ABF FIELD TRIP LEADER: Paul Remeika ABF TOUR COORDINATOR: Joan Carskaddan MEMBERS ONLY TOUR PRICE $1795/Person, Singles Add $350 PROPOSED PROGRAM ITINERARY: (refinements may occur after the field trip pre-run) NORTHEAST ARIZONA FIELD TRIP DAY 1 Friday, April 25, 2014 THE PAINTED DESERT WALNUT CANYON NATIONAL MONUMENT Meet for formal orientation and greetings in the picnic area. Afterwards, we take a short hike on the Island Trail. Then visit Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. The tectonic activity here is young, only 900 years old, yet part of the San Francisco Peaks Volcanic Field. After a lunch break we hike the Lava Flow Trail. A visit to nearby Wupatki National Monument is also in order. The pueblos such as Wupatki, Lomaki, and Citadel were constructed in the years following the Sunset Crater eruption. After a hike to inspect the Wupatki Pueblo we stay the night at the Cameron Trading Post. Happy hour. Dinner is on your own. FIELD TRIP DAY 2 Saturday, April 26, 2014 SCENIC DRIVE ACROSS HISTORIC NAVAJOLAND In the morning, we drive across the Painted Desert to Second Mesa,, where we tour the Taawa Petroglyph area and do a walking tour through the historic Hopi village of Old Oraibi. After lunch, we may visit the Kit Carson Inscription, then drive over to the historic Hubbell Trading Post for a break. Later, drive north to Chinle and nearby Canyon de Chelly within the Navajo Indian Reservation. We stay the night at the Holiday Inn. Happy hour. Dinner is on your own.
FIELD TRIP DAY 3 Sunday, April 27, 2014 CANYON SPIRITS OF THE ANCIENT CLIFF DWELLERS TOUR OF CANYON DEL MUERTO We have scheduled a halfday Navajo-guided educational tour of Canyon del Muerto. Our guide will teach us about the Anasazi and Navajo cultural history with visits at First Ruins, Junction Ruins, and Ledge Ruins. Lunch will be served at Running Antelope House Ruins. Gratuities to your guide appreciated. SOUTH RIM DRIVE Upon return to the Holiday Inn use any free selfeducation time to visit one of the various South Rim overlooks on your own, plus the Canyon de Chelly Visitor Center, and perhaps the nearby Sacred Canyon Lodge (old Thunderbird Lodge) gift shop. We stay the night at the Holiday Inn. Happy hour. Dinner is on your own.
FIELD TRIP DAY 4 Monday, April 28, 2014 ON THE ROAD TO RUINS: SPIRIT PATH TO FOUR CORNERS NORTH RIM DRIVE In the morning, we visit two spectacular North Rim Drive overlooks along Canyon del Muerto to learn about the geology of the canyons and glimpse ruins with a different perspective: Running Antelope House Ruins, and Mummy Cave Ruins. DISCOVERY DRIVE TO FOUR CORNERS Afterwards, a scenic discovery drive north takes us to Four Corners Monument Navajo Tribal Park for lunch. This is the only place in the United States where four states intersect at one point: New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah. Navajo vendors sell handmade jewelry, crafts and traditional Navajo foods nearby. The geologic landmark of Shiprock will also be discussed. After lunch, drive north to Cortez, Colorado. Cortez is known as the archeological center of America, strategically-located between Mesa Verde National Park, Hovenweep and Canyons of the Ancients national monuments. We stay the night at the Best Western Turquoise Inn. Happy hour. Dinner is on your own. SOUTHWEST COLORADO FIELD TRIP DAY 5 Tuesday, April 29, 2014 UTE MOUNTAIN TRIBAL PARK TOUR OF LION CANYON We have scheduled a fantastic all-day Ute-guided educational tour of Ute Mountain Tribal Park. This full-day tour was selected by National Geographic Traveler as one of the 80 world destinations for adventure, and involves eighty miles of driving on dirt roads. The tribal park is called the other Mesa Verde because it contains a wealth of untouched Anasazi cliff dwellings, surface ruins, and rock art sites.
Absent are the crowds, commercialism, and amenities of Mesa Verde. Hikes to visit Tree House, Lion House, Morris V, and Eagle Nest within Lion Canyon involve some climbing and use of ladders. You must be physically fit and provide your own lunch and water. Gratuities to the guide appreciated. Upon return to Cortez, we stay the night at the Best Western Turquoise Inn. Happy hour. Dinner is on your own. (Be sure to visit the Colorado Welcome Center if time permits in Cortez. Rangerguided tour tickets may be purchased here for Mesa Verde). FIELD TRIP DAY 6 Wednesday, April 30, 2014 FREE DAY TO EXPLORE MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK Mesa Verde National Park is America s premier archeological wonder, and its first World Heritage Site. It is home to more than 4,000 archeological sites, 600 of which are cliff dwellings. Be sure to visit the new Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center, completed in 2012. Tickets for ranger-guided tours of the well-preserved archeological ruins at Balcony House, Cliff Palace, and Long House are sold here. Selfguided tours to Spruce Tree House, for example, are very interesting in their own right. All ruin sites offer some of the country s most stunningly complete records of what life was like for the Anasazi, who build entire cities inside gaping alcoves carved into the sandstone. Visiting these magnificent cliff dwellings includes climbing ladders, and hiking steep trails in and out.
FIELD TRIP DAY 7 Thursday, May 1, 2014 TRAIL OF THE ANCIENTS ANASAZI HERITAGE CENTER This morning, we visit the Anasazi Heritage Center, an outgrowth of the largest archeological research project ever carried out in the United States. On-site at this museum are the Escalante and Dominguez ruins, named for two adventuring Franciscan fathers, who camped here in 1776. LOWRY PUEBLO AND CANYONS OF THE ANCIENTS We follow Trail of the Ancients, which is America s only National Scenic Byway dedicated to archeology, north to Canyons of the Ancients. We visit the Lowry Pueblo featuring 40 rooms and eight circular kivas, including a great kiva. HOVENWEEP NATIONAL MONUMENT Continuing into neighboring Hovenweep National Monument, we will have lunch, and hike to massive stone structures such as Square Tower House. Afterwards, drive southward to Bluff, Utah, via the geologic marvel of Recapture Pocket, for a visit to Bluff Fort Historic Site and their new Visitor Center, completed in 2013. We stay the night at Desert Rose Inn. Happy hour. Dinner is on your own. FIELD TRIP DAY 8 Friday, May 2, 2014 RAFT TRIP ON THE SAN JUAN RIVER Today is a special all-day (8-hour) smooth-water raft trip down the San Juan River from Bluff to Mexican Hat. Lunch is SOUTHEAST UTAH
included. We visit the seldom-seen Anasazi Lower Butler Wash rock art panel, and the River House Ruins along the way, plus float by the impressive Navajo Blanket tapestry composed of rock strata dipping along the western fold of the Raplee Anticline. Gratuities to the guides appreciated. Upon return to Bluff, relax and enjoy a much deserved happy hour. We stay the night at the Desert Rose Inn. Dinner is on your own. FIELD TRIP DAY 9 Saturday, May 3, 2014 LAND OF ROOM ENOUGH AND TIME ENOUGH MONARCH CAVE RUINS This morning, we hike to Monarch Cave Ruins located along Butler Wash and Comb Ridge. This cliff dwelling, with several other ruins located in sheltered alcoves along Comb Ridge, is rich in memories from those who came before us. A sack lunch is provided. We will eat lunch in the shelter of a nearby alcove at the ruins. SELF-GUIDED FREE AFTERNOON: VALLEY OF THE GODS A free afternoon allows us to visit the Wolfman and Sand Island rock art panels, or explore in and around the historic town of Bluff. Visit the Bluff Fort Historic Site, San Juan Hill, or drive south and negotiate the amazing Moki Dugway, Muley Point Overlook, Valley of the Gods, and
Mexican Hat Rock. Please take advantage of this free time to learn more about the area with further self-educated exploration. We stay the night at the Desert Rose Inn. Happy hour. Dinner is on your own. FIELD TRIP DAY 10 Sunday, May 4, 2014 HAUNTED LANDSCAPE OF STANDING SANDSTONE GOOSENECKS STATE PARK This is a special morning where we visit the Goosenecks Overlook above the San Juan River, to view one of the best geologic examples of entrenched meanders in the world. TOUR OF MYSTERY VALLEY Afterwards, we visit the historic Goulding s Trading Post at Monument Valley for a Navajo-guided tour of Mystery Valley. Mystery Valley is closed to the public and is a sacred corner of Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. This tribal park is the centerpiece of beauty on Navajoland, an enchanting earthscape so inspiring and magnificent that it has become synonymous with our vision of the great Southwest. It preserves Anasazi ruins and rock art sites at Skull Arch, Square House Ruin, Honeymoon Arch, and Many Hands Ruin that are seldom seen by visitors. Lunch is served near Long House Ruins. Gratuities to the guides appreciated.
DISCOVERY DRIVE TO CAMERON TRADING POST Upon return to Goulding s Trading Post, we make a scenic discovery drive south to Kayenta, then west across Navajoland to Tuba City and Highway 89, arriving at the Cameron Trading Post. After happy hour, a final end of field trip dinner is planned in the restaurant. We stay the night at Cameron Trading Post. End of the formal portion of the field trip. NORTHEAST ARIZONA FIELD TRIP DAY 11 Monday, May 5, 2014 OPTIONAL HALF-DAY VISIT TO THE SOUTH RIM OF THE GRAND CANYON LITTLE COLORADO RIVER GORGE After breakfast we offer an optional stop for those who are interested at the Little Colorado River Gorge Overlook. After discussing the history of the gorge and its connection to the Colorado River, we continue westward to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. DESERT VIEW WATCHTOWER Join Paul on the observation deck of the historic Desert View Watchtower (eastern entrance to the Grand Canyon) for a mid-morning session to learn about the geologic history, stratigraphy, and evolution of the Grand Canyon. This is a combined geology-archeology-history oriented field trip of the Four Corners area that requires a dependable high-clearance 2X2 vehicle. Although the majority of the field trip will be on pavement we may, if road and weather conditions permit, take advantage and travel on a few secondary backcountry dirt roads such as on the Ute Mountain Indian Reservation, and Butler Wash, which have washboards, rocks, washouts, soft sand, and minor high clearance problems. Be prepared just in case.
LAND OF ENCHANTMENT, APRIL 25 to MAY 5, 2014 ABF Members Only Tour: $1795/person, $350 single supplement What IS included: Accommodations: 1 night at Cameron Inn in Cameron, AZ, 2 nights Holiday Inn Canyon de Chelly, 3 nights Best Western Turquoise Inn, Cortez CO, 3 nights at Desert Rose Inn in Bluff, UT, and our last night at Cameron Inn. All rooms are double occupancy with limited single availability. Tour prices will include sack lunches to be eaten in the field, 5 guided tours including an all-day float on the San Juan River, and Paul s descriptive day-to-day travelogue. What is NOT included: (1) Breakfasts and Dinners: some lodges include expanded continental breakfast. We do not include or charge for breakfasts and dinners. This frees participants to enjoy eating when and where they prefer and to choose the foods and portion size they desire. Since many restaurants are unable to accommodate large groups eating together, this has been a favorable solution. (2) Alcoholic beverages. BYOB! (3) Transportation: participants are required to bring their own vehicles, carpooling is encouraged. We expect to travel at least 500 miles during the field trip, and vehicles should be well maintained and in good working order. A 2WD-vehicle high-clearance vehicle is required. Expect some improved gravel roads. In the unlikely event that a vehicle becomes disabled during the trip, every attempt to fix the problem will be made, however, the owner will be responsible for attending to the matter and the field trip will continue without unnecessary delay. Paul will do everything within his power to assist. Physical difficulty: Most stops will feature informative field study. Short hikes to points of interest are on uneven terrain but within close proximity to the vehicles. Planned hikes involve cross-country travel and may be one-mile one-way. Always wear protective sunscreen, sturdy shoes, and a hat. Carry water, food, and essential first-aid equipment. Bring waterproof rain gear and river shoes. Don t forget your camera, a folding camp chair, and your National Parks Pass. CANCELLATION POLICY: LAND OF ENCHANTMENT 2014 $200 per person deposit required at sign-up. Full payment required February 14, 2014 Cancel prior to January 1, 2014, $50 per person is not refundable Cancel between January 1 and February 14, $200 per person is not refundable Cancel February 15 or after no refund unless we can fill your reservation. Sorry but no exceptions can be made to this policy. We understand that unforeseen and emergency circumstances may arise, but our nonprofit organization operates on a limited budget. While inconvenient, this policy enables us to sustain our programs even with last minute cancellations. If ABF cancels a trip, we will issue a full refund or credit.