Oct 18 Day Trip

Since we had to cut our Pecos trip short by a day due to a dead battery... we decided we'd do some short day trips that we'd put off while Bear wasn't doing so well. Today we hit Jemez (prounounced Hay-mez) Dam, Cochiti Lake, and Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument (not exactly sure how to pronounce this one so your on your own with this one!!).
The Jemez Dam is located on the Jemez Pueblo Reservation just north of Bernalillo and it isn't much - a large earthen dam that dams up the Jemez River - maybe there is a lake there some of the time but not while were there - barely even a river. However, if you use Google Earth it will look like a large lake, until you zoom in and then the lake disappears. Our New Mexico Gazetteer shows it as marshlands - not exactly sure I agree with that either but there you go.

Jemez 'Resevoir' behind Dam

Next stop: Cochiti Lake located on the Cochiti Pueblo Reservation. I guess as far as lakes go here, its very nice. As far as lakes go in the Pacific NW (and well, frankly, Texas too) it isn't very large. Really, not large at all. Really. The Cochiti Dam dams up the Rio Grande River creating Cochiti Lake. There is a very nice, large campground on a bluff overlooking the lake (looks like there is another CG on the other side but we didn't visit that one) and a nice swimming beach.

Cochiti Lake

Our most interesting stop today by far was again on the Cochiti Reservation called Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument. Kasha-Katuwe means "white cliffs" in the traditional Keresan language of the Cochiti Pueblo and it certainly is accurate! This plateau offers a view back in time, a remarkable study of geologic processes at work. The cone-shaped formations (hoodoos) were created by volcanic eruptions that happened 6-7 million years ago. There is a great 1.1 mile loop that offers splendid views of the cliffs and hoodoos (While loop is trail-rated as 'easy' the right-hand part of the loop is fairly stable, flat and probably handicap accessible with a little effort - sadly the other half of the loop is very steep, rocky & lots of washouts - certainly not suitable for wheelchairs). There is another trail that leads into a narrow slot canyon and ends up on top of the plateau. It is rated as moderate to difficult and is 1.5 miles one-way and includes a steep (630 ft) climb to the top. We did not have time to take this trail but plan to go back soon and finish it. We walked about 150-200 ft into the canyon and it was just fantastic. Can't wait to go back and glad we took the time today to visit. There are picnic tables and vault toilets at the trailhead but no potable water. A very remote, peaceful setting... loved it!

Below are some photos from Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument

Then back home for all the 'good' college football games. hoooo-rah!