Evening star., 1923-12-08
Last of ''Vast Unkn0,vns'' in u. S.
Explored by Capital Scientist
Neil X. Judd Crosses
Land of Mystery
in Utah.
Unnamed, Desolate
Region as Large
as NelU Jersey.

The last region of complete mystery
inside the continental limits of the
United States, an area as large as New
Jersey, uninhabited, unmapped, un-
named, unknown and absolutely desc
late. has been explored for the first
time this fall by an expedition from the
National Geographic Society, command
ed by Neil Il. Judd of the department
OF American anthropology, New Ma
tional Museum
Judd and f. l.. Wisherd, Washington
photographer, have just returned here
after nearly two months of complete
Isolation in this section Of Utah, bor-
dering on the Colorado river During
the entire time the only traces of hu-
man beings encountered were those Of
prehistoric Indians, and the party did
not sight a single wild animal, although
there were evidences Of some life in
the country.
Iopographers of the National Geo
graphic Society. here, working on data
furnished by Judd, now are preparing
the first detailed maps ever made OF
that 1t is almost impossible for human
beings to enter il.
Carried Eleven Mules.
The expedition Quilted with eleven
mules at kayenta. Ariz, early in
october and proceeded north over the
San Juan river, then in flood, TO the
Colorado, a distance of about 400
miles across bare rocks, sand and
almost impossible canyons Some
times they would spend an entire dav
and only make four or five miles of
actual progress. The canyons make
the country practically Impossible to
enter. 1t is probable, according to
Mr. Judd, that a few rowing Indians
nave tFaVersed il and cattIemen and
EoIq pfospectorS have penetrated the
region for short distance
All previous information on the
region was found to be entirely base
less at the start. Reported trails did
not exist Everything was on a
grander scale than had been expected
Bare of Scgetation.
The country is nearly bare of
vegetation and almost waterless It's
canyons are traversed hv suht.r
ranean rivers which rarely rise TO tho
surface. Practically the only way To
OBTAIN water is to dig for it. The
expedition was obliged to carry all Of
i's provisions, since there is absolute
Iy nothing in the country capable of
SUSTAINING human life. Even the
L"i wafer HoIeS sometimes were SO
Ioul that even the thirsty mules
would not touch the water .rhn
provisions included oats for the
animals, since there was no assuranne
be found. "ouid
From the first the expedition rap
INTO the dangers of quicksand. Tba
canyon bottoms We're covered ,-i,b
a hne sand like yellow -four, dine r.
the water flowing far underneath |
+ s. retqueniiy, ,stl the men had difficulty in |
saving the mules from being buried |
alive, and several times the anir,aIs
were pulled out with difficultv Nv
ropes. DS
Rolling Rock Mesa.
Looking over the country. Mr.. Judd |
says gave him the impression of =
great. rolling rock mesa with rara
Stunted cottonwood trees and ced.rs
rms vegetation existed where sand
Fad been blown into hoIlows of tbo
rock surface. The canyons which
followed one after another THROUGH
-
out the entire journey. were NOT vic
lbIe until the party came aln7oet ~,
top or them. Then it was necessarv
70 ma trail across. 1t was some
times advisable to travel up or down
L"a hIteeh or twenty miles before a
sare passage was found
Found Prehistoric Trails.
Mr.. Judds expert knowledge of tho
lore Of the desert Indians proved
very valuable. BY signs placed nm
the rocks thousands of wears .ao -.
long extinct native tribes II v.s
sometimes possible to locate trails
up apparently inaccessible steens
from the canyon bottoms. In ono
place these signs enabled the party
70 cilmh over practically sheer rock
mules and all, to the surface
In all thirty-two days We're snan+ :,
the unknown region itself, the re-
ma1nder of the time being nassed -
outhtting and in reaching the bordarS
OF the country.
Hoped for Rains.
The expedition was undertakes, 5r-
ing October and November in hone
that the great fall rains which sweep
that part of the United States wou1d
have left pools of water in hollows Of
the rock. This hope proved false. The
rocks were porous and had drank in
the water almost as soon as it gather
ed. Rare springs were found.
A number of prehistoric Indian
houses were seen nestled in canyon
walls. the homes of the last human
inhabitants of this region. Present.
day Indians, Judd reports, have a hor-
ror of the country. The whole area
probably is of no economic impor-
tance, but is country of rare beauty
to any one with an appreciation OF
desert scenery. The sandstone walls
vary from light yellow approaching
white to blood red, and the shadows
hanging over the canyons range from
hasy blue to deep purple with ucCa-
sional patches of green marking the
rare vegetation.
Canyon IS Miles Long.
The largest of the canyons was
found to be about eighteen miles long.
1t was necessary to travel clear round
some of them. When nearly at the
end of the exploration Judd and his
guide left the rest of the party and
went on alone into the roughest sec
ton of the country where it would
keep alive. The procedure followed
was to start before daybreak and
push ahead as rapidly as possible un-
til either a water hole or surface indi-
cations that water could be obtained
by digging were found. Then the
day Sometimes this water would be
found early in the afternoon and some
times not until toward evening.
Judd and his party entered the un-