Our second day riding at Canyon de Chelley was going to be spent riding and exploring Canyon del Muerto, a canyon steeped in much history, battles and blood shed. It is afterall named Canyon of the Dead.
When I first mounted up, my first instinct was to dismount and stay back at camp. My lady parts were swollen, tender and raw from the 25 miles we had ridden the day before. But I stayed in the saddle anyway, and discovered that after the first 20 minutes of walking and trotting, my lady bits went comfortably numb.
Apache seemed a little sore, too. So, I dosed both of us with NSAIDs. And we were on our way. Apache was eager to head out and moved right into the lead.
From left to right: Dave on Utah, Amy on Chaco, Tia on Whiskey, and our Navajo Guide, James riding Birdie.
The day was sunny and bright so the tourists were out in force on jeep tours, taking lots of photos.
Our guide James immediately led us into the bosque forest and started showing us hidden petroglyphs.
There were hundreds of them. Many very unique to Canyon de Chelley.
There were more petroglyphs than I could photograph. I tried to get a closer look and try and understand the story they were telling.
One of my favorites was the tri-colored turkey petroglyphs.
We also were shown some interesting rock formations.
And before long we saw our first Indian Ruins of the day.
They were almost always way up high on the canyon walls.
We also had many more water crossings on this day, too.
At least the day was sunny and not as windy as the day before.
Cheryl and Dave
These ruins were so impressive. All those hand chiseled, and hand carried rocks with mud to set them up strong, creating safe, comfortable homes for the Anasazi People.
Canyon del Muerto is narrower than Canyon de Chelley, but the rock walls are equally impressive.
Because Canyon del Muerto is so full of ruins, petroglyphs and is more easily accessible than much of Canyon de Chelley, we saw a lot more people and Jeep Tours throughout the day. We also saw local Navajo people traveling between their land in the canyon to the mouth of Canyon de Chelley.
But most of the time, the canyon was quiet and peaceful, and always beautiful.
Our Navajo Guide, James took us to his boss Justin Tso’s family’s private land so we could take a rest, potty break and have a snack. He also showed us another Indian Ruin high up on the canyon wall.
Do you see it?
Do you see it now? It is over on the right side of this photo, near the center of the wall.
And I see my Apache mare looking at me!
Here is a close-up, zoom-in of the Indian Ruins.
Before we packed up and remounted, our guide took a photo of us all together, with the ruins behind us. (In the upper left of the photo)
Dave, Cheryl, Amy, Tia and Me.
After riding for a while, Apache’s ears radar-ed in to something in the distance.
A flock of Churro Sheep and Angora Goats.
Enjoying the sights of the canyon.
Apache and I just taking it all in.
I have a funny story to share. On the way out the gates of Canyon de Chelley, we have to ride past the Navajo Park Guards. I was the only one in our group that was stopped and questioned. The Navajo Park Guard wanted to know why I was taking one of our guide’s Navajo horses out of the park. And then it dawned on me that my mare does look like a Navajo horse…..because she actually is! Apache is from the Navajo Reservation and spent the first few years of her life there. And she does look like one of the scrappy, little, rugged Indian ponies that you see everywhere you look on the Navajo Rez, and in Canyon de Chelley.
Of course, it’s amusingly tongue-in-cheek that my mare is named Apache. Hey! She’s the one who told what she would like to be named. She came with the name Sugar and soon after I brought her home, the name Apache just popped into my head while I was hanging out with her. I think my Apache mare has a clever sense of humor.
And here’s the only photo taken of me and Apache that day, except for the one group photo.
Always gorgeous canyon walls to admire.
And more ruins to see way up high.
A zoomed in close up of that same ruin.
The cottonwoods were starting to leaf out.
Another impressive ruins for Apache and I to enjoy.
Another closer look.
Amazing!!!
And seeing our horses in the photo gives a much better perspective of the scale and size.
More beautiful bosque to ride through…..one of my favorite aspects of the canyon rides.
Apache and I tend to lollygag and mosy. As long as we were always within shouting distance with our guide we were good. I appreciated that we weren’t on a nose to tail ride.
Riding through the water while a jeep tour travels beneath the massive rock wall.
Truly impressive to ride here. Our voices resonated back to us and our horse’s footsteps echoed in that amazing space.
Such a thrill!
Odd thing to see, but our guide pointed a ladder way up high at the top of the canyon wall. Do you see it?
How about now?
I enjoyed riding through this lovely narrow section of canyon.
Our Navajo Guide pointed out some more petroglyphs tucked behind some bushes and trees on the canyon wall.
Interesting human line drawing and what appears to be another turkey.
Always lots of water crossings in Canyon de Chelley and Canyon del Muerto.
Amy was all smiles riding her boy Chaco. Dave and Cheryl letting their horses have a drink in the background.
After 9 miles we finally arrived at our lunch spot and the impressive Antelope Ruins. We tied up our horses, used the port-a-potties, and sat down beside a creek to enjoy our lunch and a rest.
From our lunch spot we could see tourists looking down from the Antelope Ruins Overlook. They looked like tiny specks up there.
After eating our lunches, we walked over to Antelope Ruins. Such an impressive structure and one filled with much history.
This is the only ruins that we saw in 2 days that was built on the ground.
Beautiful Antelope Petroglyphs.
A close-up……………..
While we were exploring Antelope Ruins and listening to a Tour Guide explain some of the history of the site, our horses enjoyed a nice rest and a few people coming up to them to pet them and have their pictures taken with them. Our horses didn’t mind at all.
We remounted and headed back the way we came through Canyon del Muerto.
It was a peaceful and relaxing ride back for Apache and I.
We all seemed to space ourselves out and just enjoyed our own rides.
And of course there were more water crossings.
Cheryl’s horse, Koda knew we were heading back and tried to speed up and rush back to camp. So she had to do a lot of circles and keep him focused on her.
At the end of the day, we had ridden 18 miles, for a total of 43 miles ridden in 2 days. This was more than Apache and I had ever ridden in 2 days, as well as anyone else in our group. In the past, a 15 mile or less trail ride was typical for all of us in our group. After this weekend, I have a newfound appreciation for Endurance Riders who ride 25, 50 and even 100 miles in just one or two days. I don’t see me ever riding 25 miles in a day again. I’m a pleasure rider afterall. But it was still an amazing experience and an epic Bucket List ride!
And here’s my last photo. Apache and I riding towards the Sacred Canyon Lodge and to our campsite nearby. This was the only route for us to take each day once we left Canyon de Chelley. Thankfully, the roads were not too busy and folks slowed down for horseback riders.
Life is Good!!!!!!!!
