Trillium
New member
I was standing at the Spider Rock Overlook on South Rim Drive and was moved by the awesome beauty of Canyon de Chelly. Overwhelmed with deep desire to explore and travel I soon became very excited that this trip we were going to spend time in the Canyon with our guide Sally.
We met Sally at the Visitor Center at 8:00 AM and after completing paper work and reviewing the logistics of the trip our plan was to start by traveling down Canyon de Chelly , camp and have supper with Cynthia at Spider Rock, and complete Canyon de Muerto the next day.
The experience of being in the Canyon is truly magical and thought provoking. Every second in the Canyon offers spectacular views. Combined with the cultural and historical stories and perspectives of the Diné and the sense of wonder of being in a special place the experience is over the top.
Sally points out a ruin and provides information about its construction and specific use.
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Our group was small. We spent many hours during the trip exchanging ideas, thoughts and experiences. We took a long lunch stop in the Canyon which was filled with stimulating conversation.
Later in the evening we met Cynthia and Jodi who with their children were cooking fry bread, corn and stew for supper. It was a great feast with long hours of conversation. We all helped Cynthia and Jodi pack up the kitchen late in the evening. Again, maybe because of the small size of the group we all felt like a family leaving for home after a day in the Canyon.
After supper we were busy setting up our camp at Spider Rock.
Camping at Spider Rock was an amazing experience. The moon was almost full and the light created a silver colored ambience on the Canyon walls that was beautiful. At about 11:30 PM I woke from my sleep to the sound of wild horses running near our camp. I quietly looked out of the tent window to see and hear them drinking water at a nearby water hole. They slowly moved away to a small grove of trees where they spent the night.
Nature calls at 2:00 AM. I slowly unzip the tent door and crawl out. I am stunned for a few seconds and my sense reality is in question. In front of me is a large black monolith. The moon is behind Spider Rock making it shadowed and dark on my side. On each side of the monolith are beams of silver moonlight streaming down the Canyon. I wish all calls of nature were this spectacular.
Breakfast at Spider Rock
Leaving out of Canyon de Muerto and back to Junction Rock.
You know, it’s really about a mind set. My early travels were often to explore what was unusual and different. Now I look for the experience of how similar we really are as we live and travel on spaceship earth. I wish to thank Sally and Cynthia for their hospitality and sharing Canyon De Chelly with us.
Joseph Stevens
We met Sally at the Visitor Center at 8:00 AM and after completing paper work and reviewing the logistics of the trip our plan was to start by traveling down Canyon de Chelly , camp and have supper with Cynthia at Spider Rock, and complete Canyon de Muerto the next day.
The experience of being in the Canyon is truly magical and thought provoking. Every second in the Canyon offers spectacular views. Combined with the cultural and historical stories and perspectives of the Diné and the sense of wonder of being in a special place the experience is over the top.
Sally points out a ruin and provides information about its construction and specific use.
Our group was small. We spent many hours during the trip exchanging ideas, thoughts and experiences. We took a long lunch stop in the Canyon which was filled with stimulating conversation.
Later in the evening we met Cynthia and Jodi who with their children were cooking fry bread, corn and stew for supper. It was a great feast with long hours of conversation. We all helped Cynthia and Jodi pack up the kitchen late in the evening. Again, maybe because of the small size of the group we all felt like a family leaving for home after a day in the Canyon.
After supper we were busy setting up our camp at Spider Rock.
Camping at Spider Rock was an amazing experience. The moon was almost full and the light created a silver colored ambience on the Canyon walls that was beautiful. At about 11:30 PM I woke from my sleep to the sound of wild horses running near our camp. I quietly looked out of the tent window to see and hear them drinking water at a nearby water hole. They slowly moved away to a small grove of trees where they spent the night.
Nature calls at 2:00 AM. I slowly unzip the tent door and crawl out. I am stunned for a few seconds and my sense reality is in question. In front of me is a large black monolith. The moon is behind Spider Rock making it shadowed and dark on my side. On each side of the monolith are beams of silver moonlight streaming down the Canyon. I wish all calls of nature were this spectacular.
Breakfast at Spider Rock
Leaving out of Canyon de Muerto and back to Junction Rock.
You know, it’s really about a mind set. My early travels were often to explore what was unusual and different. Now I look for the experience of how similar we really are as we live and travel on spaceship earth. I wish to thank Sally and Cynthia for their hospitality and sharing Canyon De Chelly with us.
Joseph Stevens
