Dear Jake & Amelia,
We came to Navaho National Monument to see the ancient village of Betatakin. We rose before the sun warmed the chilly morning. From the mesa top at Tsegi Point, we dropped more than 800 feet in a half mile on a winding, twisting, narrow trail, then descended gently  into a side canyon. We entered a forest of small oaks. Through the tree branches we caught a glimpse of Betatakin sitting in an alcove beneath a deep arc of stone. 

We walked up a path until we were beneath and slightly to the left of the village. A square tower, seeming to be part of the surrounding stone, rose from the far left of the village. A mysterious tall wooden pole rested against the back of the cave. High above the structures, still within the deep arching alcove, was another shelf. A line of trees grew here, looking like miniatures. Our Navajo guide held us spell bound as she repeated stories from the oral history of the village. She could feel the presence of the ancient ones that are still here, and sometimes see their movements. At the end of the 5 mile hike, we were captured.

Nancy & Peter

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