Stay In A Navajo 'Hogan' Home In Monument Valley

Above, a traditional Navajo hogan in Monument Valley. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Visitors to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park that straddles Utah and Arizona is a part of the Navajo Nation.

A Navajo woman in Monument Valley is opening her hogan to visitors for overnight stays.

AOL reported:

The Diné, or Navajo, are indigenous to the Southwestern United States, where they have lived for over a thousand years. Travelers seeking to explore Navajo traditions and culture can now stay in a hogan, a traditional dwelling, within the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, or Tse’Bii’Ndzisgaii. A Navajo hogan is usually dome-shaped or multi-sided and built entirely out of natural elements like logs, bark, and mud.

The MonetValley Eco Hogan sits within the tribal park north of Kayenta, Arizona, and is owned by Verna Yazzie, a Navajo woman who was born and raised in Monument Valley. Her hogan, completed in 2020, is built out of juniper wood, bark, and sand. It is an off-grid structure with no electricity or running water, offering guests an extra dose of dark night skies (the area is renowned for its stargazing) and the chance to connect with the natural world.

By opening her hogan to visitors, Yazzie hopes to introduce people to the Navajo lifestyle, which traditionally involves herding sheep, weaving rugs, growing crops, and silversmithing. The name of her hogan, MonetValley, is an ode to her grandmother, who also lived in Monument Valley.

 To read more, go here.

Monument Valley: Navajo Culture And Old West Hollywood History

Above, the West and East Mittens. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since 2016, I have been to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park three times. The first was part of my cross-country trip to Metropolis, Illinois.

Each time, I've done something different. During my first visit, I took a two-hour afternoon tour. On My second visit, I took a sunrise tour. Then, three months ago, I did some horseback riding. 

Above, the Sun's Eye. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Monument Valley is only a few hours away from home and I have enjoyed it each time I've been there.

Only In Your State posted a photo collection of what visitors can see in Monument Valley.

They begin with:

Welcome to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. This area of Utah was originally settled by Puebloan peoples, who lived here for 1,000 years,hunting and growing crops until roughly 1250 A.D.

 

Above, inside a Navajo hogan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To see the photographs, go here.

How To Visit The Navajo Nation

Above, a female Navajo hogan in Monument Valley. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This year's summer vacation season is drawing to a close (although people can still travel during autumn) but the following is an idea for next year's summer vacation season.

The Navajo Nation is a vast area with plenty of recreational opportunities and historical sites of interest. There are hotels and campgrounds for overnighters.

Above, a male hogan in Monument Valley. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Travel has posted a guide to visiting the Navajo Nation that will prove to be useful for vacation planning.

They begin it with:

The Navajo Nation is a very large area extending into the states of New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona (mostly in Arizona and a great place to visit). It has a long history going back to pre-historic times and spans the arrival of the Europeans and the Spanish. Today it is the home of the Navajo people and has more than a dozen national monuments, historical sites, and tribal parks. The large Lake Powell provides the Navajoland with some 186 miles of shoreline. It is certainly worth exploring and the Navajo invite people to come and explore their lands through a range of guided tours to get a great understanding of this piece of America.

Above, Goulding's Lodge Campground near Monument Valley Tribal Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read the guide, go here. 

Navajo Nation Coronavirus Cases Declining

Above, inside a Navajo hogan in Monument Valley. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Navajo Nation is cautiously optimistic that they may have turned the corner as the number of new coronavirus cases decline.

According to Fronteras Desk:

The number of COVID-19 cases reported on the Navajo Nation soared throughout July and August, but the outbreak on the reservation now appears to be slowing. 

Two weeks ago, the reservation was averaging 49 new infections per day. Now the average is 39 cases per day. But the Navajo Nation still reports uncontrolled spread in dozens of communities on the reservation. 

"It’s not time to celebrate," Navajo president Jonathan Nez said in a town hall video Tuesday. "Continue to do what we’ve been doing for the past few weeks." 

The reservation still has a mask requirement, many business restrictions, and limits on in-person gatherings. Nez said those precautions are helping.

To read more, go here. 

Navajo Nation Leaders Keeping Mask and Other Restrictions

Above, inside a Monument Valley Navajo hogan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It looks like Monument Valley and other tribal parks in the Navajo Nation will remain closed for the time being despite CDC recommendations.

USA Today reported:

Navajo Nation leaders are keeping mask restrictions and social distancing despite a high COVID-19 vaccination rate and CDC recommendations.

As the COVID-19 pandemic began spreading across the world, Graham Beyale at first figured he'd be safe inside his home along the dusty red dirt roads of the Navajo Nation reservation.

But as more and more news came out about how the virus spread— and how quickly— Beyale got nervous. At the time, he was living in a traditional one-room home called a hogan with 11 other people. No running water. No toilet.

Like many of his approximately 400,000 fellow Diné, most of whom live on the 27,000-square-mile reservation sprawling across northern New Mexico, Arizona and a small portion of southern Utah, Beyale, 31, knew medical care could be a long drive away. And the Navajo, who suffer from high rates of diabetes and obesity, have historically been susceptible to viral infections, including the 2009 H1N1 swine flu epidemic.

Frankly, I don't blame the tribal leaders for being extra cautious. A part of the Navajo Nation is just across Interstate 40 from me.

To read more, go here.

Culture and Natural Beauty In The Navajo Nation

Above, inside a Monument Valley Navajo hogan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Navajo Nation is currently closed to visitors due to the coronavirus pandemic. But, it will eventually reopen and it is a fascinating place to visit.

KSL.com has an article on what visitors can see and do in the vast Navajo Nation (that covers three states).

They begin with:

As part of the larger Navajo Nation, the Utah portion of the Navajo Nation is in the Southeast part of Utah. It is remote and isolated retaining much of its traditional ways of life. Its landscape and topography contain some of the world's most beautiful, colorful rugged sandstone cliffs and towering rock formations.

The Navajo presence in the area goes back hundreds of years. Their history is intertwined with early Spanish and Mexican influences, providing rich stories and fascinating sites for exploration. The Navajo people and their ancestors the Anasazi ('ancient ones') resided in the region and visitors find it an ideal location to retrace history and step back in time. The public can view the Anasazi through the striking images of the Butler Wash Petroglyph Panel, found along the San Juan River as it flows downstream.

Enjoy running, hiking, or biking on select Monument Valley Tribal Park trails or participate in a Navajo-sponsored seasonal marathon within the Rainbow Bridge area. Take part in the Balloon Festival held each December at Monument Valley Tribal Park. Guided tours for photographers can easily be arranged to help you discover the full potential of this spectacular landscape.

 To read more, go here.

Today's Group Gathering

Above, inside the hogan this morning. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today's group coffee gathering in Jamestown took place in the newly build hogan of Greg Lucier's wife.

This is the first time I've seen the interior of the ceremonial hogan since last spring. The inside looked very inviting and would make a great "man cave" or, as in this case, a "she shed". A very nice job! 

As the structure is hexagonal, chairs were arranged around an iron wood stove.

The carpet can be easily pulled up exposing a sand floor for Navajo ceremonies.  

The exterior:

Above, the hogan last year. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Hogan Tree Planting

Above, Wichita Blue Juniper trees in position for planting. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Instead of heading down to Denny's at the Flying J this morning, I headed a mile up the hill to Greg Lucier's home to see the planting of 15 Wichita Blue Juniper trees at his wife's ceremonial hogan.

Above, the Wichita Blue Juniper trees and the hogan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The trees, once bigger and fuller, will be a noise block (including drums) for the neighbors when the ceremonies at the hogan take place.

Greg is married to a Navajo lady and the hogan was built for her.

Above, the entrance of the hogan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The view of the valley below from the hogan is a nice one. There is a 6-acre lot for sale across the street. I don't know what the asking price is.

Above, the workers and the equipment. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The hogan itself is not yet completed. It needs to have insulation, drywall and electrical outlets installed. Then, once all that is completed, a Navajo medicine man will bless the hogan so that it can be used.

Above, inside the hogan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the auger drilling holes for the trees. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the view towards the mesas from the hogan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the lot across the street that is for sale. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the view down Birch Road. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the hogan from Birch Road. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Sunday Drive

Above, interesting rock formations a mile or so from Church Rock off Hwy. 566. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This morning, I decided to take a two-hour Sunday drive in a part of New Mexico I hadn't been to.

The route I took (see map below) began in Church Rock on Highway 566. I went north from there to to turn east on a Navajo road (N11-49) through Pinedale, Mariano Lake and Smith Lake, and then down Highway 371 to Thoreau to Interate 40. This is the area behind the mesas north of Jamestown.

Above, Church Rock from Highway 566. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Most of the scenery along N11-49 was primarily ranches. Much of the area is part of the Navajo Nation. One can tell which ranches were Navajo as each had a hogan on the property. Some had sheep. Some had horses. Some had cattle.

Above, grazing sheep near the intersection of Hwy. 566 and N11-49. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Mariano Lake looked more like a large pond. I didn't see any lake at Smith Lake. I was going to go up to Crownpoint (north on Highway 371), but decided not to. I'll save that for another trip. Crownpoint is noted for its monthly Indian blanket auction.

Above, a ranch up against sheer rock walls. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I got on Interstate 40 in Thoreau. I was feeling a little drowsy, so I stopped at Indian Village in Continental Divide for a sandwich and coffee. While having the coffee, I was wandering around their parking lot and saw a humorous sign. While looking at the sign, a large German shepherd started barking. Yes, he was one "bad ass" dog!

Above, a ranch and red rocks. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

From Continental Divide, I headed on home. It was a nice two-hour trek. The total miles driven were about 64.

Above, at Indian Village in Continental Divide. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A Drive Up The Hill

Above, a view of the mesas in the distance from upper Whispering Cedars. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For the heck of it, I took a little "road trip" to upper Whispering Cedars to see the area under a blanket of snow. This area got around 15 inches of snow during yesterday's storm.

Above, looking down Whispering Cedars Road. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Unfortunately, unlike lower Whispering Cedars (where I live), the upper area wasn't snow-plowed and the roads were a bit icy. While stopping to shoot some photos of friend Greg's wife Marlo's hogan, I couldn't get enough traction to drive further uphill. So I had to back up a little to turn around in somone's driveway entrance. I thought it best to head back down before I got myself stuck (or worse).

Above, Marlo's hogan. It is still not completed, mainly the interior. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Still, it was a nice little drive. But without the roads being plowed or not having snow chains, I wouldn't attempt it again.

Above, the snow on the driveway in front of the garage. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After getting home, I took some shots of the yard. The snow on the driveway in front of the garage was very smooth. I took a shot of it with the GOCO Beast Barn in the background.