Canyon de Chelly

We had a great time on a family camping trip to Canyon De Chelly which is a National Park in the heart of the Navajo Nation. The scenery was fantastic and the kiddos had a lot of fun camping with s'mores, dirt, and mud. We also saw the oldest continuously operating trading post on the Dine lands as well a one in Gallup. It was pretty cool to see how old everything was and that they were both operating in essentially the same way as they had been for over a hundred years...

David at the Navajo fortress rock

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Lukey and Leyla



the cliffs made me nervous



another shot of fortress rock...they actually climbed it and shot intruders



ruins



"the place where two fell off" the story is that the women, children, and old men were hiding on this ledge when Spanish troops were invading and a woman called out and gave the position away. The soldiers massacred the people up there and in the fight a woman fought with a soldier and both fell from the cliff (hence the name)



Logan and plug



Camping time (thanks to my friend Angie for the great coat right in time for camping)



Mud anyone



This is at Spider Rock, which was probably my favorite spot in the canyon -- people actually hid up at the top of these spires during the Kit Carson campaign that resulted in the "long walk" these people were the only that survived to live on in their lands -- amazing!



better shot



You were there too Mom!