June 18, 2014

We are still in Bandelier National Monument. The night was cool with the windows open and sleep was pretty good. 

 Rain storm made good sleeping.

 With no alarm I arose at 5:45am  and was on the trail by 6:40am. 

 Frey Trail leaves Juniper campground amphitheatre area and wanderers along the rim for a bit before it begins its decent into the canyon. It is 1.5 miles and another .5 to Visitors Center.  Leaving that early we expected to see some wildlife and only saw deer tracks on the trail.  The trail is lovely up top but becomes rocky as it descends.  There are pretty sharp cliffs or drop-offs on one side of the trail so I made sure I did not “stumble while dancing.”  The trail rose a little in places which was okay and then all of a sudden I was the ruins below.  I had wanted to see this from above with the sun shining on the rooms from the East.  Didn’t quite get my wish but close enough. The front wall of the ruin of course faces east. The flowers were lovely on the trail. The park service has several ladders into cravats where you are allowed to climb. Been there and smart enough to pass this time.

Upon entering the visitor’s center, I met a cute couple who had their back packs on and were ready for a walk on the lower trails.  I asked her if she would mind telling me how old she is.  Oh she was happy to tell me she was 83 and he is 86.  I was elated and told her that means I have another 10 years to look forward to.  She informed me right away that she was not nearly through going.  I was delighted to watch them strut off to the snack bar.

After a short rest and a cup of coffee, we headed for the Upper Falls.  Because of the flash floods, the Lower Falls in no longer accessible.  I did not care as the trail would have ended there for me anyway.  It is a 3 mile round trip which starts low and goes up and down the side of the canyon and ends looking down into the canyon at the falls.  Frijoles Creek produces this water fall and it ends up in the Rio Grande at the end of the canyon. It is beautiful and well worth the trip even if I was beat and in exhausted pain.  

 The canyon going to the falls.

Upper Falls

It was a fun day and I was happy to ride the shuttle back to the top of the canyon.  Because of the flash flood, debris and trees are piled up; it moved picnic tables down the canyon, washed out foot bridges, ruined the trail to the Lower Falls and demolished the parking lot.  The park service now uses shuttles from the town Visitor’s Center, to the campground and in the canyon to move visitors without congestion.  The plan seems to work as well as at the Grand Canyon.

Paulette needs to find another hiking companion for anything other than flat walks.  “The old gray mare ain’t what she used to be.”  I should go with the older couple and take it real slow.Will leave in the morning if I can get out of bed.