanding how surveying was done can aid in understanding the plats created. And it is sometimes necessary to stitch plats together to reconstruct an entire neighborhood in order to understand where an ancestor resided relative to those neighbors who might be relatives.

Anyhow, I got to follow in the footsteps of George Washington and actually carry surveying chains and stretch them out. And use compasses that were NOT broken. As a result of that seminar, I have nothing but respect for those men who did the initial surveys of the West. I just don't see the need to actually have my body be located in four states at once.

By the way, kale73, you might have noticed that I did not include Monument Valley in my travel plans. From the posts on FT about it, I came to the conclusion that Valley of the Gods would be a better use of the limited time AND be much less crowded. What are your thoughts on that point? I remember going to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and being ready to leave a few minutes after arriving because all of the crowds and hucksters hovering vulture-like just outside of the park boundaries spoiled it for me. Which is part of why I chose Valley of the Gods instead of Monument Valley.

I am not opposed to buying items crafted by indigenous peoples. I just don't like bazaar atmospheres.