Beyond the Range

I recently obtained a few Dwarf Nigerian goats to help with turf maintenance around the ranch (and just to have around as pets). In this video, I show them off and share what I've discovered thus far about raising goats. This will be an adventure, to be sure, and I hope to provide updates in the future.

An exciting exploration of the ancient city of Ollantaytambo in Peru's Sacred Valley. Believed to have been reconstructed in the 1400s by the 9th Inca King (Pachacutec), the origin of this site is likely much older. Sometimes called the "City of the Watchtower," it may have once defended Cusco from the armies of the Amazon, or perhaps it was a temple for worshipping the earth-sky connections. In any case, it is one of the finest examples of Inca city planning that still exists. Together, we will climb the massive, terraced citadel to examine the diverse styles of masonry that blend megalithic, fine-cut stonework with the smaller scale, cruder approach of what seems to be a more recent age. Some of the stones at Ollantaytambo weigh hundreds of tons, are joined together with mind-blowing precision, and are cut in baffling shapes such as stairs and crosses. If you enjoy ancient mysteries, you'll love this investigation of one of the most intriguing archaeological sites in Peru.

Adventure, History, Geopolitics, Mystery, Travel... all in ONE epic adventure. Available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Chaturanga-Andrew-C-Katen/dp/0692586180/ref=sr_1_7?crid=TA2BH0ZJ4ISN&keywords=chaturanga+book&qid=1661963721&sprefix=chaturanga+book%2Caps%2C137&sr=8-7

The multitude of geocosmic alignments and celestially-themed rock art found here suggest this was a place to study and worship alignment — of earth, sky, and spirit. Was it built to celebrate the ancient Hermetic principle of correspondence, famously known by the saying, "As above, so below"? Join me on a tour of Pueblo del Arroyo, Kin Kletso, the Pueblo Alto complex, and finally the great kiva of Casa Rinconada. Together, we will walk in the footsteps of the ancient ones, scaffolded by the same timeless and fundamental elements that guided them, dissolving the bonds of space and time between us, to connect on a psychic level rooted in a universal truth — that we all come from and are part of the one. Welcome back, fellow explorers. Let’s continue our journey. Join me on other wanderings and explorations: https://www.beyondtherange.org FB: https://www.facebook.com/BeyondtheRange1 IG: https://www.instagram.com/Beyond_the_Range1

The multitude of geocosmic alignments and celestially-themed rock art found here suggest this was a place to study and worship alignment — of earth, sky, and spirit. Was it a laboratory, observatory, temple, pilgrimage site, or all of these? Join me on a tour of Pueblo Bonito, the most iconic structure in Chaco Canyon. Together, we will walk in the footsteps of the ancient ones, scaffolded by the same timeless and fundamental elements that guided them, dissolving the bonds of space and time between us, to connect on a psychic level rooted in a universal truth — that we all come from and are part of the one. Welcome back, fellow explorers. Let’s continue our journey. Join me on more wanderings and explorations: https://www.beyondtherange.org FB: https://www.facebook.com/BeyondtheRange1 IG: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_the_range1/

Explore Chaco Canyon during the summer solstice. Built 1400 years ago by the Ancestral Puebloans, this complex includes numerous sites with great houses, kivas, and geocosmic alignments. As with ancient peoples around the world, the builders of Chaco Canyon seem to have understood the principle of sacred alignment and the connection between earth, sky, and spirit. This is the first in a series of videos about this incredible place. Join me on more wanderings and explorations: https://www.beyondtherange.org FB: https://www.facebook.com/BeyondtheRange1 IG: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_the_range1/

The mysteries of Chaco Canyon, NM, are many and great. Do its artifacts, architecture, and geocosmic alignments hint at a connection to Central America, or even to the ancient civilizations of distant Peru? Did this remote population center once serve as a concert hall, cathedral, observatory, or all three, for Ancient Puebloan peoples? Are the petroglyphs found here and throughout America’s southwest records of, or perhaps even advertisements for, the events that brought pilgrims to Chaco a thousand years ago? Join me to explore these questions and more during a visit to one of the world’s most incredible, enigmatic, and deeply spiritual archaeological sites. Join me on more wanderings and explorations: https://www.beyondtherange.org FB: https://www.facebook.com/BeyondtheRange1 IG: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_the_range1/

On day 3 of the Moonstone Trek, I was treated to magnificent views of mountains, lush thickets, and a hallowed valley. I witnessed ruins of ancient farms, shrines, aqueducts, building quarries, and burial chambers. Each day of this trek seemed to be more amazing and breathtaking than the day before. Join me on more wanderings and explorations: https://www.beyondtherange.org FB: https://www.facebook.com/BeyondtheRange1 IG: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_the_range1/

For thousands of years, man has looked to the sky for knowledge, understanding, and wisdom – about who he is, what he comes from, and where he is going. Across the world, sites were built to observe, measure, and celebrate cosmic events. One of the most important of these events was the solstice. Join me on more wanderings and explorations: https://www.beyondtherange.org FB: https://www.facebook.com/BeyondtheRange1 IG: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_the_range1/

On Day 2 of the Moonstone Trek in Peru, I leave the hamlet of Chillipahua, passing traditional adobe and straw homes and terraced fields, and climb to the Accoccasa Pass at over 15,000ft. Join me on more wanderings and explorations: https://www.beyondtherange.org FB: https://www.facebook.com/BeyondtheRange1 IG: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_the_range1/

This is Part 1 of my video series: “The Moonstone Trek: My Journey from Cusco to Machu Picchu.” In 2017, I went to Peru to learn about its history and culture. As part of that visit, I undertook a trek from the ancient capital of the Incas to their famous “lost city” in the Andean cloud forest. My route followed an Inca road system once used by royal chaskis (runners) who carried information and goods across the largest pre-Columbian empire in the Americas. For five days, I traveled by bus, train, and foot over mountains and rivers that range from 7,000 to more than 15,000 feet above sea level. Along the way, I explored archaeological sites, visited market towns and rural villages, and admired breathtaking views of glacier-capped mountains and the brilliant Milky Way. Join me on this enchanting journey down one of the lesser-known branches of the Inca Trail and discover the geography, architecture, and people of this great land. In this episode, we explore the colorful markets of Izcuchaca and Huaracondo. Join me on more wanderings and explorations: https://www.beyondtherange.org FB: https://www.facebook.com/BeyondtheRange1 IG: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_the_range1/

The Moonstone Trek adventure continues! Join me for Part 2 as I make my way through the Andes Mountains of Peru to visit the ruins of a pre-Inca fortress. Join me on more wanderings and explorations: https://www.beyondtherange.org FB: https://www.facebook.com/BeyondtheRange1 IG: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_the_range1/

In this final video series about the Coricancha, we explore the temple's likely role as an observatory for studying and worshipping the cosmos. Many of the interior doorways, windows, and niches appear to align with solar and lunar events. Other features, such as wall protrusions, are even more perplexing; what were their functions? We wrap up our tour with a discussion of the Inca "ceque" system; this network of 42 invisible lines radiates outwards from Cusco, and was dotted with some 328 huacas, or sacred sites, that were tended by kin groups. The ceque system may have served a political, religious, and/or astronomical purpose; like so many aspects of Peru's pre-Spanish history, they remain a mystery to be solved. Join me on more wanderings and explorations: https://www.beyondtherange.org FB: https://www.facebook.com/BeyondtheRange1 IG: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_the_range1/

Let's explore Sacsayhuaman, the large and mysterious fortress that overlooks Cusco, Peru. Known as the largest megalithic complex in the western hemisphere, this site features several caves, tunnels, and strange stone carvings alone its northeastern side. Construction is attributed to the Incas, but many claim the ruins are actually much older. Join me on more wanderings and explorations: https://www.beyondtherange.org FB: https://www.facebook.com/BeyondtheRange1 IG: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_the_range1/

In this third segment of the Coricancha video series, we'll explore the temple of Inti (the Inca sun god) in Cusco, Peru, paying particular attention to the fine imperial masonry and trapezoid-shaped doors, windows, and niches. Join me on more wanderings and explorations: https://www.beyondtherange.org FB: https://www.facebook.com/BeyondtheRange1 IG: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_the_range1/

In this video, we'll learn about the purposes and possible locations of Cusco's ancient sun towers, which may have once stood on the mountain ridges that surround the city. These structures would have guided the Incas' study of astronomical events and played a prominent role during ceremonies in the central plaza. Evidently, they were destroyed during the conquest, as nothing remains of the towers but early Spanish accounts. Join me on more wanderings and explorations: https://www.beyondtherange.org FB: https://www.facebook.com/BeyondtheRange1 IG: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_the_range1/

The Andean cross is an old and mysterious symbol. This geometric design is evident throughout Peru's history, architecture, and artwork. Like all symbols, it represents an idea or concept. But depending on who you ask or what you read, the interpretations for the true meaning of the Andean cross vary. In this video, I highlight some of the most common explanations. Join me on more wanderings and explorations: https://www.beyondtherange.org FB: https://www.facebook.com/BeyondtheRange1 IG: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_the_range1/

Calle Hatunrumiyoc boasts some of the most impressive pre-Columbian stonework in Peru. One particularly impressive feature here is the Twelve Angle Stone. How these stones were moved, shaped, and set continues to puzzle archaeologists today! Join me on more wanderings and explorations: https://www.beyondtherange.org FB: https://www.facebook.com/BeyondtheRange1 IG: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_the_range1/

Come along as I visit Quillarumiyoc, the "Moonstone of the Andes," an intriguing archaeological site near Cusco, Peru. The most distinctive feature is a crescent carving in the limestone rock, which may be a moon, rainbow, or some sort of sundial or other time-keeping instrument. Thrones, caves, running water, terraces, and trapezoidal niches also occupy this complex. Though scarcely visited by tourists, Quillarumiyoc was likely an important place during Inca time, and perhaps in earlier centuries or millennia. Join me on more wanderings and explorations: https://www.beyondtherange.org FB: https://www.facebook.com/BeyondtheRange1 IG: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_the_range1/

Q’enko is a pre-Columbian ceremonial site located 1.5 miles outside of Cusco, Peru. This huge limestone outcrop has been carved into an ornate monument of stairs, figurines, sundials, and zig-zagging channels. Join me on more wanderings and explorations: https://www.beyondtherange.org FB: https://www.facebook.com/BeyondtheRange1 IG: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_the_range1/

The stonework of the Palace of Inca Roca is an extraordinary example of the monumental architecture used by the pre-Columbian people of Peru. In this video, I point out one of the more impressive figurines embedded in the polygonal assembly of multi-ton diorite stones. Join me on more wanderings and explorations: https://www.beyondtherange.org FB: https://www.facebook.com/BeyondtheRange1 IG: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_the_range1/

Every day, every moment offers the possibility of a new adventure. All you have to do is walk through the door. An inspirational short story set to music. Join me on more wanderings and explorations: https://www.beyondtherange.org FB: https://www.facebook.com/BeyondtheRange1 IG: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_the_range1/

Join me as I visit Sacsayhuaman -- the massive pre-Columbia fortress that overlooks Cusco, Peru, from the north. These ruins are one of the largest megalithic structures in the western hemisphere, and feature precisely carved boulders that weigh as much as 300 tons. Construction has been commonly attributed to the 9th Sapa Inca, Pachacutec, along with the theory that he built Sacsayhuaman in as few as 20 years. This feat is especially remarkable considering that the Incas did not have the wheel, large work animals, or iron tools. Join me on more wanderings and explorations: https://www.beyondtherange.org FB: https://www.facebook.com/BeyondtheRange1 IG: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_the_range1/

In this second episode of the Coricancha video series, we go inside Cusco's church of Santo Domingo to investigate the Inca ruins within. When the Spaniards arrived here in the 1530s, they destroyed much of the existing architecture and used the stonework to build their own political and religious complexes. Fortunately, some of the most impressive aspects of the Coricancha survived and can be explored by visitors today. Join me on more wanderings and explorations: https://www.beyondtherange.org FB: https://www.facebook.com/BeyondtheRange1 IG: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_the_range1/

Join me as I visit the Coricancha, one of Cusco's most famous historic sites. This structure once served as the religious and political center of the Inca empire. When the Spaniards arrived, they requisitioned many of the complex's stones to build the Church of Santo Domingo, which still stands today. Join me on more wanderings and explorations: https://www.beyondtherange.org FB: https://www.facebook.com/BeyondtheRange1 IG: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_the_range1/