Chaco Canyon

I was really pumped to go to Chaco Canyon. When I first got to New Mexico, two people were speaking about this with great excitement. The more I heard them speak, the more I knew I needed to see this. As long as I was in the area.... 

Chaco Canyon is located near the four corners (NM, CO, AZ, and UT), in the northwest of NM. I had been avoiding the cold of the north of NM, but decided to try to see this. So, I traveled north to Bloomfield and camped a few days waiting for the sun to shine bright and the temps to rise. They did.

 

I went down the highway, leaving the rig in the campground (thank God). Soon after I left the highway, I came to a washboard road. I must have followed this for 20+ miles. Once I got there, I went into the visitor center and spoke with a Ranger. Then I took off for Pueblo Bonito. It is thought that Pueblo Bonito was built throughout a 300 year period (850 - 1150). It is one of maybe 12 pueblo communities excavated, and the largest, in Chaco Canyon. Pueblo Bonito had over 600 rooms, was 4 floors in some areas. It had 2 very large plazas, and 40 below ground kivas, in all sizes. The architecture is of sandstone, many times with larger stones on the bottom, and smaller ones as the walls were raised. They also used wooden beams for support. Again, there is evidence of the structures being oriented to solar and lunar directions.


 It is thought that Chaco Canyon was a meeting place for many clans, for ceremonies, trade and commerce. Large roads (30' feet wide) were found to and from Chaco Canyon. When the roads came across barriers, such as canyons, they built something to get through, up or down, such as the Chacoan stairway.



So many times I have looked at the rocks in this area and wondered about them falling, It happened to Pueblo Bonito in 1941, when a 30,000 ton rock peeled off the side of the canyon walls and wiped out 30 rooms. This whole winter I have listened for the rumblings of rocks moving, just like you listen for the glaciers to calve.

 The most interesting thing that happened to me in Chaco Canyon was the feeling that the ancestors were watching out for it. It is a spiritual place and commands respect. As I drove in and through the canyon, I saw so many ancestral faces in the stones. I felt that they were watching over the canyon and over me. I didn't take many pictures of these rocks, but did include one. I bet you a nickle you'll see the face right away.

After Chaco Canyon I went back to my Texas home in Dallas, and as always had a great time with my cousins. Sue and I went to an exhibit of Chagall. We saw some drawings of his rendition of the ceiling of the Opera House in Paris. Neither of us knew he had done this. So, now, when I go to Paris, I'm going to go see it.

As I have passed through Tennessee, I have seen signs advertising "Davy Crockett...." and have said "Next time I'll stop." Well, this was the time. I picked out three places to visit. I went from one to another, back and forth across the state. Maybe if it were the middle of the summer, something would have been open. But still, the size of whatever it was, would be the same - not too impressive. Two of the places were parks with camping. So Skittles and I drove home, staying in truck stops for the last 3 nights. And, yes, as soon as I got home, I had a shower.