Ode to a Campsite

The tenting campsites at Chaco Canyon are really spectacular. There are around 16 of them, and they are all backed up into a little box canyon.

I was originally planning on staying there just two nights, but I was lured into a third.

Part of that was that I was getting a bit footsore, and my bit of Morton’s Neuroma was also acting up. so, and extra day to rest that seemed a pretty good idea.

That and the beauty of Chaco Canyon.

Here’s the long view of the canyon campground.

Long View of Campground

Zooming in a bit, you can see where I had my tent. (You can barely see my blue rainfly.)

Closer View

Is that a great location, or what?

Actually, that is my location for the 2^nd and 3^rd nights. My site for the first night was fine (two campsites to the left), but I moved to this one when it becamse available the next evening.

Aren’t those great rocks behind me?

My Campsite

It even had a nice shady spot for avoiding the mid-day sun (inside the tent got too hot).

My Reading Spot

You can see I have it all set up for settling down with a good book.

And here’s the view just looking up to the side from my picnic table, as the sun is lowering in the sky.

Sun on Rocks

For most of these pictures, you can click on them for larger views. These next two, though, give extra large ones when clicked.

Here is the view looking out of the canyon from my campsite just before sunset. (This is a stitched-together panorama shot.)

Campground Sunset

Just to the right of that still-lit mesa is Fajada Butte. I made a quick trip in my car to get sunset on it.

Fajada Butte

Does this Mesa make my Butte look big?

If you look closely, you can see the shadow of the butte creeping up the mesa.