DatesApr 20th - Apr 26th 2008 Service ProjectRemoving barbed wire fences Free DaysExploring the park, visiting ruins and rock art AccommodationsTent camping in administrative campground Trip RatingChallenging : hiking several miles to work site over uneven ground, bending, pulling, hauling wire and posts LeadersPaul Whiting Equipment |
The four corners country of northern New Mexico is famous for its abundance of ruins of prehistoric Native American villages. Chaco Canyon is the crown jewel, representing the highest point of pre-Columbian pueblo civilization. It contains 13 major archaeological sites, including the famous Pueblo Bonito, an 800-room half-moon shaped pueblo structure with extraordinary patterned stone masonry. Across the canyon, the smaller ruin of Casa Rinconanda holds the magnificent restored "great kiva", which, because of its size, might have served as a ceremonial chamber for the entire community. At its peak, Chaco Canyon was thought to have held a population of 5,000. Several of the structures were built with features in alignment with astronomical events such as the rising sun at summer and winter solstices. While exploring the ruins scattered along the six miles of Chaco Canyon, a hiker is struck by the power and mystery of the advanced civilization that once flourished there. Although a national park, Chaco is remote and lightly visited. Miles of dirt road make it difficult for the casual tourist to reach. Our tentative work project is removing barbed wire fencing. Our project is always "tentative", because other pressing needs may develop. We'll have a free day to hike and explore remote archaeological sites and we hope to spend one evening at a "star party" at the park observatory.
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