We got up early and raided the continental breakfast at the hotel. Taking with us apples, bananas, yogurts, etc. for our trip to Bandalier Park. We also stopped at a grocery store and bought water, sodas, cookies and other munchies. We got to Bandelier and did not meet the huge crowds that we had read about on their brochures. As we prepared all the equipment for our hike, Elfida noticed a deer spying on us from the edge of the parking lot. This area had too many visitors and the animals are not scared by humans. We filled the camelbacks with water, loaded up our pockets with corn nuts, trail mix, cookies, apples and bananas, got our walking sticks and headed out. Roje, not into hiking decided to hang out at the visitor's center and to check out the areas close to there.
Sam, Dora, Elfida and I decided to take the long hike to the Aclove House which was a couple of miles from the visitor's center. The hike was easy with no climbs. When we got to the Alcove House we gathered courage to climb the wooden ladders to the caves. Elfida was thinking of waiting at the top of the first climb, but then saw a pregnant woman climbing down one of the ladders and decided if she could do it so could Elfida.
Dora and Sam took of on one of the path not facilitated by ladders. The drop from there wasn't to far but the rocks would scrape all the skin of any exposed part of the body.
There was a series of steps carved into the rock that you use to get to the ladders. The steps have metal hand railings but the steps are only about 10 inches wide. Only one person can be on them and they are used for going up and coming down. You had to kind of stand on the slanted rock or straddle the railing to let people go past you. There were four ladders you had to climb to get to the Aclove. the first one was about 18 feet long, followed by a 40 ft., then a 16 ft. and then a 12 ft. ladder. It was scary going up and thinking of having to climb down the same ladders was even scarier. However, we found that once you start coming down it is actually easier. There were some little kids there running up and down the ladders. Darn kids!
On our way back on the trail we stopped for a potty break and met Mr. Squirrel. He was guarding the restroom. No fear.
On the way back we took the trail that follows the cliffs and stopped to inspect some of the other dwellings. They actually let you go into some of them. Inside the caves the temperature was about 15 degrees cooler than outside.
The inside was pretty big. Very comfortable and safe from predators.
I had taken some walkie talkies that Maiko and Amy had given us as Christmas presents about three years ago. We always carry them with us when we go hiking. I had never had to use them before other that for very short distances. I had left one with Rojelio and started calling him from about a quarter mile away. He was able to hear me and met us while we were inspecting the dwelling. I talked him into going with us to see the waterfalls. I had read that they were only 1 1/2 miles from the visitors center. It looked easy on the map. He took my walking stick and set out with us to see the big water falls that the brochure showed. Well, it was a mile and a half but it was all climbing and the trail got pretty rugged. Rojelio decided the water fall wasn't worth the long climb and turned back to the visitor center. We found the first water fall about 100 yard from where Roje had turned back. I called him on the radio and told him we had found them. He told me to take a picture and he would look at them later.
Ok, see the disappointed look on Elfida's face... and look behind her, you may make out the water fall. Not very impressive. Well, we decided that we would walk the next half mile to the second water fall. We had talked to some hikers coming back and they said the trail got harder but the second water fall was better that the first one.
That is what the trail looked like. You definitely needed hiking boots for this and the walking sticks really came in handy. No railing and the drop off was about 150 feet. In some parts the trail was only about two feet wide. Storm clouds were just beyond our view and we would hear the loud thunder but we were determined to see the water fall and make it to the Rio Grande which is where this arroyo emptied into.
We made it to the second water fall and by now we had eaten every snack we had. Our camel backs were down to about a quarter full. We were out of the shadows of the canyon walls and that sun was hot!! The water fall was right next to this rocks but you couldn't see it from here. You had to hike down another 100 yard.
While Dora, and Elfida rested and Sam explored the area, I went down to take picture of them and the water fall. This one was bigger and you can actually see it pretty clear. It's no Niagara Falls but it was cool.
We climbed down all the way to the base of the canyon and found that the river, creek, arroyo, what ever you want to call it, goes underground from the fall to the Rio Grande. Well we were tired and from there decided we had seen the Rio Grande before, so we turned back around. Two hiker told us that it was another half mile to there Rio Grande. Sam was running around like a mountain goat. He said he felt great and wasn't tired at all. He wanted to hike another 10 miles.
Elfida had a different idea. She was ready to head back to the truck. Climbing out of the canyon really zapped us of what energy we had left. We were taking breaks about every quarter mile. Sam was way ahead of us and would stop every so ofter to let us catch up. About half a mile from the truck I was able to talk to Roje over the walkie talkies. I was impressed. The canyon is not straight and there are lots of trees. Those little radios have some excellent transmitting power.
We found a Furr's Cafeteria, Roje can locate one by instinct, and ate there. After all the hiking and sightseeing, we were ready for a buffet!! Oh yeah, we had that waitress running back and forth with plates of food. At Furr's you get your first plate of food and then the waitress bring you what ever else you want. I found out that all their cakes, cookies, jello, etc. are sugar free!! Okay, Elfida didn't believe me either but it was too late. I ate all of those goodies!!! I do remember going to the swimming pool and sitting in the Jacuzzi for a couple of hours while our bodies recovered. When we made it to the room we looked at the photos I had transferred to my laptop. Sam was more tired than he thought and fell asleep before any one else, so I took a picture. : ) Uhhh... he looks so cute with his mouth open... hee, hee, hee...
TO BE CONTINUED....
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