From Chaco to Mesa Verde

We reluctantly left Chaco, knowing that we would be returning as often as we could.

Our next stops were north, Salmon and then Aztec. Both are now considered part of the Chacoan system. Salmon is run by the San Juan County Historical Association. Best part of our visit there was Hal, who reminded me a desert version of Hartley, if Hartley had been an archaeologist. He showed us a barrel cactus that only blooms once in ten years. As part of the crew that worked for twenty years on the excavation, Hal could answer all our questions and then some. He told the boys about Navajo dream catchers and Hopi Kachinas. He told us we were seeing the sites in exactly the right order. And as he walked us to our car, he assured us that he'd be waiting for us to come back soon.

Next up was Aztec National Historic Park. This site was run by the NPS, so instead of Hal, we got a movie and a junior ranger program. I think the museum at Salmon was just as good.

Both sites are late Chacoans. Because Salmon was excavated with modern methods, there is a lot more information about daily lives of the people there, but both sites were cool. One of the archaeologists at Chaco theorized that people had eventually left Chaco canyon and moved to Aztec along the banks of the San Juan River. I'm not convinced.

Our next stop was Mesa Verde. But first we needed a pit stop in Durango and showers. Chris' knees have never been dirtier!