Tsankawi (SAN-ka-WEE) trail is part of the Bandelier National Monument in the Jemez Mountains. |
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Pueblo people lived here 700 years ago. |
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Sangre de Christo Mountains in the background |
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Gary watches his brother Keith climb the first ladder. |
The entire hiking trail is a 1.5 mile loop and requires climbing three 20' ladders.
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Gary & Mary at the start of the hike on Christmas day. |
Most of the larger pinyon trees have died as the area continues to suffer through a long period of drought. |
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A small pinyon tree. |
Looking up to the very top on the mesa - we will be climbing the trail to the top - a 150 foot elevation change.. |
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The path takes you along the edge of the mesa. |
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Unbelievable blue of a New Mexico sky. |
Ancient petroglyphs |
A tree's root grows down the cleft in this rock. |
A beautiful Mesa view |
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Jemez Mountains |
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At the top one follows this path to the end of the mesa and a view of the valley below. |
The valley below the mesa. |
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Ancient caves |
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The footpath that we have been climbing up and down on has been worn by generations of people, in places it is 12 inches deep and only the width of a shoe wide. |
Another example of how worn the trail is. Our modern hiking boots really wear away at the porous rock. |
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Taking the last ladder down. |
The valley as the sun starts to set. |
One last look at the cliff dwellers home. |
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