Sunset at Chaco Canyon — The Story
One of my favorite places in my new home of New Mexico is Chaco Culture National Historical Park, previously called Chaco Canyon. It is a place of great significance and powerful spiritual energy. Visitors are asked to be sensitive to this as they explore the remnants of ancient dwellings. Native people still come to celebrate that heritage. We enter a religious sanctuary when we walk around. Night time brings a special beauty since the area is a designated Dark Sky location. Astronomers from all over visit to take advantage of the observatory to see into deep space. On this particular evening storm clouds blocked the stars but instead treated us to an especially colorful covering.
Connections — The Story
My long awaited opportunity arrived! The dark sky was revealing its starry beauty, right over Fajada Butte, a place of importance to early residents of this canyon. I was trying out some ideas I had to combine a shot at dusk focused on closer objects, like the ramadas and the mesa on the left, with a much later shot at night when the Milky Way was in her full glory. Daytime light blocks our view and awareness of the many stars in the sky. This shot was like being in two time frames at once and a good reminder of the beauty and vastness of space.
Silhouette of the Butte — The Story
It was a cloudy night at Chaco, a difficult night to get a clear shot of the Milky Way. But then I discovered that the clouds were great reflectors for the pink and gold colors of sunset. The contrast of the black silhouette of Fajada Butte was quite striking. So a cloudy night turned into a dramatic and memorable shot.
Our Connections to our Past — The Story
Bring a visitor to Chaco demands awe and a respectful curiosity with the achievements of ancient peoples. Such as this corner of a amazingly well preserved masonry building. The original wood beams that marked a ceiling or floor are still visible. You wonder, how could that be after 1200 years? How could the building technique still be intact?
Complex Society — The Story
This shot is a close up view of just a small portion of one of the largest building structures in the park. These rooms are thought to have been ceremonial, while the multi storied rooms near the back may have been for storage. Great thought and planning went into these structures.
A View From South Mesa — The Story
An adventure! Climbing up 500 feet from the canyon floor, and about 50 of those feet by means of climbing upwards through a slot canyon! A first for me! Managing it with all my gear was something else indeed! Now at the top I had a spectacular view of the canyon and many miles beyond to reward my efforts.
Swallows and Petroglyphs — The Story
Walking along the Petroglyph Trail I looked up and saw these very distinctive petroglyphs along with a row of mud nests of canyon birds. I wondered how did the ancient peoples get up the wall to make those drawings. Perhaps they built ladders or were very skilled rock climbers. Many questions will remain unanswered as we have fun speculating.
Corner Window With a View — The Story
Here was another example of a multi storied structure. Some of the wooden beams still in place, some with empty holes to mark the spot. This section on a corner with a window. Maybe a place to watch for visitors?
Dusk in the Canyon — The Story
The soft light of dusk was especially appealing. The harsh reality of the dry landscape was fading and the more peaceful rest of nighttime was fast approaching. The colors were muted and not as saturated, a real change from the very bright fully saturated full sun of daylight. While the Earth was preparing to rest, of course the night hunting creatures were getting ready to go into action.
Wildflower Welcome — The Story
A reminder that the dry harsh conditions of the desert still allow for the simple striking beauty of wildflowers. Survival somehow happens.
Abundance — The Story
Abundance, mass confusion, chaos, color. Nature’s way.
Light on the Desert Floor — The Story
A storm was moving across the desert, toward Chaco, as daylight faded. I was watching from the mesa, fascinated by the movement of the storm and calculating how long I had to get to shelter. Then, as unexpected opening in the storm clouds brought a long shaft of light across the desert floor. A special moment in time. The light seemed focused particularly on Fajada Butte.
Storm at Sunset — The Story
It was turning out to be a really stormy week of camping at Chaco. Even though there were storm clouds all around, I was eager to climb a short trail to the mesa behind the camp ground. As I sat and let the silence fill my mind, the rain storm began its trek across the desert floor toward Fajada Butte. Forces of nature. A power to behold.
Desert Glory — The Story
I was driving along that infamous road, the Road to Chaco! The storm clouds filled the entire horizon with only an occasional peak of tourquoise blue sky. There was a special light on the vast desert mesa that seemed to color the remaining wildflowers of summer with a special glow.
Lines — The Story
That Road to Chaco seemed to go on forever. What a straight but muddy line! The storm clouds made their lines too. Quite a contrast.
Road to Chaco — The Story
Fellow travelers and campers are bonded together having shared the notorious experience of surviving the Road to Chaco! It’s almost all we can talk about for the first few hours. Miles and miles of dirt, gravel, deep ruts, sometimes deep mud. It’s an ice breaker I guess, but then, we get it out of our systems, and the magnificent beauty of the place takes hold and we are just grateful to be there.
Almost There — The Story
I was on my way to another camping trip in Chaco Canyon. The beauty of the place kept drawing me. Then there was the history that I wanted to learn more about. The story of the ancient people who had lived there, how they built complex masonry structures, how they watched and learned the patterns of the sun and moon, and developed their spiritual selves in the place. As I drove along remembering past trips, I grew more anxious to arrive. The distant view was compelling. It called me to stop on the dirt and gravel access road (there should probably be a T-shirt called I survived the road to Chaco!) to take this shot. Arriving was important, but acknowledging the beauty of getting there was important too.
Chaco Wash — The Story
Over the centuries, Chaco Wash has become deeper. When the monsoon rains come, they can be great enough to make the water rise to the top of the deep wash and flood the entire Canyon. That’s unusual though many can recall a flood from their times in the Canyon. At this moment, the water level was low and the Cottonwoods were well watered from the constant source of moisture.
Full Moon at Sunrise — The Story
Morning at a campground can be a magical time. This was one such morning. The full moon was still visible and very bright. The sunrise was just starting to lighten the sky with some yellow on the horizon. Campers were slowly rising to greet each other and another beautiful day for exploration.
Shade — The Story
A group of us had just listened to a wonderful lecture on the history of Fajada Butte. We were standing around the ramada, chatting about all our interesting experiences at Chaco. It was midday and the sun was bright and high in the sky. I noticed the strong pattern of light and shadow that the sun shining through the ramada was making on the ground. It was beautiful and I could almost feel the heat.
Learning From Our Past — The Story
As I searched for a good angle for a color shot, I began to wonder what would this image look like in black & white. The black & white image seems to offer more of a sense of pure structure and strength as opposed to type of building materials or time day, elements found in the color shot. Lessons to be learned.
Way Forward to Our Past — The Story
The Park Ranger encouraged us to spend time really examining the masonry skills at Pueblo Bonito. We came upon this doorway leading to a seemingly endless chain of doorway, after doorway, after doorway. The sunlight was very bright and when shadows occurred the contrast was strong. It was such a beautiful scene I had to try from several different angles. A really straight line or right angle on which to line up the shot was hard to find. No wonder, this building was over 1000 years old!
Pastel Sky at Fajada Butte — The Story
Special colors of sunset, ever changing and delighting the viewer. Memories to last.
Petroglyphs in the Sky — The Story
Always on the look out, letting my imagination roam. This particular New Mexico sky and cloud pattern reminded me of some of the many petroglyphs I had seen in the Park.
The Pull — The Story
The clouds in the sky seem to change rapidly no matter where you find yourself. But they are particularly beautiful and eye catching in New Mexico. The sky is generally a beautiful, deep, fully saturated turquoise blue. When clouds do appear, they are striking in contrast to that blue. The clouds in this view seem to be pulling us toward Fajada Butte, an important place of great spiritual significance to Native Americans.
Inside Pueblo Bonito — The Story
It was a treat to once again experience the historical significance of Chaco Culture National Historical Park and especially the Great House of Pueblo Bonito. I was inside, looking around, looking out and imagining the activity of centuries ago. A Park Ranger was leading an information packed tour. Dating back to the 9th century, Pueblo Bonito is thought to have been the center of the Chacoan world and is typical of architecture found throughout the Southwest. The masonry is distinctive and became more complex and beautiful as the builders became more experienced. The buildings were often oriented to reflect the people’s study of astronomy. We certainly have much to learn from the past.
Strong Through the Ages— The Story
The Park Ranger led us into some interior spaces at Pueblo Bonito, and into one of the several hundred rooms thought to have been a part of the Great House. Looking up I found an even greater sense of the beauty of the masonry and the strength of the architecture.
Cold in the canyon, Seasons changing.
But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love, answer me. With your faithful help. Ps 69:13 NRSV
Tomorrow is the day of Fall Equinox. Different plants are appearing along the path, and they are plentiful. Amaranth, Sunflower, Four Wing Salt Bush, Sage, Rabbit Bush, Mallow.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; Colossians 3:16 NRSV
Mother Earth says, “Here is what you need, to help you be, in the next season. These will take care of your needs, cure your sickness, season your food, provide comfort, feed you. Look, see what I have provided. See the abundance and variety. Learn what is already here. Learn its uses. I have put it here for you.”
Return, O my soul, to your rest, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. Ps 116:7 NRSV
So, we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 2 Peter 1:19 NRSV
Cold in the Canyon, Seasons Changing. Change is happening. Change is all around. Change is unending. Yet, God provides all that is needed to be a part of the change. All we are asked to do is to notice what is here on Earth. It is here for a reason. It was placed here to help us and all living creatures. Wise ones who came before us learned how to use from the Earth’s abundance without destroying it for future generations. We need to learn those ways of caring for the Earth, so that She may continue to provide that abundance for creatures yet to be.