Trip to Canyon de Chelly: April 2019

On April 24-27, I travel on a Museum of Northern Arizona Ventures trip to Canyon de Chelly. Because of the wet winter, there has been a lot of snow melt, and although the canyon has been re-opened, it's still uncertain where we'll be able to go. My hope is to be able to visit Mummy Cave, or at least a number of sites I didn't visit on my last trip.

Thursday, April 25

Near Newspaper Rock, we encounter a film crew working on a documentary about Earl Morris and Ann Axtell. At one point, there's a runaway horse, but I'm not quick enough to get a picture of it.

Location name unknown, but it's the same place as this shot.

First Ruin

Better pictures than my last trip.

Unknown site on private land, which I'm pretty sure I did not visit on my last trip.

White House

I took some good pictures here the last trip, but this one appeals to me:

Pictograph Cave

This is a completely new site for me, upstream of White House.

The Wall (Newspaper Rock)

We visit this site on the way back, now that the film crew is done with it.

Mummy Cave Overlook

The last time I was here, I was too early in the day for sunlight to reach the cave. This time, I'm too late in the day, and the shadows are covering from the other direction. One of these days, I hope to get it right.

Friday, April 26

Junction Ruin

Repeat site.

Ceremonial Cave

This is a new site for me, on private land belonging to relatives of one of the guides. We are also treated to a weaving demonstration at the homestead.

Antelope House

I took good pictures here last time, but I decide to do a few scenic shots this time around.

Trying to improve a crossing upstream from Antelope House. Nonetheless, we wind up getting stuck here on the way back. Both Thursday and Friday, I ride in a Jeep that has a malfunction in the 4-wheel drive, and it gets stuck in quicksand multiple times and has to be pulled out. As one guide says: the first time is fun, but after that it's work.

This is as far as we get up Canyon del Muerto, near Blue Bull Cave. No Mummy Cave this trip. Note the old hogan at the lower left.

"Slow Danger," another place where we get stuck.

The view towards Blue Bull Cave.

Blue Bull Cave

Old horse-operated hay baler. Note the roof beam holes in the cliff wall.

Standing Cow Ruin

The mural of horseback riders is believed to depict the punitive expedition led by Antonio Narbona in 1805, leading to the killings at Massacre Cave.

Saturday, April 27

In the morning, we hike into a nearby canyon to visit the Three Turkey Ruin [sensitive site - no pictures]. Afterwards, we eat lunch at Tseyi Overlook, where I manage to get pictures of a Park Ranger truck crossing just downstream of the junction of Canyon de Chelly and Canyon del Muerto. Yes, we also crossed there Thursday and Friday. Compare the amount of water to the photo I took on my last trip.

And that's it. After lunch, it's back to Flagstaff.