Here are a few more shots of the toadstool hoodoos to follow on from my last post.
These hoodoos fall within (or rather stand within) the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. I had made an assumption that this land was a part of the Navajo Nation (Diné), )which was a reasonable assumption because I had stayed at Shash Diné campsite the previous night) however the toadstool hoodoos have greater significance in Paiute tradition. The Paiute people's land encompass much of Southern Utah and in their traditions these hoodoos and those at Bryce canyon are the "legend people" who were turned to stone by the Coyote God Sinawava for past bad deeds. Apparently stories like this are part of the Paiute's oral traditions which are traditionally only told during the winter season.
Looking back at the pictures I shared yesterday and the very clear rock face it is easy to see why traditions like this have developed.
