Chaco Canyon in Depth

When: September 19 – 27, 2009
Where: New Mexico and Colorado
How Much: $1,995 per person ($230 single supplement)

Explore the vast cultural system of Chaco Canyon and the extensive network of outlying communities that developed in northwestern New Mexico and southwestern Colorado from A.D. 800 to 1140.  We’ll visit Pueblo Bonito and other spectacular great houses in Chaco Canyon as well as the great kiva at Casa Rinconada.  We’ll hike to some of the most spectacular and remote sites in the canyon.  We’ll also have the unique opportunity to visit many of the most important outlying communities that are integral parts of the entire Chacoan complex still being uncovered by researchers.  Scholars are still struggling to understand how this vast system developed and operated, and why it suddenly collapsed in about A.D. 1140.  To complete the experience, we will tour the modern day Pueblo of Acoma and spend two memorable nights camping in Chaco Canyon.  Some of the leading Chaco experts will join us.

Saturday, September 19
Join us in Albuquerque for welcome reception and Chaco overview lecture at the Wyndham Airport Hotel.

Sunday, September 20
We’ll begin our study of the Chaco Culture at the modern pueblo of Acoma, where possible descendents of the Chaocans still live perched on a high mesa.  Then, John Roney will take us through two of the most important southern Chaco outliers - Casamero and Kin Ya’a - where we will learn about the great houses and Chaco system.  We’ll spend the evening in Gallup.

Monday, September 21
In the morning, we’ll visit Richardson’s trading post, one of the largest in Indian Country.  At the Salmon Ruin and Museum on the San Juan River, we’ll see a 300-room Chaco outlier that sits at the end of the Great North Road from Chaco Canyon.  We’ll spend the next three evenings at the Inn of Farmington.

Tuesday, September 22
We’ll travel to the northern extreme of the Chaco system in the Montezuma Valley of Colorado and visit Lowry Pueblo with its painted kiva. At the Anasazi Heritage Center, we’ll see two small outliers and an excellent new museum where we’ll study the connection between Chaco culture and Mesa Verde.

Wednesday, September 23
Continuing our visit to the outlier communities, we’ll visit Aztec Ruins National Monument where the Chacoans may have tried to move their center. Chimney Rock is a spectacular setting for ancient astronomy used by the Chaco people to predict movements of the moon. 

Thursday, September 24
We’ll begin our three-day exploration of Chaco Canyon proper.   We’ll visit the great houses at Hungo Pavi, Chetro Ketl, and Pueblo Bonito.  We’ll take a 5-mile roundtrip hike to Pueblo Alto, where an extensive research project took place.  We’ll camp the next two evenings in the park under brilliant skies, where our outfitter will provide our meals, tents, and every comfort.

Friday, September 25
We’ll take a 6-mile roundtrip hike to visit the great houses at Pueblo del Arroyo, Kin Kletso, Casa Chiquita, and Peñasco Blanco.  An optional side trip to the pictograph area will also be offered.  We’ll then visit the great kiva at Casa Rinconada. 

Saturday, September 26
We’ll begin the day with a 4-mile roundtrip hike to Tsin Kletzin on the south mesa.  After lunch, we’ll travel to the outlier community of Pueblo Pintado and then return to the Wyndham Airport Hotel in Albuquerque for a soft bed and farewell party.

Sunday, September 27
Participants depart for home.

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