Where Eagles Fly : Taos to Winslow ~ Part 2 ~ Cańon Del Chama, Rio Gallina & Gallina Anasazi People

This is the 2nd post in a 5 post series based on an aerial exploration from Taos, New Mexico, across the desert to Winslow, Arizona over some very interesting and unusual wilderness. 

Continued from Part 1...
After passing by the white shining mountains above Ghost Ranch I entered a wide, beautifully picturesque valley with a river that curved off into the distance. Flying at this altitude so early in the morning, aplenglow from the sun, yet to breach the horizon, behind me created a warm glow on that looks as though it is radiating off of the golden cliff faces along the canyon walls. And the still darkened deep blue sky in the distance is a recent remnant of the night sky, hence its deep tones.

Chama River Canyon Wilderness 

Cańon De Chama and the Rio Chama ~ Click to Enlarge

Chama Canyon or rather  Cańon De Chama is an ancient place, used by First Nations Tribes for nearly 10,000 years, from the time period when camels and wooly mammoths roamed the southwestern United States. Running down the bottom of this wide canyon is the Rio Chama. At 130 miles (210 km) long, this river is a major tributary of the Rio Grande.  

Chama River Canyon Wilderness is a relatively small 50,300 acre (20,356 ha) protected wilderness area that exists along the river in the bottom left area of the photo above. This river is a well known river rafting, canoeing and kayaking.  
(Research Source)

This timeworn valley is home to dense stands of ponderosa pine, douglas-fir, pinyon, juniper, mountain-mahogany, gambel oak and serviceberry. The riparian area also includes cottonwoods, box elder, willows, hackberry and numerous shrubs that are indigenous to north-central New Mexico. 

Rio Chama & Rio Gallina at Mesa Golondrina ~ Click to Enlarge

This foreboding place is called Mesa De Los Viejos (Plateau of the Old Ones) on the right side of the image while the Rio Chama (river) runs along the bottom of the canyon and forks into the Rio Gallina at the base of Golondrina Mesa (here in the middle of the image). 

It is teeming with an impressive variety of wildlife including cougars, black bears, elk, mule deer, badgers, bobcats, coyotes, beavers and raccoons. The sky is full of ducks, dippers, spotted sandpipers, Canada geese, turkey, golden eagles, bald eagles, falcons, hawks, owls and the ever present turkey vultures. 

The river is full of brown and rainbow trout, flathead chub, flathead minnows, white suckers, carp, channel catfish, black crappie and longnose dace.... to name a few... also rattlesnakes are found in the adjacent mountain valleys and canyons.
(Research Source)

Gallina Monocline 

Flying southwesterly I crossed the ridge from Chama River Canyon and followed the Rio Gallina as it crossed Capulin Mesa. Here was a dramatically lifted ridge line, rising sharply up out of the canyon floor. This long, partitioned and solitary monocline ran for miles up through the canyon.  

Rio Gallina & Monocline ~ Click to Enlarge

The Ancient Anasazi Gallina People

Reaching back across thousands of years the Rio Gallina was home to the Gallina or Largo-Gallina culture was an occupation sequence during the pre-Hispanic period in the American Southwest/ As members of the Ancient Anasazi Ancestral Puebloans people they thrived from approximately 1050 to 1300. 

No one knows exactly what happened to them, however their few remains tell a dark tale;

 Almost every Gallina skeleton ever found has been that of someone murdered. Broken necks are the most common and the skeletons rarely appear to have been buried. Also commonly found has been remains of Gallina who were murdered, thrown into their homes, and then had the homes burned. Some of the skeletons of the murder victims have been found in the towers. The debate is ongoing for the cause of these murders. Genocide has been considered, and so has internecine war.
(Research Source)

The following diagram illustrates my relative flight path and position to the subject matter for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd photo above. This shows how I deviate from my straight flight path to "follow the shot" when I see something that interests me.  This is the reason why it is crucial to do proper flight planning so that you can allow for time to explore areas of interest.

Flight Path Illustration Showing Route Deviation ~ Click to Enlarge

As I flew westward the run continued to rise behind me while in front of me across the misty horizon, I could now make out the looming monadnock shapes around Huerfano Mountain. A Most Sacred Place. 

Huerfana Mountain on the Horizon ~ Click to Enlarge

Huerfano Mountain

Huerfano Mountain climbs to 7,441 feet (2,268.02 meters) above sea level and is one of the most sacred traditional sites to the First Nations Diné (Navajo) Tribe. They call the mountain "Dzil Na’oodilii " and it is said to be suspended from the sky with sunbeams.

Dzil Na’oodilii is considered to be the “lungs” of Diné country. This sacred mountain is the home of Yódí’ashkii (Goods of Value Boy), and Yódí’at’ééd (Goods of Value Girl), and one of the homes of ‘Altsé Hastiin (First Man), and ‘Altsé ‘Asdzáá (First Woman). In the beginning DzilNa’oodilii was decorated with pollen, rugs, hides, cloth, and Male Rain for the coming of a Special Child (Changing Woman)
(Research Source)

 And we've reached the end of Part 2 of this journey, go here to watch Part 1 and stay tuned for Parts 3, 4 & 5. 

I lensed these images at different times while exploring this awe-inspiring wilderness area for my ongoing project, "Where Eagles Fly". 

About The Project

Where Eagles Fly - The American Wilderness Expedition is my personal mission to introduce people to these amazing locations that surround us. I am piloting a bush plane while exploring and filming throughout the remote back-country areas of North America to raise awareness of the 47% of the USA and 90% of Canada that remain unpopulated wilderness.

About The Author

My name is Zedekiah Morse and I'm a Bush Pilot, Photographer, Explorer and Filmmaker. I live in the Rocky Mountains and devote my time and resources to exploring as much of the world as I can by air. If you wish to watch a short film detailing how I do my work and this project, go here.

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