Faith, Folklore, and Friends

Many generations before Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue, there was a thriving culture in Chaco Canyon. It is thought the Chacoan people began building in the mid-800s. This was not a people who lived in caves or tee-pees, but in massive multiple-story buildings with hundreds of rooms. Astronomical markers, communication features, and water control devices have been unearthed there.  Historians think that this wasn't a traditional farming village, but a meeting place for ceremonies and trading. After about 300 years, building stopped and apparently, the people moved to another location. I'll admit I may be a little obsessed with rock formations.  I promise I won't show you as many as my physical geology students will see this fall! Stairway built to the top of the formation. The wooden beams were made with ponderosa pine, fir, and spruce, which had to be brought in from 50-70 miles away.   Remnants of Pueblo Bonito, w...

If you take Interstate 25 North out of Albuquerque, then exit onto Highway 550 West, eventually you will come to this sign. Turn south on CR 7900 for 5 miles (paved), then right on CR 7950 (unpaved, ungraded, ungraveled). It can be a real adventure. This is part of the Colorado Plateau, arid high desert, and it is beautiful. The brochures describes the road as unpaved and rough. We saw sporadic windmills, all with a water tank for the cattle. No electric wires on this landscape. It takes more than a rough road to scare us away, although I worried that my teeth might fall out and I was a long way from Dr. John.  I couldn't have called him anyway; no cell towers around here. We were averaging ten miles an hour, so the livestock had nothing to fear from us. The livestock looked sleek and healthy, which surprised us because there were no green pastures.  I guess what they have is nutritious. They got bored with us rather quickly. I've ...