Bandelier National Monument, NM

April 10, 2010 -Driving out of El Malpais, we took a tourist break in Albuquerque for lunch then headed towards Bandelier National Monument via the Jemez Pueblo on the 4, then continued on the 4's scenic highway through the Santa Fe Natl' Forest, enjoying our beautiful tour on the snow covered range.  We then made camp at Juniper Campground, inside Bandelier.  Our ecotone environment was perfect, surrounded by juniper trees, ponderosa pines, & a variety of cactus.  The brisk weather made for a perfect sunset hike on the Frey trail before the end of the evening.

Next morning, we hiked the Frijoles Canyon next to the Frijoles Creek (cute beans!).  The pink canyon is compacted volcanic ash called tuff, which made for excellent building material for the Ancestral Pueblo people who lived in this canyon-mesa as early as 600 AD.  This place was truly unreal and magical.  In the 1200's they started constructing their permanent dwellings in what was called the Tyuonyi Pueblo.

Juniper Camp

Frey Trail Hike

Sunset on the Frey trail.

Partial view of the Frijoles Canyon, amongst Ancestral Puebloan ruins.

Charlie climbing the Puebloan cave dwellings.

The awesome dwellings amongst the tuff canyon.

View of the Tyuonyi village plaza

Long House cliff dwellings

Petroglyph of a macaw (parrot)

140 foot climb on 4 ladders to a cave kiva.

Spiritual kiva sitting in the canyon cave.

Charlie checking out the kiva.

Jemez mountains in the background of the canyon.