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| Hiking | 10.18 Miles |
1,405 AEG |
| | Hiking | 10.18 Miles | 6 Hrs 20 Mns | | 1.75 mph |
| 1,405 ft AEG | 30 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | To get north of Wupatki NM you have to drive through about 10mi of ranch land and I wasn't sure about access. A little research told me it's part of the Babbitt Ranch Megaverse and my email to them was answered in about an hour. Classy!
The road was actually in very good shape and the walk started in nice open country, sloping down toward the Little Colorado (about 700' lower). Plenty of cow sign for the first mile or so but only (copious) horse sign after that. But I didn't see a mammal all day bigger than a jack rabbit. I had drawn a loop which would take me to 4 ruins marked on old topo maps and visible in the satellite view.
The first ruin consisted of two stone circles. There was clear evidence that someone in more recent times had messed with them, bringing in some darker slabs and partially integrating them into the circle. If I hadn't found some pottery in the vicinity I'd have wondered if they had any ancient connection. Compared to what I'd become used to further south there was much less pottery around the ruins today.
The second one was the real McCoy. Nice stacked flat stone on an edge overlooking the river. Originally 5 or 6 rooms, two still standing pretty high.
As I went to the next one I walked the edge of the NM boundary, just below some very nice ruins the public can only visit with a Ranger. The third ruin was impressive with an elaborate design and 5 or 6 rooms, also on an edge. But it looked to me like at least some of the walls had been restacked and I found no pottery around it.
The fourth ruin was down at the river, near a long fence which I'd guess marks the Navajo Reservation border. It was authentic, but just two walls standing. An old road passes near it but I didn't see any signs that the road gets much use.
Looped back, windy day! |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
