Canyon De Chelly trip this past weekend

[rockwerks]

Man what a great weekend, Sat, Sun, Monday in the bottom of Canyon De Chelly.

This trip was planned and organized by SteelPonyCowboy (thanks MIKE)!

Saturday was getting together, meeting up and traveling into our campsite at Antelope House Ruins. A total of 28 jeeps made this trek, with 1 Navajo guide for each group off 4 to 5 jeeps.

we stayed several nights at the Antelope House ruins with Adam Teller and his father Ben and owners of Antelope House tours and the rustic camping area next to thee ruins.

Each night Adam and his father told us stories and sung us songs from the past and from the dine' stories and canyon legends

During the 3 days Im estimating we had 60 water crossings, from several inches to several feet in depth.

Sunday's trip was up Canyon De Chelly to spider rock.. Several groups traveled past farther up th canyon and where caught in a rain storm that made the water crossing all the more interesting. We all stopped for lunch at spider rock

Monday the groups traveled up Canyon Del Muerto. The days tour took us up to mummy cave and massacre cave and beyond on very seldom traveled 2 track trail. Lunch break was in a beautiful meadow high upthe canyon.

Back to camp and pack up to move out. The stay was far too short. Next year maybe 4 or 5 days.

I will post up some pictures later today and any who wish to add to the story please do

[Tanja]

I friend that I work with went on that trip to Canyon De Chelly and said it was a blast! I'm looking forward to attending the next one, whenver it might be.

[offroadaz]

sounds like you had a great time. Id love to go there if someone wants to organize another trip this fall

[rockwerks]

sounds like you had a great time. Id love to go there if someone wants to organize another trip this fall


probably wont happen again this year but again next year

[ActualReverend]

I think this picture sums it all up:

http://www.lovelesschristian.com/gallery/canyondechelly0507/IMG_6243

--bryan
http://www.lovelesschristian.com/gallery/albums/canyondechelly0507/IMG_6243.jpg

[rockwerks]

http://www.fototime.com/%7B5C01781C-6C3C-474D-80BD-7F78EDA6035C%7D/picture.JPG
the road in

http://www.fototime.com/%7BE60A531B-1F3F-4441-9D23-8855A82C1724%7D/picture.JPG
our camp site at Antelope House Ruins

http://www.fototime.com/%7BE05BE513-FA09-424F-AADF-DEB3B62182A7%7D/picture.JPG
One of the many ruin sites

http://www.fototime.com/%7B60D7B992-935C-4479-A4C1-001196FDFCB8%7D/picture.JPG
on the way up Canyon De Chelly towards spider rock

http://www.fototime.com/%7B2FEECC12-2407-45D4-B008-6ECB78C19A37%7D/picture.JPG
spider rock, rock spire

http://www.fototime.com/%7BAAE1FE69-408C-45A9-93AA-9FD162BC8697%7D/picture.JPG
One of the many water crossings

http://www.fototime.com/%7BD7FBFF48-C16C-4002-BBED-7D408A0C1439%7D/picture.JPG
George watching how Suzuki's are made

http://www.fototime.com/%7BEA976F7C-FCCC-4108-9E93-828D29D816EB%7D/picture.JPG
view down from the De Chelly window rock arch

http://www.fototime.com/%7B4717D336-D0C0-46E6-B085-ECFF4BCE23ED%7D/picture.JPG
Relaxing in the window rock arch

http://www.fototime.com/%7BF80062F6-8808-4211-872A-865EB3B2411C%7D/picture.JPG
The only FSJ on the trip. Nice rig Mike

[rockwerks]

http://www.fototime.com/%7B25628396-E1D7-4F25-9FAE-928E95D6E6D8%7D/picture.JPG
Antelope House Ruins

http://www.fototime.com/%7BBB4D08C2-948B-4E0A-9D90-7CCC5CE62C60%7D/picture.JPG
Mike giving me a free shower


http://www.fototime.com/%7BCEB9E4BD-BFA1-4472-BFAC-95733FD4A610%7D/picture.JPG
Kristopher at the same mud hole

http://www.fototime.com/%7BE2DB9734-9E52-40E8-86C0-C0543580BD8E%7D/picture.JPG
Mummy cave

http://www.fototime.com/%7B82D79E8E-6759-4A07-9C95-D5FE0983B06A%7D/picture.JPG
Not a bad place for a lunch break


http://www.fototime.com/%7B7A4E0268-CF0C-48DB-B340-C2F1A2F4283D%7D/picture.JPG
Mike getting some air on an attempt after one of the mud pits with a shear 4' vertical wall on the opposite wall

http://www.fototime.com/%7B6212DEB0-2502-4B98-AC6E-392BADE74DB3%7D/picture.JPG
the imfamous mud pit in Canyon De Muerto


http://www.fototime.com/%7BB2AEFE5F-DA79-4FA1-B676-BC2A96684EB5%7D/picture.JPG
heading up Canyon De Muerto


http://www.fototime.com/%7B7EA0E191-EC6A-42B3-A79F-DE10895449C0%7D/picture.JPG
canyon De Meurto rock art.

[offroadaz]

wow, that canyon is awesome

great pics!

[ademster]

Those are some beautiful pictures Brian, Hopefully next year when you plan the trip I'll cruise along as well... Looks just awesome there....

[WalterD]

WOW Nice. What's it cost to stay there? How much do the guides charge? I would love to take the wife there.

[JPCooler]

Great pictures and nice report.

We did this as a family trip a few years back (before digital cameras). It really is awesome !!

I don't recall what we payed (the folks set it up), but you basically need to hire a guide for each day and we also had them prepare the meals etc. Not cheap, but well worth it.

Once again, great pictures, thanks for sharing them.

[chili_p]

That is so COOL!! I can not wait till I can move out west for some real wheeling.

[ROKCRLR]

Awesome pics! One of these days I'm going to make it up there.

[Number 7]

My pictures of the road in are very similar to yours Brian; however, your Jeep is in all of them. Here are a few of my favorites.

What a great weekend we had. Thanks for posting up these pictures. I love that one of Mike's wheels off in that steep crossing.

Oh, and if you take a closer look at the picture of me in the window rock you'll notice my white knuckle grip on the ledge. I wasn't really that relaxed! It certainly was an awesome view though.

I'll post all of my pictures to my webshots later.

Di

[Curly]

During the 3 days Im estimating we had 60 water crossings, from several inches to several feet in depth.

Sunday's trip was up Canyon De Chelly to spider rock.. Several groups traveled past farther up th canyon and where caught in a rain storm that made the water crossing all the more interesting.


I was in one group that got caught in the rain storm. It was neat at first, watching the water pour off the canyon walls. There were lots of waterfalls to look at. Pretty soon driving the trail was like driving in the creek.
Then, We had to pass through 3 water crossings that had steep entry/exit.

Each one got harder as the water flow increased rapidly. The last one was flowing hard enough that my jeep was swept sideways some. Thoughts of the Stupid motorist law and the Darwin award were going through my mind as I crossed.

I had a great time, it was a long way from Yuma, but definitly worth it.

Curly

[SteelPonyCowboy]

WOW Nice. What's it cost to stay there? How much do the guides charge? I would love to take the wife there.

The link to our guides web site is as follows: www.canyondechelly.net

The prices on individuals is something like $50 an hour, $50 to camp.

We got a group price of $170 per Jeep for 3 days and 2 nights due to the size of our group (30 Jeeps) and we got the $150 campfire program for each night thrown in. Now my 10mpg beast cost me well over $300 in gas at $3.15 a gallon average so you have to count that in and the cost of food.

We will be planning another trip next year for sure. The link to the Expeditions Group where the trip will be announced 1st is:

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Jeep_Expeditions/

Join there if you want to be the 1st to know about all of the cool trips we have planned for the next 12 months.

Mike

[Sc00by]

Ok Pics posted here...


http://www.flickr.com/photos/pzelez/sets/72157600263808208/

Heres a few of me getting just a LITTLE bit of mud on my XJ

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w79/pzelez/CanyonDeChelly0521_0518.jpg

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w79/pzelez/CanyonDeChelly0521_0514.jpg

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w79/pzelez/CanyonDeChelly0521_0528.jpg
:eek:

Sc00by / Paul
KE7NEA

[aszaunmi]

show off.... Just kidding, oh and my wheelie was bigger....

[CaptainMorgan]

Cool man, looks like one heck of a trip.

[Scramblin_Jim]

show off.... Just kidding, oh and my wheelie was bigger....

and I helped!!! :D

Did you friend ever post up pic yet. Looking for some of me going thru the mud hole.

[aszaunmi]

How is the Jeep Jim. Is she all fixed up and ready to go yet? Did you ever find out if something was wrong that caused the damage? Did you decide it was just the flex cool fan and all the mud?

Anyway, it was fun tow'n ya, but I hope I don't have to do it again....
Z

[SteelPonyCowboy]

and I helped!!! :D

Did you friend ever post up pic yet. Looking for some of me going thru the mud hole.

I posted some of my pictures but no one in your group has sent me a CD so I have not seen any of you and the mudhole.

Mike

[rockwerks]

post up your mailing addy here so everyone has it:D

[Scramblin_Jim]

How is the Jeep Jim. Is she all fixed up and ready to go yet? Did you ever find out if something was wrong that caused the damage? Did you decide it was just the flex cool fan and all the mud?

Anyway, it was fun tow'n ya, but I hope I don't have to do it again....
Z

Thanks for asking.

I'm in the middle of taking the front grill off. Seems the lefthand side where the raditor mounts has parts of the sheet metal seperating. Looks like the spot welds came apart with the last plung into the mud. Fixing that. Also the left hand rod that runs from the firewall to the front grill is bent. Need to find a stronger support member - seems like a very weak design. Going with what I got until something better is found. Motor mounts look OK.

I'm ditching the flex fan and going back to the standard four blade fan and putting in a shroud. Should have the new radiator in tomorrow and all ready for a night run this Sunday out at White Tanks.

Still seems odd that a little mud and water did me in. But I'm told that I had the flex fan too close to the radiator and any give in engine position and front grill coupled with a little flattening out of the flex fan blades and caused the problem. Who knows. I'll be ready to try again! :D

[aszaunmi]

Glad to hear the jeep is healing well. I hope to see you out there again sometime. I think I will be going on the monument valley run in October. Are you going?

Z

[rljsrubicon]

Wow... That's all a tennessee boy can say... Except, I'll be there on or about July 13th. Whoo Hoo.. :D Ron

[AZ Outlaws]

Canyon de Chelly is a great trip, well worth the effort to drive up there and the $$$ spent for guides, hotels etc. Stock YJ's and TJ's will do fine, but I would recommend skids for a KJ. You really don't need to wait for a group to do this run, but the more the merrier. IMO the Jeep Jamboree thing is way over priced. There is plenty of traffic in the canyons so that if you run into trouble you can always get help, but having to be towed out will cost an arm and a leg.

We were up there this past April with the new KJ (left the TJ home this trip).

The trail guides at the Visitor's Center are charging $15.00 an hour for one vehicle, or $20.00 an hour for one guide that covers up to five vehicles (the cost is then split between all five, which comes out to only $4.00 per hour per vehicle). IMO the cost of the guide is well worth it, whether you're alone or with a group splitting the cost. If you're on a budget, you may want to hang out at the Visitors Center and see if you can hook up with others to lower your cost.

For those that don't want to camp, there are a few motels in Chinle. We stayed at the Hampton Inn in Kayenta (by far the best hotel in town for $65.00 a night) since we also did Monument Valley and Valley of the God's.

Here are a few pics we took...

Looking down into the canyon...

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/1213/cdwr7.jpg

The trail entrance to Canyon de Chelly was about a one mile drive through water....

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/5762/13578162vp3.jpg

Canyon de Chelly river bottom....

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/6214/94373798ic5.jpg

Water crossing....

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/8635/47366967ru3.jpg

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/6282/17fd6.jpg

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/5117/c2ak2.jpg

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/5666/19eb9.jpg

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/4889/18yt6.jpg

One of many thousand year old cliff dwellings....

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/2266/clifftq4.jpg

A Jeep KJ commercial in Monument Valley...

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/7899/13vz0.jpg

[Moonrocks]

Great Pics Rockwerks...
You get what you pay for...awsome views

[slickrrr]

I was behind him when he was swept sideways some, it was kinda spooky to watch, really built up my girls confidence for our turn

[GRUNT]

I would VERY MUCH like to do this in the spring! Can we try to plan a group thing? This far out in advance would help me schedule and save $$$!!! :)

[amber.hodge]

I'd love to do this in either spring or fall. Winter too cold to enjoy everything...summer too hot.

[GRUNT]

Yes I agree with Ms. Hodge! Fall or Spring... Let's do this!
-Amber, your new avatar cracks me up!

[Stomper]

I am up for this....just have to get the time off.

[Pinz 712]

Sounds like you all had a great time. Looking at taking my club (SWPA) through the canyon. I have talked to a guide but would like some input from people who have done the canyon with a guide. Please feel free to contact me.
Thanks, Mike president@swpinzgauer.org

[Markos]

Yes! Any insight on planning this trip would be much appreciated. BillR posted a new thread for a Canyon De Chelly wish list. I'll shoot a PM to some of the trip veterans that posted in this thread. Thanks!