Sandstone Spine: Seeking the Anasazi on the First Traverse of the Comb Ridge
by David Roberts

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Book Reviews of Sandstone Spine: Seeking the Anasazi on the First Traverse of the Comb Ridge

Book Review: Reliving the moments
Summary: 5 Stars

Summary of Sandstone Spine: Seeking the Anasazi on the First Traverse of the Comb Ridge

The friends were David Roberts, writer, adventurer, famed mountaineer of decades past, at age 61 the graybeard of the bunch; Greg Child, renowned mountaineer and rock climber, age 47; and Vaughn Hadenfeldt, a wilderness guide intimately acquainted with the canyonlands, age 53. They came to the Comb not only for the physical challenge, but to seek out seldom-visited ruins and rock art of the mysterious Anasazi culture. Each brought his own emotions on the journey; the Comb Ridge would test their friendship in ways they had never before experienced.

Searching for the stray arrowhead half-smothered in the sand or for the faint markings on a far sandstone boulder that betokened a little-known rock art panel, becomes a competitive sport for the three friends. Along the way, they ponder the mystery, bringing the accounts of early and modern explorers and archaeologists to bear: Who were the vanished Indians who built these inaccessible cliff dwellings and pueblos, often hidden from view? Of whom were they afraid and why? What caused them to suddenly abandon their settlements around 1300 AD? What meaning can be ascribed to their phantasmagoric rock art? What was their relationship to the Navajo, who were convinced the Anasazi had magical powers and could fly?

DAVID ROBERTS is the author of On the Ridge Between Life & Death, Escape From Lucania, In Search of the Old Ones, and Escape Routes among other titles. His adventure and travel writing have appeared in Outside, National Geographic Adventure, The New York Times, and other publications.

General Books

• Nonfiction > Social Sciences > Archaeology
• Sociology > General
• Reference > Writing > Travel
• Sports > Mountaineering > Mountain Climbing
• General
• Travel
• Specialty Travel > Adventure > General
• United States > Regions > West > Mountain
• States > Utah > General