Pogwatigue Perambulations: Santa Fe Recap

I drove all the way back from Santa Fe to Denver on Thursday. I had considered extending the excursion by an extra day, but the weather forecast for Friday looked less than promising. Thursday's weather, however, was excellent for being outdoors. I started with a three mile hike in Valles Caldera about an hour northwest of Santa Fe. The elevation at the trailhead was over 9,000 feet and very much still in the grip of winter. The trail looped part way up the side of a mountain on the edge of the giant caldera. It had great views through the trees in to the vast basin. The snow was especially deep in some sections on the last segment of the hike, but I managed. Near the end of the hike, I saw a pack of wolves in the basin across the highway; the first time I've see wolves in the wild.

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After Valles Caldera, I drove to Bandelier National Monument. Though relatively close, its elevation is much lower, about 3,000 feet lower, and the weather much warmer. I left most of my winter gear in the car and hiked the main trail through the Indian ruins. The site in particularly unique because the former inhabitants once carved rooms in the the soft tuft that makes up the walls of Frijoles canyons. The main trail winds among these cavates, as they're called, and the other ruins this ancient culture.

I didn't have a lot of time after leaving Bandelier, but did manage to check in at the nearby Bradbury Science Museum in Los Alamos, where most, but not all, of the exhibits pertain to the history of the Manhattan Project.

Statistics
Miles: 948.7 (941.5 driving, 6.4 hiking)
Days: 3
States: 2
Total Counties: 74
New Counties: 8
National Park Units: 1
Highest Elevation: 9,170 feet (Palo Flechado Pass, US-64 west of Eagle Nest, NM)
Lowest Elevation: 4,639 feet (Arkansas River, Pueblo, CO)
Pictures Taken: 154
Pictures Archived: 59
Fuel: 28.373 gallons
MPG: 33.2
Cost: $354.70