I can only imagine it to be quite a bit like the Bisti/ De-Na-Zin Wilderness area in northwest New Mexico.
Bisti (bis-tie), translated from the Navajo language, means “large area of shale hills.” De-Na-Zin (Deh-nah-zin) takes its name from Navajo words for “crane.” The area was once a prehistoric swamp of an inland sea & was home to an early relative of T-Rex- the 30-ft Bisti Beast, discovered in 1997.
There are no trails in Bisti. There is no cell coverage. There is heat. And sand & rock. You can download map coordinates for well-known formations but you pretty much “head east” on your way out, look for landmarks & keep the sun on one side. To return to your car, keep a keen eye out for those same landmarks & keep the sun on your other side. We followed desert wash areas to find our way out three miles. If you choose to wander in the nearly hills, you can easily get lost as if in a maze. With so many dead ends, you can easily lose your sense of direction. There are warnings everywhere to bring lots of water as the sun can be blazing & you don’t want to wander in this arid area without it. If rain is predicted, it’s recommended to postpone your adventure as flash floods arise quickly & can be quite dangerous for both hiking & driving.
Bisti- most New Mexicans I spoke with had never been & most had never even heard of it. You go for miles without seeing another human. The only sound you hear is your crunching footsteps, your own breathing & your gasps of “Oh my god, look at this one.” Colors range from pale sand to chocolate topped hoodoos. Some of the formations have curious names- Alien Factory, Hoodoo City, Cracked Eggs, Manta Ray & Bisti Wings. Just when you thought you’d seen it all, we’d happen upon a new set of crazy formations & find ourselves scratching our heads, trying to understand how nature had chosen to place
It may not be space but Bisti surely was out of this world.
