Sinagua Rising: A story of survival after a worldwide catastrophe

by R. G. Andersen-Wyckoff

  Tanner noted that the old jeep trail was easily wide enough and free of obstacles to drive a truck on as it started climbing the mesa and they encountered no problems until they reached the old drainage creek.

  “The bank was too steep to drive the TLB down, much less any other kind of vehicle, including a jeep, and Matt decided he needed to back down it. With no place to turn it around he had to back down the trail about a quarter of a mile to where the Jack’s Canyon branch of the Hot Loop Trail met the main trail. There he was able to maneuver the TLB around and then drive back to the creek. He used the dipper stick, the extension that attaches the backhoe to the body of the TLB, also called a boom, like an extended leg to slowly ease the TLB down the embankment. That was pretty exciting for a while as he balanced the TLB on the boom and then slowly retracted it, allowing the TLB to slide down the embankment. But, like I said, he’s a magician.

  “Once the TLB was across the dry creek bed, Matt turned it around and used the backhoe to dig away a portion of the steep bank to create a ramp that the TLB could carefully go up and down. It temporarily filled up the dry creek bed. Then Matt said we needed to go get two of the sections of culvert from the trailer where we’d left it. I crawled up onto the TLB and rode in the cramped cab with Matt back down to the trailhead.

  “That was another bit of excitement,” Tanner reported. “The 12-foot sections were too wide to lay across the loader of the TLB so we needed to stand them up in the loader and tightly strap them in. Then Matt tilted the loader back to lower the overall height of the pipes. We slowly drove back to the creek bed. He tilted the loader back even farther to keep it from nosing out on the creek bottom and slowly drove down the embankment he had created earlier—and it worked. On the other side we unloaded the culvert the same way we had loaded it—slowly and carefully.”

  Tanner continued to tell them the story of how Matt had used the bucket to recreate the steep bank on the far side, re-grade the creek bank to its original shape and pull the excess rocks and dirt to the near bank. Putting one section of culvert across the loader he then turned the TLB around and placed the culvert in the creek bottom and pushed it up tight against the far bank. He then repeated the process with the second section, the two pieces now forming a tight channel through which any runoff could flow and over which they could lay a bridge.

  “Matt backfilled the near side to make sure both pieces were pressed tightly together and then began pushing rocks and dirt up against it to build an almost flat ramp up and across the culvert. He then dumped dirt on top of the culvert and within a short period of time we had a bridge across the creek with a straight entrance and exit that could accommodate our trucks and smaller trailers. The 20-foot trailer, being pulled by a pickup, would be too long to make the turn from the trail onto the bridge, so we’ll have to use it just to get things to the base of the road and then move them in the other trailers or trucks. We parked the TLB on the near side of the bridge and took our lunch break. I’m still amazed at how deft Matt was in maneuvering that big machine and operating the loader on the front and the backhoe on the rear.”

  Tanner continued his story, telling everyone that after a short lunch break, because it didn’t take long to eat a PB&J and a Power bar, washed down with water, Matt restarted the TLB and took it to the top of the mesa, a steep 200-yard climb up the side of the mesa that had been so eroded it more resembled a stone staircase than a jeep trail. In fact, he said, he doubted that a jeep could climb that hill the way they had found it.

  As he climbed the hill, hoe first, Matt used the hoe to dig out any big rocks he saw that would impede blading the roadway on the way back down the hill. At the top he made a turnaround area and then began blading the roadway downhill with the loader. It was rocky and bumpy at first, but as Matt worked his magic a flatter and flatter roadway appeared. It was fairly steep but Tanner felt the four-wheel drive pickups could make it pulling the trailers.

  Matt felt that once some rain fell on the roadway, as long as it wasn’t a gully washer, it would help settle the roadway and he could do some more work on it with the loader.

  “We had just decided we probably couldn’t go much farther today, when we got the radio call that Philip was going to pick us up. We arrived at the trailhead just about the time that Philip pulled up. And that’s our adventure for today. Tomorrow, after we refuel, we’ll go back up on the mesa and do the minor grading of the trail to get to the village. Then we’ll cut and grade an entrance to the village and begin grading for the tents. The road to Tuwalanki will be finished; at least for the present. I feel sure that the monsoons will wreak some serious damage to the roadway and we’ll have to keep repairing it until we finally run out of diesel fuel to operate the TLB. But, by then, I expect we’ll be totally settled and not running too many vehicles, if any, on the road. Then nature will return it to the state in which we found it, but the bridge should stay put and at least allow us easier transport across the creek, regardless of the means of transportation we’re using,” he concluded.

  Everyone applauded and Tanner and Matt stood and took bows. They really had accomplished a great deal in one day.

  ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘

  Bishop suggested that the next day would be another busy one as they would begin moving the tents and heavier equipment up to Duwa. Once the tents were set up they would begin moving the supplies up to the village in preparation for their own move to their new home.

  Travis indicated that he had just about disassembled his hydroponics garden, at least that part which could be disassembled, and would be ready to move the structure, plant beds, garden and all the potted fruit trees and starter plants up to the site. He suggested that he’d like to work with whoever was going to plan the layout of the new village to determine how to set up his new greenhouse and gardens. It was suggested that Tanner, Carly, and Colby be in charge of the village planning: Tanner because of his knowledge of the original layout, Carly because of her general planning sense, and Colby because of his construction knowledge. No one disagreed and Bishop said, “It looks like you’re it.”

  Jack then said that he needed some important supplies in order to create the water supply system. He said they’d need some storage tanks, at least 200 yards of flexible 3” PVC, as much one and one-half inch rigid PVC as they could get their hands on, and lots of couplings, fittings, and valves for both. Matt indicated that he knew where to get all the supplies for the water system they would need at Casey’s Corner, but he’d need someone else to handle the rest of the grading for him.

  Bud immediately offered to take over the grading work with the TLB if Jack and Philip would go with Matt to Cornville. It was quickly agreed and Bishop said he saw no reason why they couldn’t get started right away, while the roadway was being finished and the tent areas graded. He indicated that he, Travis, Michael, Jason and the others could finish moving the goods to the Ranger Station while the site planning group did their thing.

  Bud indicated that Tanner’s group could use the ATVs to get to the village so the other vehicles could be used to haul goods to the Ranger Station. They all agreed they’d meet back at Bishop’s around noon to compare notes, and then begin the move up to the village in earnest in the afternoon.

  Someone suggested it was bedtime, even though it was only around 9:00. There was unanimous agreement. With the day’s strenuous activity, it appeared that early rising and early bedtimes might become the rule rather than the exception; especially without nighttime lighting. They didn’t feel the need of posting guards but Jason and Tate, one of Matt and Kristen’s twins, said they’d keep lookout on Bishop’s roof anyway. They took sleeping bags and water bottles with them, as well as a radio and the rifle that had become Jason’s fulltime partner. Bishop smiled. He would check on them periodically during the night, knowing that he’d probably find them tucked into their bags asleep.

  ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘

  That night the wind picked up and hot spots from the still smoldering fires in the
Village flared up. There were several loud explosions, probably caused by propane tanks exploding as they were enveloped by the fire, Bishop surmised as he climbed up the ladder to the roof to check on the boys, both of whom were sound asleep. From there he could see a bright orange glow reaching to the dancing aurora borealis and was patently thankful the wind was from the south and pushing the fires away from Morningside. He felt certain that those homes north and west of the golf course that had been spared before were now being consumed by the gusting tornadoes of wind and flame. It even appeared that the remainder of the Wild Turkey Townhomes were now engulfed. He could also see a bright glow from the direction of Jack’s Canyon and knew that some of the housing and ranches in the canyon were now on fire, as well. He hoped the homes at the end of Jack’s Canyon Road known as Pine Valley would be spared but, even more, he hoped the fires wouldn’t spread up Horse Mesa and burn across the mesa to Duwa. Just then a major explosion was heard coming from the west end of the golf course and he knew instinctively that the beautiful estate overlooking the signature fourth hole of the Oakcreek Country Club had just succumbed to the fire as its large propane tank exploded. Rich and poor alike, he thought, are not discernable to the tongue of the dragon, as he philosophically described the fire to himself.

  The large explosion woke the two boys, but Bishop quickly convinced them that everything was all right and within minutes they were both asleep again. It’s a good thing we don’t really need guards tonight, he thought. They’re obviously tired and need the rest.

  So, despite the reawakening of the fires during the night, it wasn’t any wonder the next day, the third day since the CME, as Bishop was smoking long strips of beef to make jerky so they wouldn’t waste any of their precious protein, he could stand there smiling to himself. They had accomplished so much the previous two days, without any accidents or complaints, and were all doing their part already this morning. They’d gotten up with the first light, eaten dry cereal, using milk that had not yet soured, and some of the remaining fruit, and headed off on their respective assignments.

  Matt, Jack, and Philip had left in Colby’s truck for Cornville, where Matt had assured them that not only could they get the supplies they needed for the water system but that there was a large trailer there on which to haul the supplies. Bud had left with Tanner, Carly, and Colby and the others were either still packing goods or moving them to the SUVs and trailer parked in Bishop’s driveway. Everyone, that is, except Jason and Tate who were still asleep on Bishop’s roof. They were sound asleep when Bishop climbed the ladder about 6:00 a.m. and he decided he was going to let them sleep as long as they needed so they would be fresh for the afternoon’s work.◘

  Chapter 16

  Getting Ready

  The smell of the beef smoking was enough to wake Jason and Tate and they sleepily climbed down the ladder with their bags and rifle in hand. Bishop laughed as he said, “Well, don’t you two look chipper?”

  “Where is everybody? What time is it?” asked Jason.

  Bishop responded by telling them it was about 9:00 a.m. and that most of the Mavericks were moving goods down to the Ranger Station or doing other assignments. He indicated that some were still packing goods at their homes and that he and Tate should grab some breakfast and join in the fun. They headed on down to Bud’s and were back within the hour asking Bishop what they should do next.

  Bishop picked up his two-way radio and called Tanner, who by now was at the Ranger Station. Bishop told him that Jason and Tate were available to help if he could put them to work.

  “Let them come down with the next load of goods from the houses,” Tanner suggested. “We’re ready to start loading and hauling supplies up to Duwa and I can use some strong young bodies.”

  ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘

  The Planning Group: Tanner, Carly, and Colby, had accompanied Bud to the Ranger Station where they mounted the ATVs, with Carly riding behind Tanner, and headed up to Duwa. Tanner and Carly had “camel” water bags on their backs and Colby and Bud wore belts with two water bottles each. Bud filled the diesel reserve tank on the back of his truck and then headed to where the backhoe had been parked overnight. Bud indicated to Tanner that he’d work his way back up the mesa making sure the new roadway was as smooth as possible and would meet them at Duwa later.

  Now they stood beside the ATVs on the east side of the mesa overlooking a small valley (the saddle) about 30 feet below them. Sixty yards across the valley stood the basalt outcropping that held the ruins of Tuwalanki (Duwa). The trio stared with fascination as the sun, which had just risen from behind Squaw Mountain in the east, cast a halo over and around the walls and towers and sent shafts of light through some of the windows of the old Sinagua village. It made the ruins appear as if they were tipped in gold plating.

  From where they stood, when they shaded their eyes, they could see a five-foot wall of stacked basalt stone sitting on top of the ten foot high basalt outcropping, making a formidable 15 foot barrier rising from the valley floor.

  Behind the wall they could clearly make out the two-story pueblo, though the second stories had mostly collapsed. It ran the full length of the developed portion of the outcropping, about 65 yards, broken about two-thirds of the way down only by the remains of a tower and small plaza marking the entrance to the pueblo. It then continued to the southern end of the developed area. The balance of the length of the outcropping, another 35 yards, was too rugged to build on and rose sharply, stretching southerly until it dropped almost 800 feet into a portion of Woods Canyon.

  At either end of the two-story pueblo, single-story pueblos took off at right angles easterly until they met a single-story row at the eastern edge of the promontory, which then dropped 800 feet into the branch of Woods Canyon occupied by Dry Beaver Creek. The total width of the promontory was 50–60 yards. Tanner knew from previous trips to the site that the area within the pueblo formed a large plaza within which three kivas had been built, but you couldn’t see the plaza from their vantage point on the mesa.

  The plaza had been built by backfilling the area behind the two-story units with dirt and rocks, having first built the three kivas, so the kivas were now half-way below ground level. Tanner had never ceased to be amazed by the amount of labor it had taken for the natives to haul in the dirt and rocks to accomplish this task. When it was finished, the plaza was almost perfectly flat, four feet up from the floor level of the first level of the two-story pueblo and even with the floor of the single level units. Each kiva had a lip that rose about a foot above the plaza, all that was left of the original four foot high walls of the kiva that extended above ground, giving the kivas a total depth of eight feet.

  They could also make out the two towers from which the village had supposedly been named. One tower, the one closest to them, actually began in the saddle and rose two-stories, with the second story sitting partially on the promontory. Tanner knew this tower enclosed the ladder area that provided access to the village, while at the same time providing an observation post and first point of defense along the saddle.

  The second tower was also two-stories and was part of the eastern line of pueblos. It was obvious because single-story pueblos were on either side of it. Beneath the tower was a crack in the basalt promontory about three feet wide and four feet long that opened into a small cave below. A ladder in this cave then provided access to the village from the trail that led to the creek area below and the second story provided a 360-degree view of the surrounding countryside. Only the area on top of Horse Mesa and Jack’s Canyon beyond were out of view. By pulling up the ladder in each of the towers, the village was not easily accessible.

  The slope leading down into the saddle from where they stood was strewn with large boulders and inaccessible to the ATVs and only accessible on foot, with care. The footing was loose and the slope was covered with several types of formidable cactus.

  The trio carefully picked their way down into the saddle. Colby commented, “I’ll have dad cut a tempo
rary roadway down the slope at the far north end to facilitate hauling our equipment and supplies into the saddle.” Carly and Tanner agreed.

  Colby noted that the saddle, which was somewhat flat with just a small amount of slope as it ran south some 100 yards to the precipice, would be ideal to set up their tent village while they prepared the ruins for habitation. All agreed, but Tanner pointed out that the small gullies running down the saddle indicated that runoff from rain and snow would need to be channeled in order not to flood the tents. He also pointed out what appeared to be the remnants of an ancient cistern probably built by the Sinagua to capture this runoff. “They most likely used this water for their corn, beans, and squash, which they planted in the area we’re talking about locating the tents.”

  “I think we need to do the same,” interjected Colby. “We should excavate the old cistern down to whatever hard surface is under all the blown in dirt and build a retaining wall to hold back whatever water is collected. We have plenty of plastic liner that will be perfect for the cistern and I have a whole truckload of decorative interlocking concrete blocks that will be perfect for building the retaining wall. We can build a couple of PVC outlets with valves so we can release the water if and when we’re ready. Because we don’t know how much water we might be talking about, I’ll have dad cut a small ditch down the middle of the saddle past the end of the tent area and he can grade both sides to gently slope to the ditch. That should protect the tents from any possible flooding.”

  Carly added, “I think we ought to keep all tents on the village side of the saddle so we’ll be close to where we need to ultimately move our supplies. And maybe we should build a small bridge across the ditch and put our temporary latrines on the west side.”