Chaco Canyon 4-11-12 to 4-14-12

[Richie]

Good stuff! I really do need to make it out there sometime. Any rough roads requiring 4 wheel drive?

[ttora4runner]

Day 3- Final day in the park

For my final day in the park I headed off to Tsin Kletzin/South Mesa Loop and Pueblo Pintado (just outside of the park)

Headin out to Tsin Kletzin, Pueblo Alto in the background


Tight squeeze headin up the trail


Tsin Kletzin in the background




















South Mesa Loop - the clouds in the background would soon catch up to me





The trail below back to the parking lot

[ttora4runner]

My final stop for the day was Pueblo Pintado located just outside of the park. When I arrived the storm that I saw off in the distance while on the south mesa loop earlier that morning caught up to me and was bitter cold.

The raging dust storm


Pueblo Pintado occupied form 900-1250's A.D.






















The only ruin that I didn't see visting during this trip was Kin Ya'a just SW of the park.

Overall, though the trip was sorely needed and a welcome bit of relaxation from the craziness of life. I'm looking fowarded to other trips later this year as I'm sure they will be needed.

[ttora4runner]

Really, the only road I could think of would be the road out to Kin Klizhin and the backroad out of the park.

[ttora4runner]

what type of camera?

Panasonic Lumix FH20.

[targa88]

Not withstanding the reason or motivation. Great pix - looks like a great place to explore.
Always been fascinated by ruins...

Thanks for sharing

[cnynrat]

Great report - Thanks for posting!

Good stuff! I really do need to make it out there sometime. Any rough roads requiring 4 wheel drive?

The main road into the park from US 550 is a maintained county road that includes about 13 miles of dirt. In dry conditions it can be driven in a passenger car, but when wet it can be quite slick. We were there this past November, and left early one morning after a night of steady rain. We made it out without problem, but there were a few places where we were doing a little side to side drifting while driving down a straight section of the road at about 10 mph. It would be easy to get a little careless and end up in the ditch.

[Mad Matt]

Thanks for sharing. Yet again a trip report adds a new pin to the map of places I must explore.

[ttora4runner]

Thanks for sharing. Yet again a trip report adds a new pin to the map of places I must explore.

Gald I could help.

[ttora4runner]

A little over 8 months I paid a visit to Chaco Canyon and within the timeframe that I had was able to visit the ruins witin the park and the outliners with the exception of Kin Ya'a. I wasn't quite sure when or if I'd be able to make it back but a few months later I decided that I would make the drive from Colorado Springs, Co back to Phoenix, Arizona to visit my family for Christmas and take the chance to visit the ruin. My original plan was to visit Kin Ya'a but also Guadalupe Ruin just outside of Alberque, New Mexico but due to a lack of sleep (due to work) and road conditions coming down (roads between Pueblo, Co and Rantan, NM were bad) I made the call to skip it and just head to Kin Ya'a. When I arrived at the road that lead back to the ruin I found the gate closed and a 'private property' sign up. Not wanting to tresspass I gave the park service a call at Chaco Canyon to verify that the road back was still open and that I could open the gate. After chatting with them for a few moments I undid the rope latch and headed on back.

Kin Ya'a ruin