Chaco Canyon

A trip to the Chaco Canyon National Historical Park is just that, a real trip. Sal, Shelly, Steve, Julie and I left Farmington around 7:30 am for the 50+ mile trip to the Canyon. The last last 20 miles into the canyon was accomplished at about 10 miles per hour on something akin to a road but closer to a washboard. On arriving at the park we found the visitors center was undergoing restoration and the park was being run out of a temporary structure, so most of the displays weren't available to us. We did find out that the park consists of 9 major sites with some as large as 600 rooms. So off exploring we went.

A little insight into the park was gained here. All of this building was created in a 350 year span from about 850 to 1200 AD.

The major site in the park was Pueblo Bonito which had over 600 rooms and was in use from 850 to about 1150 AD. Here is a picture I borrowed from the NPS that shows how the Pueblo might have looked in it's heyday.

I'll also show you the sign at the trailhead leading to the site.

 The site was explored from 1920 to 1927 by the Smithsonian Institute and National Geographic Society.

 Simple photography can't do justice to the scope of the site. It is massive and was a never ending construction project through its existence, eventually covering over 3 acres.

This is on wall at the south end of the site. The debris in the foreground is from Threatening Rock, a 30 ton rock that crashed  off the canyon wall in 1941 destroying 30 rooms that had been previously excavated.

One of the walls to the east that rose up to four stories high. Can you imagine how much rock had to be carried and placed to accomplish this?

Looking back to the south at some of the 600+ rooms.

Another view of some of the construction.

This is a large Kiva, with the fire pits in the center and the circular low wall bench around the perimeter. Kivas were used as public gatering places. There are four great Kivas in Pueblo Bonito.

This is the west wall of the site just after we had exited the ruins and we are still scratching our heads trying to comprehend the scope of what we have seen. The archeologists pictured from left to right are, Julie, Shelly, Sal and Steve.

After we had finished Pueblo Bonito viewing the clouds had begun to gather to the south and a light rain began fall. Knowing that we had several miles of dirt road to get back to civilization and remembering several signs eluding to the fact that this road was impassable in wet weather it was time to depart on the journey back to Farmington. The only part we doubted about these signs was the road part.

On arriving back in town a little visiting was done before Julie and Steve departed for Durango. It sure was an enjoyable time spending two days with them.

Today's adventure will take Sal, Shelly and myself  back to the Bolock Ranch to see their Technology Museum. The last couple of days have been packed with enjoying the good life with good friends.