Vanishing Point
A November 2001 Desert Photojournal by Richard R. Barron
Since my first visit to Chaco Canyon in September 2000, I had been drawn to that place, and the mystery that it holds. Something about its remote, elegant, lonely beauty calls to me, but I cannot explain what or why. From almost the first moment I visited, I had wondered about returning, and I decided that since I would like to be in the canyon at sunrise and sunset, I would need to camp. When I explained this to David Martin, he said, “Invite me!” I also thought it would be a far more compelling experience if I visited in November. For one thing, it seemed unlikely that the area would be crowded in November. Indeed, when we arrived, all but four of the 35 regular campsites were empty.
Watch the Vanishing Point QuickTime Movie here
This structure is typical of the intricate masonry that was constructed by the inhabitants of Chaco between A. D. 800 and A. D. 1300.
This crack in the north cliff face of the canyon leads up to the Pueblo Bonita overlook. Beyond that, the trail makes a five mile loop to the highest of the ruins in the canyon, Pueblo Alto.
David poses with the ubiquitous spiral petroglyph. This one was near the Wijiji ruin.
Me, posing at the Kin Kletso ruin.
Photo by David S. Martin
Not far from Chaco Canyon on the map is the Bisti-De-Na-Zin Wilderness. An image from the New Mexico travel map had sparked an interest in this site, so we spent part of one day exploring it, which was only long enough to get an idea of what the area had to offer, and to decide that to fully explore and photograph the area, we would need to return and spend several days camping and hiking.
Our final venue on this trip was Mesa Verde National Park across the border in Colorado. We arrived just a couple of days before a snowstorm was forecast to close the main park road. We pretty much had the place to ourselves.
Square Tower House
Wildfire damage near "The Knife Edge" along the park road
Cliff Palace
Other images...
Butte and erosion north of Shiprock, New Mexico
Sunrise along the Veterans Highway south of Farmington, New Mexico
All content Copyright 2009 by Richard R. Barron and Abby S. M. Barron