Chimney Rock National Monument Hike, Feb 25

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Chimney Rock (the pillar on the right) and Companion Rock (on the left), from near the gate.

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A little higher up, with the snow-covered San Juans in the distance.

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Hmm, a "modern" artifact; perhaps from an archeologist's—or hunters—camp

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Our path through the woods

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Along the edge of the ridge. The Puebloan Great House is on the flatish prominence left of the pillars.

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The rocky flat peak, 7272, also has Anasazi ruins on it.

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The Great House Ruins atop the ridge.

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The mound Sue is standing next to is an unexcavated ruin.

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A few pottery shards.

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Another unexcavated ruin, with a view of Chimney Rock

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This is an excavation that had been backfilled and covered with black plastic by archeologists.

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The Great Kiva. You can just see the Chimneys above the trees.

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Sue taking a photo of Ridge House.

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Sue is walking up the "ramp" leading to the Great House. A little narrow, and a little exposed. It would have been highly defensible.

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The Great House, with the twin pillars nearby.

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The Great House masonry, showing clear Chacoan influence.

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Great House walls.

Chimney Rock Great House Kiva

The center of this large kiva in the Great House lines up precisely with the gap between the pillars. Every 18 years, the moon rises between them, at the lunar stand still.

Chimney Rock Great House

Several of the Great House rooms, with Companion and Chimney Rock spires towering beyond.

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The ridge line between the ruins and the pillars is very crumbly and exposed!

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View from above the Great House

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Sue is heading down the causeway as we start our hike out.