We spent 9 days in Chaco Culture National Historic Park (aka Chaco Canyon) in northeast New Mexico last April and really loved it.
Here's links to previous posts on Chaco Canyon.
We periodically check volunteer websites to see if anything interesting is available. By chance there was a camp host opening at Chaco for Sep. and Oct. I sent them an email to see if they still had an opening for the rest of Oct. Actually they did, and were somewhat desperate for the help. While camp hosting is not our favorite volunteer job, it would give us a foot in the door for a possible interpretive job in this very special place. It would also be our first job for the National Park Service. And for 3 1/2 weeks we can do almost anything.
Leaving Great Sand Dunes NP, we passed through the little comunity of San Luis, CO and had lunch in a suprisingly good Mexican, American, Chinese, Thai restrant. I guess in a small town you have to cover all the baces.
San Luis CO
Looking at the map, we'd be passing La Manga Pass (10,230 ft) and through the Cumbres Pass (10,022 ft) toward an over night stop in Chama, NM.
That turned out to be fortuitous route. The Aspin's were in full fall color.
After Chama, we spent the next night at a Walmart in Farmington NM, the closest grocery store to Chaco, about 70 miles away. We're going to try to do the 3 1/2 weeks with out leaving the canyon so we had to stock up!
The 15 miles of bad roads leading to Chaco is ledgendary. There's 10 miles of county maintained gravel road. The last 5 miles are maintained by no one I know of.
In April it took us 45 min to go 15 miles, the last 5 miles being the worst. This time the 10 miles of gravel were the worst "wash board" I've ever experienced. It took us 1 1/2 hours to do the 15 miles, the last 5 of non-maintained road being a relative pleasure. We were later told increased visitation to the park was the reason for the poor road condition.
We made it ok with a cabinet door henge in an inconspicuous location as the only casualty. A quick "battle field" repair and it was working again.
Oct. 15, 2019
We had our first 3 day shift on our own and all went well. The camp ground was full all 3 days and we had to turn away lots of people. That's a big deal when the nearest alternative campground is 16 miles away down another bad dirt road.
Here's some more pictures from the first week of our return to Chaco Canyon.
Full moon rise over Chaco.
Sun setting while Jupiter looks on.
Coming next, More - Chaco Revisited.
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