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My brother
(Doug, from North Carolina) had planed this trip for last
year. We were to meet at Chaco Canyon in New Mexico, but
he/we opted out because of the high gas prices. HaHa... We
wanted to make sure the gas prices were ridiculously high
(not just really high) before we made this trip. They of
course were, but it was worth the price at least for me
since I didn't have to travel that far.
I've wanted to
see Canyon de Chelly and being fairy close to Chaco Canyon
this was the perfect opportunity. I decided to leave a day
early and spend the day there before heading for Chaco
Canyon to meet up with Doug.
Canyon de Chelly
is truly spectacular. It has been continually inhabited by
one Native American group or another since around 2500 B.C.
It is currently inhabited, managed and farmed by the Diné
(Navajo).
Map of Canyon de
Chelly
The canyon is
beautiful. To enter the canyon to hike, Jeep or on horse
back visitors are required to hire a Navajo guide. My guide
was Kee (spelling???). He rode along in my Jeep and told me
where to go and
 where
to stop. He's probably said the same thing at all the stops
a thousand times so his delivery was very monotone but when
you asked him questions or just small talked with him he was
funny and seemed like a great guy. His family has owned and
farmed land in the canyon for generations.
The Jeep got a
real workout. The floor of the canyon was almost all deep
soft sand and the little 4 cylinder engine worked overtime
for the duration of the 3 hour trip. Note: If you do
this in your own vehicle deflate your tires to 15 to 20 lbs.
which will help get through the sand quite a bit. I wasn't hip to this fact
until after the trip was over.
I wish I had
more time and money because there was a lot of the canyon I
didn't get to see. What I did see makes me want to go back.
The ancient dwellings are amazing and there's several hikes
and Jeep'n trips I wish I'd had time to take.
I camped at
Spider Rock campgrounds which was very close to the Spider
Rock overlook from the edge of the canyon. The campground
had everything I needed which was just a place to set up my
tent and get some sleep.
The next morning
I was off to Chaco Canyon on almost all back roads... Good
Jeep'n!
If by chance
you're interested in the history and more photographs of
Canyon de Chelly there is plenty on the
internet. You can start at:
http://www.nps.gov/cach/
.
And of course
the great Ansel Adams took several of his important
photographs (example right) at Canyon de Chelly.
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