The day started with another ranger tour, this time Casa Rinconada, the largest of the known kiva's (62 feet across) in Chaco Canyon.
The Kiva is perfectly round, this Panoramic picture distorts it.
This is how it looked in the 30's before it was rebuilt.
Starting the South Mesa trail.
Soon we had to shimmy through this notch in the rocks
Rick squeezing through the notch.
From this vantage point we could see 6 "Great Houses" Pueblo Alto, New Alto atop the North Mesa and Kin Kletstin, Pueblo del Arroyo, Pueblo Bonito and Chetro Ketl on the canyon floor. The round structure in the foreground in Casa Rinconada
Tsin Kletzin
After Tsin Kletzin we headed down the western side of South Mesa with some spectacular views.
Here's some more pictures from around Chaco Canyon...
Fajada Butte was a special place for the Chacoan people. It may be the reason this was the center of their world. There is the remains of an earthen ramp. By following the projected path of the ramp there's a trail leading to rooms built into the cliffs and eventually to the top where a large open harth was found. Harths were also found on surounding high points. It's believed this was to communicate over vast distances.
The famous Sun Dagger is also found on the top of Fajada Butte.
Our last evening we hiked a short half mile trail that climbs to a butte over looking the campground and surrounding area.
We planned to spend a few days here, but stayed 9. Even with the bad road and remoteness, or maybe because of the remoteness, we really enjoyed our time in Chaco Canyon and plan to return.
Coming next, Moab UT.
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