Vanishing Point, November 2001

Sunrise on the Bisti Highway, northwestern New Mexico

Since my visit to Chaco Canyon in 2000, I have 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 day I left in 2000, 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.

We borrowed a friend’s tent and camp stove, and set out very early in the morning of Sunday, November 4, 2001.

Driving from Oklahoma to Chaco Canyon

We set up camp without problems. We were one of just four occupants of Chaco’s 49-site Gallo Campground.

It was a perfectly still, cold night. I tried a two-hour star trace photo. Coyotes woke us up at about 4 am.

Pueblo Alto and Wijiji

Breakfast was couscous with trail mix. We made a long, productive, fun hike to Pueblo Alto with muted grey but beautiful light.

Your host pauses for a photo on the Pueblo Alto trail.

This structure is typical of the intricate masonry that was constructed by the inhabitants of Chaco between A. D. 800 and A. D. 1300.

Window in Shadow, Afternoon, Pueblo Bonita, Chaco — Window in shadow, afternoon, Pueblo Bonita, Chaco

Large Stone and Crack, North Wall of Chaco Canyon — Large stone and crack, north wall of Chaco Canyon

Masonry and Dry Grass, Pueblo Bonita, Chaco — Masonry and dry grass, Pueblo Bonita, Chaco

Journal: Chao in November is possibly even better than I expected. Everything here, the light, the sounds, the sky, the desert is so subtle.

The Pueblo Alto trail Passes through this narrow crack in the north wall of Chaco early in the loop.

In the afternoon, we hiked the Wijiji trail and ruins, which were very beautiful and lonely.

Breaking Camp and Aztec Ruins

It was a warmer night due to showers and cloud cover all night – clear by dawn.

We hiked some of the shorter Chaco trails. Beautiful light and sky, with moon in lots of my frames.

We broke camp around noon and headed for Aztec Ruins. Nice afternoon, but didn’t shoot a lot.

Bisti Wilderness then Mesa Verde National Park

We were up very early in the morning in Farmington for the drive to Bisti Wilderness. It is one of the most amazing places I have ever photographed.

Hoodoo and eroded Kirtland shale, northern Bisti Wilderness, New Mexico.

Pinnacle and stratocumulus, morning, Bisti.

Bleached erosions and embedded hoodoos, morning, Bisti Wilderness.

We had lunch back in Farmington, then drove to Mesa Verde National Park across the border in Colorado. It was very beautiful, particularly light and shadow in the burned areas from recent forest fires