Travels with haRVy

Thanks to a fellow traveler’s recommendation we spent an entire afternoon hiking the trails around the fascinating geological formations at Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, located approximately half way between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico. 

The cone-shaped tent rock formations are the products of volcanic eruptions that occurred 6 to 7 million years ago and left pumice, ash and tuff deposits over 1,000 feet thick. Precariously perched on many of the tapering hoodoos are boulder caps that protect the softer pumice and tuff below.

The complex landscape and spectacular geologic scenery of the national monument has been a focal point for visitors for centuries. Surveys have recorded numerous archaeological sites reflecting human occupations spanning 4,000 years.

After taking the Cave Rock Trail we headed into the Slot Canyon, which began fairly wide.  We were amazed to find these giant Ponderosa Pines growing here.

 In some places you could barely squeeze through.

 Or under…or over…

 Turn around point where things got a bit too steep and precarious for us.

 Tucked in for the night at the Army Corps of Engineers Campground at Cochiti Lake, a reservoir on the Rio Grande River.