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We had some major winds through the Chaco Canyon campground. Always beware of the Chaco winds!
My wonderful shade tarp did not hold up, and was broken in two or three places.
It looks pretty sad, but still provides some welcome shade in the desert heat.
It all comes down today. :-(
I am always sad when it is time to leave Chaco. It has been a great trip.
For those I got to meet here, I hope your travels are safe, and we get to meet again!
(sent via my Treo phone north of Chaco.)
I had great fun volunteering at Chaco Canyon on solstice.
As a parking volunteer, I got to greet the visitors as they arrived for the sunrise at Casa Rinconada, and for the two sets of Acoma dances at Pueblo Bonito.
What better way to enjoy my time here than to help others have a great day?!
My bonuses were those of you who introduced yourselves and told me you loved Spirit of Chaco Blog, and learned something from it!!
Steve, Matt, and Misty, you made my day and week -- Thank you!
The photo is one of the sunrises I got to see as I headed to Casa Rinconada to see the solstice marker.
The Acoma (Cyrus Concho Dancers) danced two times in the plaza at Pueblo Bonito on solstice.
What an honor to watch them dance their traditional social dances, as their ancestors would have done!
I don't know how they managed in the desert heat -- and am most grateful.
(More photos and details in future posts, once I return to my computer.)
(Sent via my Treo phone direct from just north of Chaco.)
Solstice sunrise at Casa Rinconada is always a special and sacred event.
Here is the way it looked as I walked up to the great kiva (after parking all our great visitors!). I could hear the Acoma drumming prior to the sunrise.
Here is a photo of the kiva wall with the solstice marker, and shadows of gathered visitors.
I'll plan to post more photos later.
(Posted from my Treo phone just outside Chaco.)
At Chaco Canyon you may enjoy wonderful flower displays in the spring, summer, and fall, depending on rain. Sometimes you have to look closely, as they may be small and close to the ground, and sometimes they are large wild desert displays that you can't miss. They are always a joy to see and bring a smile to my face.
Here are some of the Chaco flowers I have seen over the years, with more to come in future posts. Enjoy!
I am at Chaco Canyon, on the day after a wonderful solstice. This is a quick test to see if I can actually post to my blog directly from Chaco!
Keep in mind that there is no data service here, except for this high point on the north road a few miles from Chaco, dubbed "Verizon Hill."
If this works, I can post live from Chaco (after jumping thru the proper hoops)!
The photo is a view of Fajada Butte (taken with my Treo), from the easy hike that begins at the entrance to the campground. It's a great intro hike with some fabulous views.
More on our fun solstice events later!
Summer solstice sunrise at Casa Rinconada is a sacred event. I love the quiet, the reverence of the pueblo people and the other visitors, watching the sun rise and shine into the kiva, and imagining how the ancient Chacoans must have felt, on this longest day of the year.
The Hopi invited visitors to attend as they performed the sunrise ceremony on summer solstice 2006, singing their prayers and playing the drums. They asked for sacred life-giving rain, and asked for peace and harmony for all living beings.
The photo above is taken toward the west, showing the light as it begins to move toward the 2nd niche from the right, the solstice marker. Below is a photo of the light shining in the niche, and photos of the Hopi performing their ceremony.
I felt honored to be included - the other visitors seemed to feel the same, as all were quiet and acted with reverence. Visitors to Chaco seem to be of like mind, for which I am grateful.
Sunrise at Casa Rinconada is a beautiful and life-affirming way to begin the day, and to begin the second half of the year. For the Chacoans it meant continued life as the sun stops (solstice) for a few days, and begins its journey again to the south.
I like to give thanks for all the many blessings in my life, and join with the pueblo people in wishing peace and harmony to all living things. I hope you'll join us.
Chaco Canyon always inspires me to look deeper into myself. So do wakeup calls. And we never know when our next wakeup call will be. My family's latest was just this month. That's when my Dad nearly drowned.
Dad and his race committee partner were a couple of miles out to sea on their patrol boat picking up racing buoys after a sailing race was cancelled due to bad weather. Seas were lumpy at 3 to 4 feet. Ocean temperature was icy cold at less than 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Definitely not swimming weather.
When the engine would not start, seawater came in over the stern in the heavy seas. The bilge pump stopped draining the water as it should, and water collected in the transom.
Next thing he and his partner knew, the boat capsized and turned completely upside down without warning, and they were thrown into the icy water. Dad went straight down -- he was in the water so quickly he had no time to pull the cord to inflate his life vest (note: bad llfe vest design for situations like this; get positive flotation vest). With no idea which way was up, he was afraid he might even end up under the upside down boat, unable to get to the surface. He still has nightmares about trying to get to the surface.
His partner's vest had inflated automatically upon hitting the water - different design, very expensive. He stayed at the surface.
How long can you last in 50 degree water? I don't know, but it isn't long when you are also struggling against heavy seas, rapidly losing energy, and are 84 years old.
They are convinced they are alive today only because their sister patrol boat was close by to rescue them immediately. And it was only close because Dad had called them to come pull them away from the rocks when they had engine trouble. Thank goodness.
I had arrived home for a week-long visit only 2 hours after he made it to shore that day. Boy, was I happy to see him. I was reminded of my deep appreciation for the simplest pleasures, and for every minute I get to simply be with my family and loved ones.
What else can I say? Just this: Happy Father's Day, Dad -- I'm happy that you made it home that night so I could tell you how much I love you. And I am thankful for every minute we get to share.
Next time we need a wakeup call, though, how about skipping the cold water swim?
Here's an update for the summer solstice events at Chaco Canyon with the Acoma people - and some photos of previous solstice events. Maybe I'll see you there this year! (photo: Hopi dancers at Chaco, 2006)
Acoma dancing at Pueblo Bonito
This year the special dance guests are Cyrus Concho and the Acoma Sky City Group Dancers. Rather than dancing three times as I indicated in a previous post (Why Attend Summer Solstice 2008 at Chaco?), they will dance two times, at 11 am and 3 pm, in the great plaza of Pueblo Bonito on Saturday, June 21.
I have not yet had the privilege of seeing the Acoma group present their traditional social dances, but I can guarantee it will be a special experience.
Check at the visitor center for details and updates. Noncommercial photography will be allowed - wonderful for those of us who are photographers!
Previous events
I attended summer solstice in 2006, with the Hopi, and in 2007, with the Zuni. I loved seeing and meeting the dancers, especially the children. And I love that they are keeping their traditions alive - and sharing them with us.
Here are some of the delightful young Hopis that danced in 2006. Look at the beauty of these young girls. And this young boy was a proud Eagle dancer.
Here are some of the Zuni dancers from 2007. The young women are doing the Pottery Dance (in very windy conditions - amazing!), and the young men are doing the Buffalo Dance (can you imagine wearing those headdresses in nearly 100-degree F heat?!).
I love to get up early and relax and enjoy the quiet and the rustling in the Chaco Canyon campground even before my fellow campers awaken and begin their day. I love mornings - the quiet, the birds, the still air, the space to simply Be - before the rush of the day.
How I love this place. I feel loved. I feel safe. I belong here, as G.B. Cornucopia, my ranger friend, keeps telling me. He knows I'll keep coming back, because I can't stay away. I need to be here. I reconnect with ME here - I remember who I am, at my deepest level.
And Chaco can bring up my shit too, allowing me to see it and make choices, make change.
Chaco Canyon is my touchstone that I can always come to, figuratively and literally, when I need to remember who I am, for it is too easy to forget when I get caught up in “life.”
And then I bring that feeling with me when I leave and return to Southern California, where I live my life.
The morning quiet helps me to remember Chaco. I remember what I learn. And each time, I live my life a little closer to what is true for my deepest self.
(Photo: Casa Rinconada sunrise)
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