Chaco for the Solstice

[PaleoRob]

So, upon returning from the 2011 Rainbow Bridge Spectacular we began discussing some possible "leaving Page" hikes. One that came up that Randy and I had done last year was Chaco/Bisti for the solstice. In order to 100% guarantee a camping spot we'd need a group of 10 people. Otherwise we'd be playing roulette. The idea would be to come in on the 20th at some point, do solsticial things on the 21st, and explore other parts of Chaco or nearby outlying areas on the days after that. The important thing would be to have 10 for the night of the 20th. Some folks may stay longer, some not so much.
This is a car-camping and day-hiking experience, not a backpack, and most of the main canyon trails are not strenuous. Some of the farther ruins in the canyon do require a decent hike, and in June the temps can get to 100. Come on up for a good time at a good place with good people and good drinks (and some Cag too).

Edit 5/26 - Plan is for some of the group to arrive on the 18th to take full advantage of the weekend and stay through at least the 21st.

[te_wa]

tracy, it is haz forum policy that you update your avatar at least once every 5 years. please comply.

[Paintninaz]

C'mon Paint.......I know I can get the days off........

Let's do it

TT

Ok, I'm in!

tracy, it is haz forum policy that you update your avatar at least once every 5 years. please comply.

Mike, my avatar pic was taken in Sept. 2006!!!...so I've still got a couple months before it needs changing! ;)

[writelots]

Man, I'd totally be up for that if I didn't need to be in the Sierras 3 days later, and returning from Mexico a week before, then going to Glacier 3 weeks after that. Man - what a whirlwind! ;) Rob - you do the BEST trips!

[Trishness]

Do we have 10 peeps and secured for a campsite?

[Randal_Schulhauser]

Have clarity now on my June schedule and moved to the "COMMITTED" list with Mike Mattes, Clark Norgaard, and John Day.

THE PLAN:

Sat 6/18 Phoenix Four arrive at Camp Chaco some time in the afternoon. Rob => how we looking for reserving the Group Camp Site?
Sun 6/19 Chaco outlier exploration day?
Mon 6/20 Bisti Wilderness/De-Na-Zin Wilderness exploration day?
Tues 6/21 Solstice in Chaco
Wed 6/22 Phoenix Four depart Camp Chaco in the morning heading back to Valley area homes


What are the arrival and departure plans for the other "COMMITTED" Chaco adventurers?

[PaleoRob]

With 6 people confirmed on here + my wife, we're looking okay. I talked to Toad and his wife last night and it sounds like they'll at least be there (with the kids) for the weekend. That puts us at 11, so we can go ahead and reserve. I'll figure out what I need to do for that today and hopefully have information to report by tomorrow.

I'll probably be arriving in the evening of the 18th (similar to last year), and leaving on the 21st. I have the 19th-21st off work, so that is my constraint.

[Trishness]

Awesome Rob! Thanks for planning this~~~~it's going to be a GREAT trip.

Tracy and I are leaving Saturday morning the 18th and plan to arrive in the afternoon sometime. Leaving Chaco Wednesday morning the 22nd to drive home.

[Jim]

I'm leery of committing to be one of the 10 if I have to bail last minute. I would still like to go if that isn't an issue.

[PaleoRob]

Update: Talked to a fellow today that took all my info. He said he wasn't sure, but the group campsites might already be booked for those dates. He's not in charge, though, and gave me the name of the lady that is. He said she'll be in on Monday (doubtful, since it is Memorial Day), so I'll call her early next week and see what the real status is. He did take my reservation information, so if he is wrong about it being booked we've got the ball rolling already.

[Randal_Schulhauser]

Starting to get "jazzed" over our upcoming trek to Chaco and Bisti Wilderness. Had "The Mystery of Chaco Canyon" narrated by Robert Redford (check out => http://www.bullfrogfilms.com/catalog/mocchv.html ) playing in the background while tending to some work today. That only served to whet my appetite.

With Sunday June 19th pencilled in to explore Chacoan Outliers, I have Kin Bineola (check out => http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=15425 ) and The Great North Chacoan Road (check out => http://www.solsticeproject.org/greanort.htm ) on the "MUST DO" list, I've been wondering if there are other Chacoan Outliers we haven't explored yet?

During our Chaco 2010 trek, we had a chance to explore Kin Ya'a (check out => http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=15536 ), Kin Klizhin (check out => http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=15545 ), and Pueblo Pintado (check out => http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=15427 ) as well as Kin Bineola.

Forgot about the Casamero Outlier Ruins => http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=15423 Know Rob has visited these before (because he wrote the Hike Description!)


Anybody know the location of other outliers?

[PaleoRob]

Great North Road with El Farro and Pierre's would be sweet on the 19th. I heard that the BLM in Farmington can help with directions to those northern outliers.

[Randal_Schulhauser]

Map of the Great North Road =>

Great North Chacoan Road

Some notes and photos on Pierre's Ruin Complex =>

Pierre's ruin complex.pdf

Pierre's ruin complex

(1.03 MiB) Downloaded 45 times

(still trying to pin point location on the map...)

[Trishness]

Update: Talked to a fellow today that took all my info. He said he wasn't sure, but the group campsites might already be booked for those dates. He's not in charge, though, and gave me the name of the lady that is. He said she'll be in on Monday (doubtful, since it is Memorial Day), so I'll call her early next week and see what the real status is. He did take my reservation information, so if he is wrong about it being booked we've got the ball rolling already.

Rob....I do respect and applaud your efforts in coordinating this effort but unless I know I have a camp spot in the group camp under your name I really don't want to drive 450 miles to find I have no where to camp. Keep me posted please.

Trish

[PaleoRob]

There is an alternative campground about 10 miles south of Chaco on someone's ranch. Basically unlimited spaces but no water. I will update y'all when I get in touch with this lady.

[azbackpackr]

When I went there the place was mobbed. We went to the ranger talk and we told people "the campground is full, do you have room for a tent in your campsite?" We found a guy who was sleeping in his truck who let us set our tent up in his campsite. And we were part of an NPC community college class, but the instructor failed to inform us of the camping problem there.

I'm never going back there. Too crowded. Giant RV's everywhere, people everywhere, traffic, cyclists, walkers, etc. clogging the narrow roads, and 30 people in the ranger-led hikes through Pueblo Bonito, etc. And a guy was dying of a heart attack on the cliff above Pueblo Bonito while we were there, so they had to send a helicopter to pull him out, so there was helicopter noise going on the entire time.

[PaleoRob]

Last year, all the group sites were totally empty.

[Randal_Schulhauser]

And the single campsites in the Gallo Campground were at about 3/4 capacity on the weekend and pretty much cleared out Sunday evening...

[azbackpackr]

That's good to know. Not sure what the heck was going on there, this was during April about 6 years ago. Good to know there are quiet times there.

My husband had a very interesting "scary" moment within that line of rooms in Pueblo Bonito. His hair all stood on end in this one room. He said he'd never go back, he was that scared, but a couple weeks after we got home, he was talking about going back.

[Trishness]

There is an alternative campground about 10 miles south of Chaco on someone's ranch. Basically unlimited spaces but no water. I will update y'all when I get in touch with this lady.

Thanks Rob! I'm totally cool with camping at the alternative........will check for posts later this week.


Trish

[Paintninaz]

Rob, is there any update on the campground situation?