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| Veterans Memorial Loop Trail, NM | |
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| | Veterans Memorial Loop Trail, NM | | | |
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Veterans Memorial Loop Trail, NM
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| Hiking | 1.18 Miles |
39 AEG |
| | Hiking | 1.18 Miles | | | |
| 39 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no linked trail guides |
| Partners |
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none
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| no partners | | 2nd Hike in Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument. Drove up the road, up into a canyon and came out to an overlook. Really nice views from here of the surrounding mountains with more tent rocks as well. Took in the views and started hiking the trail which followed the rim for a bit before turning away. Nice tread amongst a mainly juniper forest. A few flowers out and some small naughty fauna.
After finishing the Loop, I drove back down the hill, somewhat birding from the truck as I went. I passed a Ranger who was going up. Got to an area that flattened out and the road ran adjacent to a dry creekbed, when I spotted a living line moving across the road. I excitedly got out and started up the camera. He noticed me even though I was 100 feet away and proceeded to turn back the way he came and seek some cover. I photographed him from the other side of the road for a few minutes, with both my phone and my camera and then backed off, hoping he would go ahead and cross. Of course, the second he decided to cross, another vehicle came up behind me, so I stopped them so he could finish crossing without getting mashed. We watched as he took his time and just about the time he disappeared on the other side where the dry riverbed was, a Ranger pulled up behind both of us. It was time, and he was emptying the park from the top end down. I showed him a few of the pics I got and then we were all on our way. I felt lucky to have seen this guy, this time of day. If it hadn't been for the cloudy skies and rain, he would have still been hiding from the heat. In a way, I was lucky twice. If it hadn't been for cloudy skies and rain, this would have been a couple of pretty hot hikes. Timing is everything. And a little Luck certainly helps too.
Drove to the entrance station and turned off the truck to wait for the Pilot Vehicle. While I waited, a couple of birds kept me entertained. Turned out, they were a pair and were nesting under the roof of the entrance station. The Pilot Vehicle arrived after a bit and we proceeded to drive out.
It was time to drive back to Bandelier, about 2 hours away. All along the way, I was treated to a light show from a large intense set of storms hitting the Sandia and Sangre de Cristo Ranges with a vengeance. Again, the weather pattern had literally had this show going on everyday. The only difference was you usually didn't wake up to it, like I did that morning. I was very tempted to pull over and take some pics, but I wanted to get back into Bandelier and my camp before it got dark and I wasn't sure if I would be driving through some of that weather and slowing down.
Great little out of the way side trip. Glad I did it at the beginning of June and making the drive, rather than trying to do it in mid June on the way home. Definitely lucked out anyway with the weather. Back to cooler country for a little while longer. |
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| Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty & well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, totally worn out & proclaiming, "Wow What a Ride!" |
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Route Editor
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