Existing comment:
The Wild Side:
Walnut Canyon's deep meanders and steep sides create a patchwork of sun and shadow. Intense sunlight hitting a south-facing slope produces near-desert conditions where cactus, yucca, and juniper thrive. The shade north-facing slope is cooler and more moist, giving rise to ponderosa pine and Douglas fir. Those walking the Island Trail pass through vegetation zones similar to those encountered on a trip from Canada to Mexico.
The canyon's wide variety of natural resources provided a buffer from the Sinagua during years when rains were light and the crops poor. Bones recovered from sites show they ate wild animals like bighorn sheep and deer, as well as small mammals and rodents. Also eaten were pinyon nuts, yucca seeds and the Arizona black walnut for which the canyon was named. |