Dirt Roads ~ High Heels: March 2019

Sunday, March 31, 2019

Another Stamp in my Passport

Bandelier National Monument, part of the US National Park Service, contains more than 33,000 acres of protected rugged but beautiful canyon and mesa land. Located near Los Alamos, this site preserves the homes and territory of the Ancestral Puebloans who once lived here. I knew when I booked this get-a-way, this was the one place we would want to explore and hike. If there is one thing you need to do in New Mexico, it's visit here.

History lesson: The Native Americans made this their home from 1150 CE to 1550 CE. Their dwellings were built in the soft rock that were formed from the eruption of the massive Jemez Volcano over 1 million years ago; this was 600x more powerful than the Mount St. Helens eruption. Deposited ash hundreds of feet thick was then compressed into soft rock called Tuff. Frijoles Canyon was formed from the waters of Frijoles Creek over thousands of years. The slopes on the sides of Valles Caldera, the collapsed cone of the Jemez Volcano, are known as the Pajarito Plateau. This was home to Native Americans for thousands of years, Ice Age hunters 10,000 years ago and the first Pueblo dwellers. The presence of the latest inhabitants can still be felt here as you will see first hand the Petroglyphs, cave dwellings, and stone masonry walls that still exist today.

We decided to hike the Main trail loop and take it a bit further to the Alcove House. The Alcove House, formerly known as Ceremonial Cave is located 140 feet above the canyon. Once home to roughly 25 Puebloans, this site can only be reached by four wooden ladders and a number of stone stairs. There is a reconstructed kiva and a number of niches of former homes once you make it to the top. If you know anything about me, you know I do have a fear of heights. But, I knew I had to experience this magnificent piece of history and the views of the canyon from the Alcove made it all worth the climb. I couldn't have done without the BF, he made sure to be patient with me and guide me down the ladders one step at a time. Besides conquering this, we had visited the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge earlier that morning, so needless to say, I had my max of height-related activities for the day!

Bandelier National Monument is one of the coolest places I have ever scene. This history of this location and imagining those who once lived here is incredible. It really took me back to a time that I can't even imagine living, a time we will never know.

So happy to have another stamp in my National Park Passport book!
Shona

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Friday, March 29, 2019

Finding all the Treasures of Taos

Breakfast at Tiffany's? I have one better than that, Breakfast at Michael's Kitchen. This popular place was the first on our list of places to try and it was nothing short of amazing. Breakfast enchiladas, beans, rice, and my absolute favorite was the Fry bread with honey. Make sure to get here early thought, this place fills up fast!

After filling up on way too much food, we were off to explore Taos and our first stop was San Fransicso De Asis, located on the main plaza of Rancho de Taos. This historical church was built in the 1700s and is one of the finest architectural examples of a Spanish Colonial New Mexico Mission church. It is one of the most photographed churches in the United States and is a designated National Historical Landmark. This church is still active and offers mass many times per week. Out of respect, no photos are allowed inside, but you are able to view it. The detail of the interior architecture is incredible and walking inside takes you back hundreds of years. More info can be found here https://www.san-francisco-de-asis.org/

The Taos Plaza was next on the to-do list; this unique square is filled with shops, art galleries and eateries. We stopped by Chokola to grab a cup of coffee before making our way to El Rincon, the Original Trading Post of Taos. This hidden gem is over 100 years old and is still being operated by the same generation of the family who started it. It is filled with amazing Native American Jewelry and artifacts that have been collected over the years for you to view. I was able to add the perfect turquoise and silver star to my collection. This place is filled with history and culture and is not to be missed.

Time to drive; The Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway is an 83 mile loop through the forest, mountains, mesa's and valleys of New Mexico. This drive is centered around Wheeler Peak which stands 13,159 feet and is the tallest point in the state. Carson National Forest was beautiful and we stopped to take in the fresh air and crisp water of the Red River which runs along Highway 38. It's also a great place to spot Big Horn Sheep, we saw a herd of them along the roadside.

The day ended with us stopping by to show our support for a local protest that was happening just minutes away from Hotel Luna Mystica. Native Americans had set up camp for four days fighting to save their water supply. A local man had climbed to the top of the rig to stop the drilling before coming down and ultimately being taken into custody. Not only was this a sad situation but a humble experience to say the least.

We ended the day with another amazing sunset view of the mountains; Taos is turning out to be a new favorite location and a place everyone should experience.