{"id":9946,"date":"2023-10-11T17:24:42","date_gmt":"2023-10-11T22:24:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/richard.rathe.org\/?p=9946"},"modified":"2023-10-11T19:18:33","modified_gmt":"2023-10-12T00:18:33","slug":"chaco-canyon-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/2023\/chaco-canyon-2023","title":{"rendered":"Chaco Canyon 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"Chaco
Chaco Canyon Entrance<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

After braving the nearly washed out road<\/em> from the north I arrived around 9am. I had to “walk” my Prius diagonally over piles of gravel and exposed rock faces. This was my third attempt over twenty years to visit this important site. (The first two failed because the roads were completely washed out!) [Full Gallery<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nThe map below shows the basic layout of the park (click to enlarge).\nMost of the sites are easy walking distance from the main loop drive.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Chaco<\/a>
Chaco Canyon Map (source:nps.gov<\/em>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\nA short walk from the Vistors Center is the small un-excavated ruins of Una Vida<\/em>.\nThe prominent Fajada Butte<\/em> is seen in the distance.\nThis is the location of the famous “Sun Dagger” astronomical feature\npresumed to mark the summer solstice.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Una
Una Vida Ruins and Fajada Butte<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\nA short scramble above that are impressive Petroglyphs<\/em> inscribed into the cliff face.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Look
Look Up! Petroglyphs<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"Petroglyphs
Petroglyphs Detail<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\nThe focal point of the entire park is Pueblo Bonito<\/em>, a huge stone edifice that contained over six hundred rooms and dozens of circular ceremonial structures called “Kivas”. (source:nps sign)\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Pueblo
Pueblo Bonito Sign<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\nThe walls nearest the cliff were crushed by a rock slide after the structure was abandoned. The rounded walls are the remains of various kivas.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Pueblo
Pueblo Bonito Panorama<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\nOne quadrant has been restored so visitors may explore a warren of small rooms. Notice the very low doors<\/em> and what remains of wooden timbers<\/em> holding up the floors above. The stone in the foreground was used to grind corn. The consensus is these rooms were not residential but related to the ritual use of the site.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Pueblo
Pueblo Bonito 360 Panorama<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\nThe nearby ruins of Chetro Ketl<\/em> features a Great Kiva<\/em> 62 feet in diameter. Notice the two seated visitors for scale!\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Chetro
Chetro Ketl Great Kiva<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\nThe remains of Chacoan Stairways<\/em> can be seen in several places behind the ruins. These are no mere “Moki Steps” but wide grand staircases leading to\ncerimonial roads<\/a> throughout the area.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Chacoan
Chacoan Stairway<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\nSeveral flowering plants were abundant due to recent rainfall. This particularly showy example is Emory’s Globemallow<\/em>.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Emory's
Emory’s Globemallow<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\nThe Pueblo Alto Trail<\/em> starts above the Kin Kletso<\/em> ruins.\nI attempted this late in the day after finding out there were\nno more campsites available that night.\nThe trail went straight up into a huge crack in the rock!\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Cliff
Cliff Rim Trail Above Kin Kletso Ruins<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\nAs I was ascending I noticed one boulder that was different then all the others.\nIt had Fossils!<\/em> Mostly cross-sections I thought.\nHere is what some online geologist friends speculated\u2026\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n“Mostly cross-sections of fossil shells, mostly bivalves & I think a gastropod.”\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n“\u2026the large white mass consists of opaque secondary calcite that precipitated in an empty shell post-deposition, in contrast to the others that filled with silt or lime mud shortly after death.”\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Fossils\"\/
Fossils<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

I climbed about two hundred feet to the stone rim. <\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Cliff
Cliff Rim Trail Panorama<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

There were helpful signs along the way, including this one calling attention to several man-made basins pecked out of the rock where water would sometimes flow. <\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Water
Water Collection Basins<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\nI finally got to the overlook where you could survey Pueblo Bonito<\/em> in all its glory!\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Pueblo
Pueblo Bonito from Above<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

At that point I had to turn back and start my downward climb\u2026 (Alternate Video<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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