Route Editor
Route Scout
A few friends and I are headed up to backpack into Keet Seel this Saturday and we are fortunate enough to have two extra hard-to-get permits. The plan is to drive up on Friday, and then backpack in to Keet Seel early on Saturday and out on Sunday morning (hopefully with a side-trip to Betatakin along the way).
If you'd like to join us, let me know.
You have likely seen pictures of this ruin, which is the largest original cliff dwelling in the southwest. These ancient buildings were constructed and occupied between A.D. 1250 and 1300 by people who farmed the plateaus and bottom lands of the canyons in the area. This is the best-of-the best! The access to this terrific ruin is restricted by a permit system, and we are the fortunate recipients of a few.
The plan: We will drive to the Navajo National Monument on Friday, camping in their campground on the canyon’s edge. If we employ an early start from the Valley we will have the opportunity to take the short hike to the nearby overlook of Betatakin cliff dwelling as well. Saturday, after our 8.5 mile hike to the backcountry camp near Keet Seel Ruin, we will join the resident ranger at the ruin site for a tour (usually an hour-and-a-half+/-) of the cliff dwelling, before heading back to camp for festivities and sustenance. Sunday, after our hike out, we will drive back to Phoenix. According to the monument staff, we must carry enough water for both days as there is no source available.
360 degree tour here >> http://www.360parks.com/navajo_map_tour.shtml
HAZ T/R & photos here >> http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=186
With no offense to the author, I have found this trip (I've been 9x) to be a moderate backpack (at worst) and have backpacked in with youngsters 12-14 various times with no complaints. (Of course having a pocket full of peanut M&M's helped some
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