Sunday, October 17, 2021

Trip South - Bandelier part 2

 
We find out there is a 2nd Section of Bandelier - Tsankawi - just down the road from the Visitor's Center so we check it out before leaving.

It is easy to drive by as it looks like just a trailhead. 



We come to an interesting rock formation.  The trail at Tsankawi includes narrow trenches and ladders.

Around the corner is our first ladder

Gary makes it up

Quite a view

Let's see where it leads us

It follows the ridge



 
 
Looks like they were a peaceful people

I think we missed a turn somewhere

 
We finally find ladder no. 2


I spot a sign to the left and check it out.  looks like we had lost the trail at sometime, will remember to go back this way!
 
We take it to the next level

An even better view
Finally a level smooth trail
I spot my first pottery shard
And then more
 
I follow the trail a bit further and follow the trail sign
The trail gets a bit narrow
And there is a 3rd ladder

We decide to go back the way we came as it is easier and we need to move on to Albuquerque

We.spot more pottey
And some Pueblo ruins

What is left if the Village of Tsankawi, built in the 1400s A.D. by ancient Pueblo Indians sometimes known as the Anasazi.

 
We go back down ladder 2 and follow the trail we missed.  Don't know how that happened.   The trails have been worn into the rock 8 to 24 inches or more as the people traveled from the mesa tops to their farms in the canyons below

Then back down ladder 1

What a great hike!









 
 
 
 
 
 

Saturday, October 16, 2021

Trip South - Bandolier National Monument

We were here 3 years ago, but it's  one of those places worth seeing again
Apparently others think so too.


 

It's amazing these are as well preserved as they are
  

The natural rock is a work of art inand of itself

I had forgotten about all the stairs

You can still climb into some of the cliff dwellings

Some remind me ghosts or creatures

This one doesn't look very scary, think I'll check it out.

 
Made it!






Colors are beautiful

The longhouse





 
 
Maybe a house number?
  
 
 Some Turkey feet carved into wall




 
 Colors are beautiful!


 
 
On our way out we stop at the fire tower

 
 On our way home we stop at the White Rock Overlook

 
 What a view!


 
The Rio Grande River even has water in it here!



 

 Tomorrow we move on.