Holy Frijoles!

For the first part of this past week, we spent three wonderful days in the Bandelier National Monument near Santa Fe, New Mexico (off of Hwy 550 and Hwy 4) and we explored the ancestral pueblo sites there, which were built of stone and mud mortar and anchored by tree trunks into the sandstone rock of the surrounding cliffs. We were even able to climb up the wood ladders to peer into the small cavates (caves) which were carved out behind the individual top floor rooms. Enchanting.  And to think that these pueblos were built in and around 1175 and were lived in until the 1400's.

Welcome to Bandelier

Multi-storied pueblo rooms anchored against the cliffs - note the small holes which secured the timber roofs and the large holes dug as cavates for rooms/storage.

You want me to climb that?

Cavate interior

Over grazing = non-native species growth = fire = canyon floods (Fall 2013 flood result)

Turkey art

Enough pictures - let's eat!

On Wednesday, we had a great hike down the Frey trail from the campground down into the Frijoles River canyon (4 miles RT) and then continued hiking down the canyon to view the Upper Falls (another 3 miles RT). From the Upper Falls, we could view the Rio Grande river where these ancient Puebloans moved after abandoning the Bandelier site in the 1400's.

View just above the Upper Falls

On Tuesday, we drove up towards the Jimez mountains to explore the Valles Caldera and the grass-covered valley there which was created over a million years ago.  This caldera is a textbook caldera - which is currently dormant - unlike Mammoth and Yellowstone.  We hiked from Hwy 4 through the pines to the edge of the caldera and back - about 3 miles RT.  Breathtaking scenery marred only marginally by the recent fires in the surrounding area.

A perfect spot to enjoy lunch

 

The floor of the caldera

Hiking down into heaven

Our only shock that day was, returning by another route, (looking to buy some apples) we ventured into the the town of Los Alamos - (and the LANL - Los Alamos Nuclear Laboratory - of Manhatten Project fame) and passed through the security checkpoint (on the main road) - Ooops.  We didn't expect that! "Don't stop, don't get out of your car, no pictures!"  They apparently originally chose the site location based on its remote location (surrounded by steep canyons and rugged peaks).  And - we didn't look stupid or obvious driving around there with two kayaks on the top of our truck!  Obviously - there are no pictures to share of this misadventure!

Interesting location - a national park right across the street from the LANL.  Hmmm...But it is remote!