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The San Francisco Peaks are a volcanic mountain range located in just North of Flagstaff, Arizona. This mountain range was once a cluster of volcanoes, and it has the tallest peak in Arizona; Humphrey’s Peak is 12,633 feet. Navajos consider it the sacred mountain of the West, and it has three names Dook'o'oosłííd -"Never Thaws on Top", Ghá’niłts’įįlii- “Faultless Mountain”, and the sacred name "Diichiłi Dziil" - Abalone Shell Mountain. It marks the western boundary of the Navajo’s aboriginal homeland.
In Navajo Origin mythology, First Man adorned the mountain range with abalone shells, yellow clouds, male rain, and all animals. It is also said to have been the home of Talking God, White Corn Boy, and Yellow Corn Girl and then fastened them into the sky with sunbeams. Interestingly, the Navajo also consider the mountain male and the mountain's diverse vegetation made it a perfect place to gather herbs to make traditional medicines.
"San Francisco Peaks during winter, 2009" by Bob Blasi, Coconino National Forest is licensed under CC BY-SA.
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