CHIMNEY ROCK
-- REFLECTIONS --
 The 2007 Reflections program was conducted to repeat a mirror signaling experiment that was performed in the 90's by Kathy Freeman of Farmington, New Mexico and also by researchers in the 70's and 80's. Les Linton, a Chimney Rock Day Manager and volunteer, organized and coordinated the 2007 Reflections program.
Since Huerfano Mountain in New Mexico appeared to be a hub for signaling sites between Chimney Rock and Chaco Canyon, the program was discussed with many archaeologists in that area to see if they wanted to participate. The responses were very exciting and enthusiastic, and it seemed everyone had a professional curiosity and a strong desire to have a first hand, personal experience of the communications system that was used by the Ancestral Puebloans over 1,000 years ago.
Operationally, the part of Huerfano Mountain to be accessed as a reflecting/viewing site was on Navajo land so a Class A permit was obtained from the Navajo Nation for the Reflections program. Each site had a site coordinator who tracked their specific reflection schedule and standardized on a 14 x 50-inch mirror, available at Wal-Mart for $5.88. According to the schedule, each site had a 10-minute period to reflect to another site.
The sites (map) included:
- Chimney Rock-Great House
- Chimney Rock-Sun Tower
- Burnt Mesa, New Mexico
- Huerfano Mountain, New Mexico
- Chaco Canyon-Pueblo Alto
- Chaco Canyon-Penasco Blanco
- Chaco Canyon-Chacra Mesa
- Chaco Canyon-Tsin Kletsin
- El Faro, New Mexico
- Salmon Ruins
- Aztec Ruins National Monument
- Mesa Verde National Park-Far View
|
 |
|
Over 60 people participated at the 10 sites which included folks from Crow Canyon, Fort Lewis College, National Forest, National Parks, BLM, and the University of Colorado. (Kathy Freeman was invited but had a scheduling conflict.)
The program started at 10:00 a.m. on May 29, 2007, and lasted for 4 hours until 2:00 p.m. The distances between the sites ranged from 2.7 miles to 67 miles. Mirror flashes from Chaco, Burnt Mesa, and Aztec were seen from the viewpoint at Huerfano. Chimney Rock saw the flashes from only Burnt Mesa due to hazy conditions. In conclusion, most sites made reflection contact, however, the wind and dust started to pick up around 11:00 a.m. and the longer sites, Huerfano to Chimney Rock and Huerfano to Far View, did not see a reflection. There are plans to repeat the program again and include a few more sites.
|
Hours of Operation: In-Season May 15 - September 30, Daily 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Guided Walking Tour Schedule: 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m.
Location: 3 miles South of Hwy 160 on Hwy 151 (map)
Mailing Address: Chimney Rock Interpretive Program, P.O. Box 1662, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147
Phone: (970)883-5359 Visitor's Cabin In-season, (970)264-2287 Leave Message Off-season
E-mail: chimneyrock@chimneyrockco.org
Download Chimney Rock Brochure
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|