September 4, 2016 - We begin our Four Corners park exploration.
First stop - Wupatki National Monument
Lomaki Pueblo
Lomaki Pueblo
Lomaki Pueblo
Wupatki Pueblo
Wupatki Pueblo
Wupatki Pueblo
Wupatki Pueblo
Wukoki Pueblo - Phantom Ship of the High Desert
Wupatki National
Monument – Sept 4, 2016
Today, we begin our Four Corners treks. These trips will
take us to the National Monuments, National Historical Sites, National Parks
and other sites managed by the National Park Service within the four corner
states – Arizona, Utah, New Mexico and Colorado.
We’ve lived in AZ for the past 24 years and have passed by
all four of the parks we will visit today over these years, never to have
stopped to pay them a visit! You see, we were on a mission of “grander scale!”
We set out to trek about all 59 of the “majors.” We’re talking about the
Yosemite’s, the Yellowstone’s, the Grand Canyon’s and such. The big ones. We
didn’t find the time to visit the monuments or the historical sites or our national
seashores. Or perhaps, we didn’t make the time.
Now that we’ve ticked off 57 of the 59 “majors”, we’re making
time to take in the “lessers.” So we pack up the two dogs and head north to
Wupatki NM on the Labor Day Weekend Holiday.
What a pleasant surprise! We will soon discover that these
“lesser” are every bit as impressive as most of the majors! Our first stop, Wupatki
National Monument, is located about a half hour north of Flagstaff, AZ. Nine
hundred years ago, the Sinagua people built impressive masonry dwellings that
have survived the ages. The photos above are of three of the dwellings found
within the park borders.
It ceases to amaze me how well constructed these dwellings
are when one considers the tools and technology of that era. As I take in these
ruins, I wonder if any part of the home I currently live in will still be
standing nine hundred years from now! Perhaps the cement slab?
There are several ruins to explore in this 35,000-acre park.
Our first stop was to take a peek at the Box Canyon and the Lomaki pueblos. These
homes of the Sinagua people were constructed from slabs of sandstone slabs,
limestone blocks, and chunks of basalt all found locally. To hold the blocks
together, these craftspeople developed a clay-based mortar that has stood the
test of time.
One major resource lacking in the region was water! The name
Sinagua comes from the Spanish word meaning “without water.” These industrious people lived in the high
desert “sin agua” for hundreds of years before disappearing from the region as
did the Anazazi’s (Anazazi’s are now referred to as Ancestral Puebloans.
Apparently, the word “anazazi” is a Navajo swear word!)
Built along the edge of a small canyon, the Box Canyon and
Lomaki Pueblos are the first two dwellings we explore. After completing the
½-mile Lumaki Pueblo Trail, Terry, Aimee, Bella and I ventured on to the
Visitor Center to examine the Wupatki pueblo community. Home to an estimated 80-100 people, this section
is the highlight of the park. Take the ½-mile round trip Wupatki Pueblo Trail
and get an up close look at the well preserved 104 room dwelling, its ball
courts and the unique geologic blowhole!
During its time, the Wupatki Pueblo was perhaps the regions
most influential pueblo and served as the central hub for this growing
agricultural community. From all accounts, it was the regions largest dwelling and
served as a trade center and meeting place for people of the area.
By around 1250 A.D., the Sinaguans had moved on and
abandoned their prized abodes leaving behind a cultural treasure that us
moderns can enjoy and reflect upon.
Blowholes. One of the unique features found at Wupaki is the blowhole found at the end of the Wupatki Pueblo interpretive trail. A blowhole is a small opening in the ground through which air blows out or is sucked in - a kind of natural vacuum.
Year Wupatki became a National Monument - 1924
Average Elevation: 5,220’
Weather: Wupatki is located
in the high desert with elevations ranging from 4,280’ to 5,720’. Seasonally, here’s
what you can expect:
Summer: Dry and windy. Thunderstorms common from
July-September. Daytime temperatures range from 90° to over 100° F. Lows in
the 50s.
Fall: Very pleasant, mild to warm daytime temperatures, some
precipitation, light winds.
Winter: Mild daytime temps. Nights often below freezing. Occasional
snow showers.
Spring: Unpredictable, and often windy. Mild to warm days,
but occasional rain or small snow showers.
When to Visit: Open year round. See Weather
Entrance
Fee: $20 per car. Visitor Center Hours: 9 am – 5 pm. Closed December 25th.
Where to stay: Lodging can be found in nearby Flagstaff. Camping is available at Bonito Campground.
What to do: Explore the Pueblos. Sign up for the 2-day Crack-in-th-Rock, Ranger-led backpack trip. Take a Guided Tour (October thru April) or a Discovery Hike with an Interpretive Ranger. Take the 35-mile scenic drive on the Loop Road between Sunset Crater and Wupatki.
