New Mexico as well in 2013. This is where I want to go for the 2023 Annular eclipse where the moon will be in front of the sun for over five minutes. This is going to be the annual closest to a total eclipse in the 2000's.
Fuck dude if you're going to be that anal hit the Valle Grande. I mean, I used to dig Chaco'n'shit? And it's cool'an'all? but it ain't high. And it's full of depressing bullshit. Fun fact: friends of mine did Peace Corps. Two year bid in Turkmenistan. No flushing toilets, deep in the legit. That was great. Two year bid in Tajikistan. Poverty everywhere, water down the hill. That was great. Then they decided to come closer to home so they signed up for a two year bid in Gallup. Noped the fuck out in three months, they did. Fuckin' Navajo country be bleak-ass shit, yo. By all means, see Chaco at some point. But don't drag a goddamn scope there. Take it from a kid who did 100% of his observations in New Mexico - I would not drag a scope anywhere near shiprock ever, for any reason.
Hey man, give Navajo land some damn credit. The land can be absolutely beautiful.. In the right areas. Yeah sure if you even look at the Shiprock area you'll probably be stuck with depression for the rest of your life, but head west over the mountains and it's a completely different world. I mean the people still live miserably, but it sure is gorgeous. As for the Navajo people? Well yeah a large majority don't have the ..best lives. But they're goddamn interesting. You'll never find a more patriotic, proud, and friendly people. Providing sobriety of course. They gave me a number of percentage served in the military-it was close to 50% of people. Now I haven't been able to verify that but if it's anywhere close that's absolutely astounding. Couldn't spit without hitting someone wearing veteran apparel. And Gallup? That's fancy land over there-they have alcohol! and bars! They have "actual" restaurants there. Hell, I even ate sushi in Gallup(of all the brave things I've done, this is probably high up on that list). It could be so much worse-they could be living in Chinle. Or god forbid, Chinle