Chaco Canyon Culture National Historical Park/Night Sky Project
Day 9

We went to Chaco Canyon Culture National Historical Park. The first thing, I want tell you what is different among Sagre De Cristo Mountains, Chaco Canyon and White Mesa. The Sagre De Cristo Mountains were light green, yellow, brown and full with the trees. The Chaco Canyon were red, brown, white, green, pink, flat in top, not much trees and a lot rock attached in the mountain. The White Mesa was white, brown, red, and flat in top and attached in the mountains. The long ride from Santa Fe to Chaco Canyon Culture National Historical Park and it was 3 hours. It was an eye opener of observation of mountains and different various kinds of the rock.

We parked the van in near of the Chetron Ketl Trails. The group and guide waited for us. The guide’s name is Joe Kenney. He knew some sign laganege from his parents who were deaf. He said beware if you talk with someone and he can understand. We saw many different Masons, Casa Rinconado which was the Great kivas, storage room, unknown’s rooms, and Native American carved the design in the Canyon. We entered the doors in the mason, but I had a little struggle with the entrance door because I am tall and the door was short about 5 feet high. Some canyon rocks fell out of the rock and some canyon rocks were very soon to fall out. Currently, the building has about 280 rooms and 20 kivas made from small, flat bricks. A Long time ago, about 1500s the building has about over 600 rooms and 50 kivas. The park height is 6,200 feet above sea level. The winters are cold and summers are hot with some shades from the mountain.

I feel strange and fantastic about Petroglyphs. The art shape is pueblos, men, kivas, hands, man with 2 hands, horse chasing a chicken, and circular. The art shows how Native American saw and did.  I saw the canyon and it was gigantic. There is a hole in middle of the canyon. There is hole on wall, which means something, I don’t know about it. The Pueblo Bonito is the largest than all the pueblos. I wonder why Chacoans closed all the doors for some reason and why they were burning up inside of the homes for tradition.

We stayed in the Chaco Canyon Culture National Historical Park till night time. We saw a movie about the Chaco Canyon Culture, Night Sky Project, Super Nova light and Native art related about the sky. The Native American art looked like a hand, a sun and half circle. The park ranger talked about the Whirlpool Galaxy, Companion, Globular Cluster, and the Sombrero Galaxy in the night sky in the telescope for scientist to see the galaxy or National Aeronautics and Space Administration. He also talked about a circle with 2 bars mean winter time and a circle with under 1 bar means noon time. We went to outside of the Chaco Canyon Culture National Historical Park and we saw the sunset, a bright full moon and a small number of stars. We entered to the Night Sky Project and we saw a moon in the big telescope. The moon looks like round with a lot of craters and bright white color.

I like to learn about the galaxy and history. I noticed a different of color and shapes among the mountains of Sagre De Cristo Mountains, Chaco Canyon and White Mesa. I liked White Mesa because it has a flat top and colors. I disliked entering the short door in the masons of the pueblos because I felt not used with it. I like to see a moon in the telescope and see some stars. It was delightful day! I was too tired because long trip from Santa Fe to Chaco Canyon Culture Historical Park, it about 3 hours to drive.