Four Corners
May, 2000
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We left Mesa Verde National Park and headed southwest
to Four Corners. There's a small monument on the Navajo Nation and
Mitch and Max could hardly wait to get there. They planned on how
they would stand in four states at one time and who would get to be the
first one on the corners. |
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Mitch stood in all four states. |
Canyon de'Chelly
Navajo Nation - Arizona
(Pronounced d'SHAY)
The canyons here are spectacular. The rich blue sky, brilliant
red sandstone and majestic spires and cliffs are incredible. In the
spring the sandy bottom becomes a shallow river and in the summer it's
mostly dry sand. Navajo families build there homes here and farm
the canyon floors as they have for centuries.
To the right is Mitch with Spider Rock in the background.
This is a free standing spire that's 800 feet tall.
This National Monument is located on Navajo Nation land
and operated by the local tribe. We traveled on the canyon floor
with a Navajo guide. Having a licensed guide is a requirement to enter
the canyon. This ensures the protection of the archeological sites
and the privacy of the residents living on the canyon floor. Our
guide's grandmother lives here and we saw the small orchard where he played
as a child.
| We learned about the historic relationship between the
Navajo people and the US Calvary in the 1800s. The US Government wanted
to move the native people to a reservation. Our guide showed us a tall
plateau where the Indians fled and hid from the army. They were soon discovered
by Kit Carson and the Calvary. The army set up camp and and waited
for the Indians to either starve or surrender. It was very sad to
hear this story from a descendent of these people. |
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We saw petroglyphs etched onto the cliffs. Here
is one with the infamous Kopapelli. |
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