Canyon de Chelly...Finn's first hike!

Mom got us up early so we could go to Canyon de Chelly National Monument in AZ. She took us on a back road to start and Dad wasn't too sure, but it worked out fine! Actually I didn't pay much attention, quite comfy in my crate!

Mom read all about the area and clued me in...it is in the Navajo National Forest on the Navejo Reservation where the Navajo people still live and work at farming, raising sheep, and of course making beautiful pottery and jewelry. People have lived here for 5000 years including Ancestral Pueblo and Hopi Indians. 

Canyon de Chelly Nat'l Monument actually has two canyons, de Chelly and del Muerto with walls that rise over 1000 Ft.

So we first toured the North rim and I had my very first hiking experience! It was short, but the cliffs were steep and most of you know Mom is petrified of heights, so she was doubly scared for me...Dad and I had it under control!

Aw Mom, no sweat!

Next we saw Mummy Cave Ruins with one of the largest ancestral Puebloan villages of Cave Dwellings in the canyon, where Pueblans lived who migrated from Mesa Verde around 1280.

Then we saw Massacre Cave where about 115 Navajos that lived on a ledge were massacred by a Spanish a Military Expidition in 1805, so sad!

Next we headed to the South Rim where we saw panoramic views of the canyons, Defiance Plateau, and the Chuska Mountains!

Below we saw today's Navajo farmlands.

Finally we saw Spider Rock, an 800 Ft tall sandstone spire with Black Rock Butte in the background.

So this was my day. I've decided I'm going to be a hiking dog. I'm dirty gray at this point, Mom hates it that I'm not clean, but I'm a happy boy!

Tomorrow, Jun 8, we head for Sedona and will be thinking about our friends Lila and Brandon and praying for positive news!