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.