An adventure in culture, history and scenic beauty...
Trip Overview

Syncroglyph from Steyr Canyon
From the mountains, to the coast, to the canyons! One constant of Syncro Safari adventures is that they're always changing locations!
This year we adventured in and around Canyon de Chelly in the high-elevation desert region of northeast Arizona with 14 Syncros and 31 Syncronauts participating. This special canyon (pronounced: canyon d'shay) is the principal attraction of Canyon de Chelly National Monument.
Syncro Safari, Canyon de Chelly '12 took place Sunday, July 8th through Saturday, July 14th, 2012. This part of Arizona is at a fairly high altitude and May through October are the prime season here, so the weather was warm and nice. Daytime highs were usually in the mid 80's to low 90's. During our stay our elevation ranged from about 5,500ft at Camp Syncro to about 9,800ft at Roof Butte in the nearby Chuska Mountains.
Where is Canyon de Chelly? Click here for a maps of several places visited during our adventure.
About Canyon de Chelly...
Reflecting one of the longest continuously inhabited landscapes of North America, the cultural resources of Canyon de Chelly include distinctive architecture, artifacts, and rock imagery while exhibiting remarkable preservation integrity that provides outstanding opportunities for study and contemplation. Canyon de Chelly also sustains a living community of Navajo people, who are connected to a landscape of great historical and spiritual significance.
The Ancient Puebloans found the canyons an ideal place to plant crops and raise families. The first settlers built pit houses that were then replaced with more sophisticated homes as more families migrated to the area. More homes were built in alcoves to take advantage of the sunlight and natural protection. People thrived until the mid-1300’s when the Puebloans left the canyons to seek better farmlands.
Descendants of the Puebloans, the Hopi migrated into the canyons to plant fields of corn and orchards of peaches. Although the Hopi permanently settled on the mesa tops, the Hopi still hold on to many of their traditions that are evident from their homes and kivas. Related to the Athabaskan people of Northern Canada and Alaska, the Navajo settled the Southwest between the four sacred mountains. The Navajo, or Dine' as they call themselves, continue to raise families and plant crops just as the “Ancient Ones” had. The farms, livestock and hogans of the Dine’ are visible from the canyon rims.
More information:
http://www.nps.gov/cach/index.htm
This year we adventured in and around Canyon de Chelly in the high-elevation desert region of northeast Arizona with 14 Syncros and 31 Syncronauts participating. This special canyon (pronounced: canyon d'shay) is the principal attraction of Canyon de Chelly National Monument.
Syncro Safari, Canyon de Chelly '12 took place Sunday, July 8th through Saturday, July 14th, 2012. This part of Arizona is at a fairly high altitude and May through October are the prime season here, so the weather was warm and nice. Daytime highs were usually in the mid 80's to low 90's. During our stay our elevation ranged from about 5,500ft at Camp Syncro to about 9,800ft at Roof Butte in the nearby Chuska Mountains.
Where is Canyon de Chelly? Click here for a maps of several places visited during our adventure.
About Canyon de Chelly...
Reflecting one of the longest continuously inhabited landscapes of North America, the cultural resources of Canyon de Chelly include distinctive architecture, artifacts, and rock imagery while exhibiting remarkable preservation integrity that provides outstanding opportunities for study and contemplation. Canyon de Chelly also sustains a living community of Navajo people, who are connected to a landscape of great historical and spiritual significance.
The Ancient Puebloans found the canyons an ideal place to plant crops and raise families. The first settlers built pit houses that were then replaced with more sophisticated homes as more families migrated to the area. More homes were built in alcoves to take advantage of the sunlight and natural protection. People thrived until the mid-1300’s when the Puebloans left the canyons to seek better farmlands.
Descendants of the Puebloans, the Hopi migrated into the canyons to plant fields of corn and orchards of peaches. Although the Hopi permanently settled on the mesa tops, the Hopi still hold on to many of their traditions that are evident from their homes and kivas. Related to the Athabaskan people of Northern Canada and Alaska, the Navajo settled the Southwest between the four sacred mountains. The Navajo, or Dine' as they call themselves, continue to raise families and plant crops just as the “Ancient Ones” had. The farms, livestock and hogans of the Dine’ are visible from the canyon rims.
More information:
http://www.nps.gov/cach/index.htm
Overland Journal has graciously allowed us to provide this aricle from their Summer 2010 issue covering a trip into Canyon de Chelly. Syncro Safari will be using the same guide service provided by Cynthis Hunter and family as did the trip described in Overland Journal.
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Itinerary Overview
Sunday, July 8th
Arrived and met other participants at Cottonwood Campground in Canyon de Chelly National Monument
Monday, July 9th
Free recreation day. Some visited the south rim lookout points, or visited other regional attractions such as Window Rock and scenic Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is a bit over 100 miles to the northwest.
Tuesday, July 10th - Wednesday, July 11th
The trip highlight! We did private, Navajo-guided, overnight, four-wheeling trip inside the canyon to see many sites that most visitors only see from the canyon rims. We visited both the north canyon (Canyon Del Muerto) and the more southern Canyon de Chelly on this trip and visit all the significan ruins and sites including White House Ruins, Antelope House Ruins, and Mummy Cave. Overnight, we had primitive camping at Spider Rock and enjoyed a Navajo meal of "Navajo Tacos" and mutton prepared by our guides an their family. We were also treated with private, authentic Navajo Pow Wow dance exhibition with six dancers who performed several dances for us and described the origin of the dances, their special attire, and traditions.
This was a very special experience!
Thursday, July 12th
Free recreation day. Guided sunset horseback ride in the canyon, vehicle repairs and other fun stuff!
Friday, July 13th
Group four-wheeling trip to the mountains northeast of the canyon. Pines, firs, spruces, creeks, meadows, axle breakage, rain, epic hail and much fun. Lunch near 9,800ft Roof Butte with amazing views! Notice: Syncrocache hidden at Roof Butte. Stops at the north rim viewpoints on the way back to Camp Syncro.
Saturday, July 14th
Trip completed. Packed up, said goodbyes and headed home.
Other regional atractions:
- Monument Valley, Arizona / Utah
- Mesa Verde, Colorado
- Petrified Forest, Arizona
- Chaco Culture National Historic Park, New Mexico
- Four-Corners where Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona come together
- Antelope Canyon or other attractions near Lake Powell
Monday Taco Night
For all other meals, we each provided for our own, but Monday's "Taco Night" was a highlight where we coordinated our efforts and had an amazing group Mexican dinner to share. Delicious, with plenty of desserts too! :-)
Digital Photo Scavenger Hunts - BACK THIS YEAR!
This year we're again did a "digital camera scavenger hunt"! The way it works is that everyone who wants to participate gets the list of particular items to take photos of. Each Syncro is a team that tracks down these sites or people or activities (or whatever's on the list) and takes a digital picture. Back at camp, we share the photos and see who snapped what. The team with the most matching photos won the AAA award. Appreciation, Applause and Accolades, plus a prize. This year's DPSH round 1 was won by the Smith family sho recieved a special Summer 2010 issue of Overland Journal which includes an article about Canyon de Chelly. Round 2 was won by the Best family team who recieved a CD by renowned Navajo flautist Terry Travis. Round 3 was won by the Quilters and the Jones (ties at 17 points) who each won an annual subscription to Outdoor Photographer magazione. Check out some of the scavenger hunt photos on the Canyon de Chelly '12 Photos page.
Syncrocaching at Syncro Safari
A feature that started in 2010 and returned for this year's adventure is "Syncrocaching".
Syncrocaching is Syncronauts using Syncros to place and find geocaches. Ever heard of Geocaching? I'm sure many of you have. Geocaching is a high-tech "treasure" hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. The web site http://www.geocaching.com provides all the details. At this year's adventure we placed a Syncrocache at the top of Roof Butte. For coordinates, join the Syncrocaching group and find the coordinates in the group's database.
Find the Syncrocaching group and sign up here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SyncroCaching
NO PETS inside Canyon de Chelly
Generally on Syncro Safari events, pets are semi-discouraged, but well managed ones are allowed. On this particular trip, NO pets could be allowed inside the canyon per policy of the NPS. This means no that pets were accomodated at this Syncro Safari.
NO ALCOHOL
While alcohol in moderation is allowed at Syncro Safari events in general, at this particular venue it is NOT. ALCOHOL IS PROHIBITED ON NAVAJO RESERVATION PROPERTY and this includes the Canyon de Chelly National Monument and our campground. This entire region of northeast Arizona is Navajo Reservation for many, many miles, so effectively alcohol prohibited on this trip.
Costs:
As is the norm with Syncro Safari events, the main cost was dividing up the camping fees. This year we'll also had the expense of the Navajo guide contracted to lead our group, the meal at Spider Rock, and the Pow Wow Dancers.
Costs varied depending on how many people in each Syncro:
Cottonwood Campground $10/night for camping 5 nights = $50
Guide, Camping, Meal & Dancers inside Canyon de Chelly July 10-11: $220
Total costs: $270.
Syncro Safari is a not-for-profit operation and is operated so the costs of the trip are divided among the participants.
Sunday, July 8th
Arrived and met other participants at Cottonwood Campground in Canyon de Chelly National Monument
Monday, July 9th
Free recreation day. Some visited the south rim lookout points, or visited other regional attractions such as Window Rock and scenic Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is a bit over 100 miles to the northwest.
Tuesday, July 10th - Wednesday, July 11th
The trip highlight! We did private, Navajo-guided, overnight, four-wheeling trip inside the canyon to see many sites that most visitors only see from the canyon rims. We visited both the north canyon (Canyon Del Muerto) and the more southern Canyon de Chelly on this trip and visit all the significan ruins and sites including White House Ruins, Antelope House Ruins, and Mummy Cave. Overnight, we had primitive camping at Spider Rock and enjoyed a Navajo meal of "Navajo Tacos" and mutton prepared by our guides an their family. We were also treated with private, authentic Navajo Pow Wow dance exhibition with six dancers who performed several dances for us and described the origin of the dances, their special attire, and traditions.
This was a very special experience!
Thursday, July 12th
Free recreation day. Guided sunset horseback ride in the canyon, vehicle repairs and other fun stuff!
Friday, July 13th
Group four-wheeling trip to the mountains northeast of the canyon. Pines, firs, spruces, creeks, meadows, axle breakage, rain, epic hail and much fun. Lunch near 9,800ft Roof Butte with amazing views! Notice: Syncrocache hidden at Roof Butte. Stops at the north rim viewpoints on the way back to Camp Syncro.
Saturday, July 14th
Trip completed. Packed up, said goodbyes and headed home.
Other regional atractions:
- Monument Valley, Arizona / Utah
- Mesa Verde, Colorado
- Petrified Forest, Arizona
- Chaco Culture National Historic Park, New Mexico
- Four-Corners where Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona come together
- Antelope Canyon or other attractions near Lake Powell
Monday Taco Night
For all other meals, we each provided for our own, but Monday's "Taco Night" was a highlight where we coordinated our efforts and had an amazing group Mexican dinner to share. Delicious, with plenty of desserts too! :-)
Digital Photo Scavenger Hunts - BACK THIS YEAR!
This year we're again did a "digital camera scavenger hunt"! The way it works is that everyone who wants to participate gets the list of particular items to take photos of. Each Syncro is a team that tracks down these sites or people or activities (or whatever's on the list) and takes a digital picture. Back at camp, we share the photos and see who snapped what. The team with the most matching photos won the AAA award. Appreciation, Applause and Accolades, plus a prize. This year's DPSH round 1 was won by the Smith family sho recieved a special Summer 2010 issue of Overland Journal which includes an article about Canyon de Chelly. Round 2 was won by the Best family team who recieved a CD by renowned Navajo flautist Terry Travis. Round 3 was won by the Quilters and the Jones (ties at 17 points) who each won an annual subscription to Outdoor Photographer magazione. Check out some of the scavenger hunt photos on the Canyon de Chelly '12 Photos page.
Syncrocaching at Syncro Safari
A feature that started in 2010 and returned for this year's adventure is "Syncrocaching".
Syncrocaching is Syncronauts using Syncros to place and find geocaches. Ever heard of Geocaching? I'm sure many of you have. Geocaching is a high-tech "treasure" hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. The web site http://www.geocaching.com provides all the details. At this year's adventure we placed a Syncrocache at the top of Roof Butte. For coordinates, join the Syncrocaching group and find the coordinates in the group's database.
Find the Syncrocaching group and sign up here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SyncroCaching
NO PETS inside Canyon de Chelly
Generally on Syncro Safari events, pets are semi-discouraged, but well managed ones are allowed. On this particular trip, NO pets could be allowed inside the canyon per policy of the NPS. This means no that pets were accomodated at this Syncro Safari.
NO ALCOHOL
While alcohol in moderation is allowed at Syncro Safari events in general, at this particular venue it is NOT. ALCOHOL IS PROHIBITED ON NAVAJO RESERVATION PROPERTY and this includes the Canyon de Chelly National Monument and our campground. This entire region of northeast Arizona is Navajo Reservation for many, many miles, so effectively alcohol prohibited on this trip.
Costs:
As is the norm with Syncro Safari events, the main cost was dividing up the camping fees. This year we'll also had the expense of the Navajo guide contracted to lead our group, the meal at Spider Rock, and the Pow Wow Dancers.
Costs varied depending on how many people in each Syncro:
Cottonwood Campground $10/night for camping 5 nights = $50
Guide, Camping, Meal & Dancers inside Canyon de Chelly July 10-11: $220
Total costs: $270.
Syncro Safari is a not-for-profit operation and is operated so the costs of the trip are divided among the participants.