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Keet Seel - 5/31/13 - 6/2/13
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Hikngrl
desertgirl
Hnak
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thesuperstitions
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PostPosted: 2/7/2013, 3:15 pm    Post subject: Keet Seel - 5/31/13 - 6/2/13 Reply to topic Reply with quote

Keet Seel - May 31st - June 2nd

(Optional June 2nd hike to Betatakin and/or a side-trip to a "Special" place)



This is an overnight backpacking trip to one of the most pristine ruin sites in the desert Southwest. Only 20 visitors per day are allowed to visit the ruins. We have a permit for 10 people. We hike out as a group Saturday morning, and visit the ruins with the ranger that stays on-site.

The hike down from Navajo National Monument NP is about 8 miles through some of the most beautiful country you'll find in Arizona.

The trail looks to be of "moderate" difficulty which, of course depends upon your ability.

You'll lose about 800 feet in elevation in the first 3/4 mile, which is good news on the way there, bad news on the way back! The rest of the hike out has about 400 feet of gain in one area, followed by a 300 foot descent and a slow incline of 400 feet the rest of the way to the site.

Here's the plan:

* Arrive Friday night, May 31st.
* Pick a campsite in Sunset View campground (this one has a bathroom & water, but no showers)
* Form up as a group on Saturday morning, 8:00AM sharp to hear the mandatory instructions from one of the park Rangers.
* Hike as a group to Keet Seel. We are all on 1 permit. We must hike together.
* Set up camp at the Keet Seel camping area.
* Take Ranger-led hike to the ruins. They take small groups of 5-7 people at a time. The trip lasts bout an hour.
* Explore the area.
* Have our evening feast and improvised campfire (no actual fires permitted!).
* Breakfast feast Sunday morning.
* Form up as a group at 9:00AM for the hike back to our vehicles.

I suggest that participants get there Friday night and camp in one of the two FREE campgrounds. I have obtained the permit for 10 people for the hike to the ruins on Saturday morning. We must all hike as a group. Please sign up early and be assured of a permit slot.

You'll need to take all water with you that you'll require for the hike down, camping, and the hike out. There is a stream that runs through the valley but it's fouled by the cattle and sheep that roam the area. Heavy metals are also present in the stream.

The only cost for the trip are your expenses to and from Navajo National Monument (carpooling strongly suggested) and your food/beverages.

There are 2 campgrounds in the park (Sunset view-has a bathroom and water, Canyon View is primitive); both of which are FREE!

Since we should be back relatively early Sunday, there's a Ranger-led hike down to Betatakin that you may enjoy That's also an option for anyone that wants to come up, but not go on the overnight to Keet Seel. Navajo National Monument isn't too far from Monument Valley, so that's another possible side-trip.

In addition, for anyone that would like to stop by one of the most interesting (and by interesting I mean a place unlike any you've likely seen anywhere else!) and beautiful places in Arizona, we can take a side-trip on the way back. (It's not the place that I took some of you on the previous Keet Seel excursion, although we can stop there also!!!)

Here's a link to the NP website for general information about the park : http://www.nps.gov/nava/index.htm
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Hikngrl
Canyoneering is my 'Happy Place'




Joined: 27 May 2003
Posts: 5578
Location: Peoria, AZ

PostPosted: 2/7/2013, 8:32 pm    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

Way cool! I have signed up! Multi Due to the dates and Todd's billing responsibilities he will not be able to sign up. Crying or Very sad
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beckett





Joined: 14 Feb 2005
Posts: 1066

PostPosted: 2/10/2013, 8:00 pm    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

I hope the word gets around about this one. It will be great to hike with a group of ten.
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paintninaz





Joined: 06 Jan 2003
Posts: 3515

PostPosted: 2/11/2013, 5:39 pm    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

Well, since we got rained out the last time we tried this, I'll give it another go. Very Happy
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“Friends make the bad times good — and the good times unforgettable.”
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desertgirl





Joined: 19 Jan 2003
Posts: 3350
Location: Chandler, AZ

PostPosted: 2/12/2013, 10:41 am    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

Can I go please ? Very Happy
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thesuperstitions
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PostPosted: 2/12/2013, 11:58 am    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

Yes, and I've save a slot for Guru. Glad that you can all make it! It'll be great to see you all again.

We have 4 more slots available...

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Hnak





Joined: 06 Jan 2003
Posts: 1766
Location: Prescott, AZ

PostPosted: 2/12/2013, 3:03 pm    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

Sign me up for one of those slots! It was a lot of fun last time, and hopefully the weather will be a bit more cooperative this time...
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thesuperstitions
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PostPosted: 2/12/2013, 5:18 pm    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

Outstanding Hnak!!! It'll be good to see you again!!!

This is me, hiking with my kids nowadays...

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Trishness
The Snake Charmer




Joined: 21 Sep 2003
Posts: 2530
Location: Apache Jct, AZ

PostPosted: 2/12/2013, 6:54 pm    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

I've signed up but much depends on how my mother is doing at that time. I will give adequate notice if I need to cancel.
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~~~Trish~~~

"Eastward the dawn rose, ridge behind ridge into the morning, and vanished out of eyesight into guess; it was no more than a glimmer blending with the hem of the sky, but it spoke to them, out of the memory and old tales, of the high and distant mountains." � J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of The Rings.
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thesuperstitions
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PostPosted: 2/13/2013, 3:46 am    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

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Hikngrl
Canyoneering is my 'Happy Place'




Joined: 27 May 2003
Posts: 5578
Location: Peoria, AZ

PostPosted: 2/15/2013, 8:37 pm    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

Oh my gosh! I am so excited! This is going to be such fun! Each out though cause if I going chances of Hnak actually making it are slim!Wink
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wanderingsoul





Joined: 19 Jul 2004
Posts: 2285
Location: Gilbert AZ

PostPosted: 2/17/2013, 7:33 pm    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

May I joint you all? I've signed up again since we weren't able to get there last time.

I'm hoping that this works out for me ! A place I'd like to see
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Wanderingsoul (Michelle)

Positive Thinking Is the Spark that Makes Dreams Happen~~~Unknown
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thesuperstitions
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PostPosted: 2/18/2013, 5:39 am    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

I'm not sure if you can "joint" us (flashing back to the 60s & 70s!), but you're certainly welcome to "join" us!!!! Glad you can make it Michelle. Hopefully there'll be no tremendous downpour like last time. Driving from Phoenix to Navajo National Monument that Friday was quite an adventure. The rain was coming down like it does in Florida; in buckets!

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tibber





Joined: 16 Feb 2004
Posts: 247
Location: Phoenix

PostPosted: 2/22/2013, 10:35 am    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

I've done this backpack before. It was a great trip. I think the campsite up top and across from Keet Seel are lovely. On the hike in we even did some quicksand dancing (it had rained quite a bit that August).

Three other things:
first, one of our group got to the monument/campsite early and he attended the 4PM ranger required talk on behalf of the group so we did not have to do that in the morning before hiking. We were able to start hiking at 7AM which was a good thing as it got a bit toasty the last hour.

second, a couple of our group found a nice spring less than a mile from the campground.

third, we cached some water toward the bottom of the canyon before you cross the creek. We wanted to have it for that last mile out just in case. As it turned out, we had overcast skies so it wasn't as hot. Also, because we had water from the spring, we all had plenty to get us out of the Canyon.

Here is a video (one of my more popular ones) from that hike: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UknH4ke2ABA
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beckett





Joined: 14 Feb 2005
Posts: 1066

PostPosted: 3/3/2013, 11:55 am    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

I need to drop out of this one. Crying or Very sad I have some personal matters that have come up that I need to take care of. I WILL get to Keet Seel some day!
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