Under the Grand Mesa Thunderbird

Grand Junction residents spend their entire lives under the watch of the great bird on the west face of Grand Mesa. Few know of its existence. My brother and I finally went to pay homage. The Thunderbird is the light colored area directly above Dirk Anderson in this photo. The serpent is a straight bouldered chute under the bird. Ute legend holds that when you can see the bird grab the snake, it rains in the valley. I don't give credence to the myth, but have witnessed the light play out this scene just before a rain... once.