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  #1  
Old 03-13-2013, 12:38 PM
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Navajo Reservoir

Heading down to Chaco Canyon and then up to Navajo Reservoir for a few days of camping and sailing on spring break in a few weeks. Never been to either place before. Anyone here been to Navajo Reservoir and have any advice about the place. Planning to say near the SW end in NM where the marina and campgrounds are.

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  #2  
Old 03-13-2013, 02:45 PM
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I got one hell of a sunburn there about 30 years ago ... I seem to remember that the lake is much lower than the camping areas. That's about all I can tell you.
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Old 03-13-2013, 03:58 PM
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I've fished the trophy waters of the San Juan below the dam but don't have any real understanding of the reservoir or it's services.
Regarding Chaco, have you read House of Rain?
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Old 03-13-2013, 05:14 PM
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No, should I? I've paddled the San Juan below there too but never been to the reservoir. going with a history class to Chaco so that should be very informative. I traveled with the teacher who is a friend of mine down to Casa Grande in Mexico a few years ago and we learned a lot about the trade route.
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  #5  
Old 03-13-2013, 10:13 PM
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Craig Childs has some interesting theories in the book that will make you look at Chaco in new light. Not scholarly, but personal insights gained through walking literally all of the Chaco roads to all of the known and suspect Chaco outposts. He spends some time talking about Casas Grandes. His ideas don't always jibe with the official Park Service explanations, and are much closer to the oral histories I have been told by my Pueblo in-laws, several of whom are clan priests. I'd recommend it as well as his book "Finders Keepers", which covers the pot-hunting tradition in the southwest in great detail.
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  #6  
Old 03-13-2013, 10:27 PM
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Chaco is one of my father in laws favorite places. I've wanted to visit it often. I believe the nights are some of the darkest in the country and the stargazing programs they have there some times are well worth attending. Sounds like a great spring break. I'll be spreading rock and painting for my break.

- Peter.
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  #7  
Old 03-14-2013, 12:17 AM
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Found this:

Following the Ancient Roads — High Country News
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  #8  
Old 03-14-2013, 08:13 AM
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If you're into astronomy and solar calendars, read up about Fajada Butte at Chaco ... it's got a sun dagger that lights up on the summer solstice. Very cool. It's unfortunate that the butte isn't publicly accessible, though.
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  #9  
Old 03-14-2013, 09:16 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kerry View Post
That's a nice essay. He's surprisingly easy to reach if you're so inclined. We've had a sort of conversation going on for a couple of years.
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  #10  
Old 03-14-2013, 09:17 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flainn View Post
If you're into astronomy and solar calendars, read up about Fajada Butte at Chaco ... it's got a sun dagger that lights up on the summer solstice. Very cool. It's unfortunate that the butte isn't publicly accessible, though.
There are three such in AZ that I've visited. One I got to see at the solstice.
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  #11  
Old 03-14-2013, 09:34 AM
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skied

Yes, I've water skied in the Reservoir --- lets, just say, I was 20, then.

As I recall, it was in August, but the water was still quite chilly. Don't be the first to ski --- the boat driver usually doesn't have the rope ready for you and when you jump in....you are ready to be pulled up in less than 30 seconds.

I still remember my good friend, Cathy, who invited me to go --- and her nurse friend who owned the boat; 2 kids and still had a 2 piece flat stomach body. WOW!!! I'm trying to remember if her husband was along or not --- don't remember.

Take plenty of sunscreen and drink plenty of water --- dehydration sort of creeps up on you out there ---- sweat jumps off of you, so you don't realize that you are sweating. Of course, this time of year you may not be sweating but you still perspire if you are going to be active. In addition, if you aren't prepared for the elevation (over a mile high), it zaps the breath out of you.

Good Luck, Have Fun, and report back on your trip.
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  #12  
Old 03-27-2013, 11:17 AM
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This was an adventure. The reservoir sailing plan got canceled due to predicted low temperatures of 28 degrees but the camping part continued. The Chacoans, known for their exacting road building skills left around 1160. They must have taken their road grader with them and no one has brought another one in there since then. The 16 miles of dirt road into the canyon had the worse washboard I've ever driven, and I've driven a lot. Granny low for mile upon mile with no speed registering on the speedometer. Went with my friend Chris who had 14 students on an Intro to Archaeology class. Temperatures are typically in mid-60's with 30's or high 20's at night. However, we were unlucky. Nightime temperatures dipped down to 6 degrees. Most students weren't prepared for such harsh conditions. K-Mart sleeping bags and inadquate sleeping pads made for cold nights. Some spent the nights in the bathrooms since they were warmed enough to keep the pipes from freezing. All the water pipes in our camper froze up. Biting 35mph winds hit as as we hiked around the ruins. But everyone met the challenge and we learned a lot. Even got a chance to take a look thru their telescope after the archeoastronomy lecture
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1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
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  #13  
Old 03-27-2013, 12:27 PM
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Did I mention the unpredictable spring weather at Chaco?
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  #14  
Old 03-27-2013, 12:38 PM
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Yes! I went to Chaco Canyon about 15 years ago. The road to it was unpaved. I don't know if it still is.

The rental car was a Mazda 626. It was fine in the beginning but after driving of that dirt road (more like Rock Road) for 20 miles each way, the car's wheel alignment was all screwed up big time.

at the time, the dirt road was a good tourist deterrent to keep the indian 'apartments' in good shape.

Have a good trip! Post pictures!
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  #15  
Old 03-27-2013, 12:42 PM
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There was a Mercedes 911 at Chaco Canyon. Owned by a German couple. His name is Sigfried. Didn't get her name. Shipped from Hamburg to Halifax NS last November. Drove down Blue Ridge Parkway to the South. Heading back up to Canada before six month visa expires. Six months in Canada and then back into US. Top speed 55mph. Cruising speed 40-45mph.

House of Rain was on sale at the Visitor's Center.
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Navajo Reservoir-chaco-canyon-118.jpg   Navajo Reservoir-chaco-canyon-119.jpg  

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