Get Your Kicks on Route 666 - Part 1

 Yes indeed, there used to be a U.S. Hwy 666 in SW Colorado, NW New Mexico, and SE Arizona.  In various locations, it was redesignated as US Hwy 191 and US Hwy 491.  

The change in numbers came about because some people were spooked by the 666 designation and it is given the nickname "the Devil's Highway" or something similar.  In some places others blamed dangerous road conditions on its being "jinxed", particularly in eastern Arizona, and because in other places, people were regularly stealing the 666 signs.

For this particular video, borrowed from YouTube (from Take My Trip.com (Facebook page), it is a time-lapse video from Shiprock south to Gallup.  They "buzz" right by the right-turnoff for Shiprock itself (just after the 1:00 minute mark).  At 1:30, on the right, you are approaching "Cathedral Cliff", an "exposed volcanic neck" and behind it, "Table Mesa" (not a volcanic feature).  A little past those features is "Barber Peak", another "exposed volcanic neck" on the left.   

At approximately 3:16, on the left is "Fords Butte" (not to be confused with any named feature in Monument Valley) and on the right is "Bennett Peak", both of which are volcanic eroded features.  There are other geologic features, but these eroded volcanic necks are the most interesting.

For tomorrow's post, the direction will be reversed, from the intersection of old U.S. Hwy 666 (U.S. Hwy 491) and Interstate 40 in Gallup, NM northward to Shiprock, NM, approximately 94 miles.  Of interest, within that particular in the stretch in the "northern half", is the traversing of a portion of the "Navajo Volcanic Field".  On this road, exposed dikes, and eroded volcanic necks represent the lion's share of the exposures.  (And more proper attention will be given to individual photos of the features with names.)