Devil's Chasm - 2/12/04

We did this hike with a group of about 12 people. Only 2 had done the hike previously and they served as our "guides." I put guides in quotes only because the trails were so hard to locate and so rugged that we were basically picking our way throught the terrain based on guesswork and the occasional cairn placed in particularly difficult spots.

Overall the hike was absolutely spectacular. We've had an unusually wet winter so there was lots of water flowing down falls, streams, seeps and so forth. The trail was quite sloppy with mud in a few places, but that kind of added to the fun cause you don't get to hike in the mud very often in Arizona.

The last 1/4 of the hike was the most brutal. The total distance is just over 2 miles in - but it took us 4 hours. The last ascent before you reach the ruins is the worst portion of the trail and the most difficult portion of the hike, and that's what is on display in the picture I included at the start of this set. The goal of the trail made it all worth it though.

There is a very special feeling you get when you reach remote and isolated locations with striking beauty such as we found that day. The feeling of seeing something that not many people will ever get to see, and the general communing with nature in a relatively unspoiled area.

Good friends and good trails make for a great day.



This is a view of what a good portion of the trail looks like on the way into the ruins. Yes, that is someone standing on the cliff, and yes, we all had to traverse that section of the "trail." Although, to be fair, it didn't feel quite as hairy as it looks.



Honestly - who in their right minds hikes stuff like this willingly? Look carefully - there is one gentleman on the right about 3/4 of the way to the camera, then WAAAY at the bottom are 2 more people just beginning the ascent.



This is what we're trying to get to. You honestly cannot catch one single view of the ruins till you are right where I took this picture. At this point you're about 200 yards away.



Isn't it beautiful? Look at that spectacular curve to the front wall matching the cliff face.



It looks a little bigger on the outside than it really is - apparently these folks weren't very tall.



And they liked to live on the edge. Literally.



The site is plundered pretty badly. People have even taken the support posts out of the walls.



But there are still a few artifacts left behind.



And if you look closely you can still see the imprint of the hands that built this wonderful structure around 6-800 years ago.



Looking into the doorways to the past.

There were 4 rooms still standing in the structure. 3 were "inside" and one was on the front edge, but the walls were pretty damaged so it was much more open to the elements. That picture is taken from the open room looking through to the other 3.

The view from the back porch was asl pretty spectacular. Those native Americans sure knew how to pick a spot. Apparently the whole area is just littered with ruins. I'm planning on heading back to try and spot some more.