Hike to Penasco Blanco

There are a number of interesting hikes in Chaco Canyon. One takes you out to the west end of the Canyon and up to a Great House named Penasco Blanco. It involves a bit of a walk across a flat and sandy area, crossing a wash and a hike past the so called "Super Nova Petroglyph"

This Great House affords great views of Pueblo Bonito to the east on the canyon floor. The site itself offers some interesting photo ops and the hike back at midday provides great views of petroglyphs on the north canyon wall.

Measuring Canyon Wall Splits

Staff measure any changes in the splits of boulders from the canyon wall in accord with the Equinox and Solstice dates. The view is overlooking the residence area.

Equinox at Casa Rinconada

There are two openings on the south entry to Casa Rinconada
seem to be aligned with the sunrise on the Spring Equinox. This was my second year to be at Chaco at this time.

New and Pueblo Alto

The Pueblo Alto complex stands on the north side of Chaco Canyon and has great significance as one of the twelve Great Houses in the Canyon. The views from the south are quite impressive.

Broken pottery can be found in abundance to be viewed an replaced for others to see at a later time.

Sad Raptor Adolescent : (

A we hiked out through the South Gap we heard the distress cries of a raptor. As we looked up we saw an adolescent that seemed to have fallen from the nest and was abit confused.

Ceilings/Floors

We had th opportunity to go inside the Great House Pueblo del Arroyo and were able to view a clear view of the construction of the ceilings and floors.look for the original yucca fibers binding the wood.

Chacoan Stairways

There are a number of places at Chaco Canyon where you can view the stairways leading from the Canyon floor to the top. Often they join "linear landscape modifications" as one of my colleagues calls "roads." This one is near Hugo Pavi - a Great House near the center of the canyon.

Misc views at Chaco

Una Vida is a Great House near the Visitor Center and offers a great series of Petroglyphs. Some are conjectured to be Equinox markers.