Thunderhead over the mesa
After visiting Pueblo Bonito we thought we'd head up the Pueblo Alto trail to see the Bonito overlook and maybe make it on over to Pueblo Alto. It was starting to rain by that point and the first 300 ft or so of the PAT is a hard scrambled up & over boulders and toe-holds once used by the Chacoans. The puppies, Hannah & Maggie, of course, raced up the trail until they hit their first boulder - then they were ready to head back down. After boosting them up and dragging them around wet, slick rocks we decide to bag PAT for the time being and go on another hike that wasn't so strenuous - the Penasco Blanco Trail fit bill. Longer than we wanted to go, but long enough to wear H & M out so they would wait patiently in the Jeep while we did the Pueblo Alto trail.
Bryan, Hannah & Maggie on
the Pueblo Alto Trail
Looking down part of the PA trail
The Penasco Blanco trail is relatively flat and includes Casa Chiquita, Kin Kletso, petroglyphs, pictographs and Penasco Blanco. To PB and back is 7.4 miles, petroglyphs were 3.4 miles RT - we made it to Casa Chiquita before heading back. It rained on us a good bit, but that kept it cool. Can't imagine this area in the summertime.
Bryan, H & M on the Penasco Blanco Trail
Views from the Penasco Blanco Trail
Casa Chiquita ruins
We successfully pooped out the dogs, stowed them in the Jeep and tried the Pueblo Alto Trail again. The entire loop of PAT is 5.4 miles long. By this time we were starting to poop-out too so we opted for the shorter trip out to the Pueblo Bonito overlook which was just a two mile round trip and once you made it to the top of the mesa - a very easy walk. We want to go again and make it to Pueblo Alto (3.2 mi RT) as this part of the trail passes by old Chacoan ramps, stairways, roads, etc.
As it is, the Pueblo Alto trail starts off near Kin Kletso ruin and uses the same, uhm "trail" that the Chacoan's used to gain access to the mesa top. What a climb! Elevation gain was 250 feet and it seemed you gained that elevation in about 250 feet. Very cool though, as once you scramble over the boulders you squeeze through a long rock crevice and emerge on top. A great trail if you are up to the initial climb up (& of course, back down, which is much scarier).
Sign explaining Kin Kletso
Kin Kletso from the Pueblo Alto Trail
Bryan looking up the crevice we have to
climb through on the Pueblo Alto Trail
Bryan near the top
Raymona dragging her rear, I mean
dragging up the rear.
This is where you emerge on top
of the mesa. Amazing, huh?
Trail on top of the mesa
Small rock cairn marking the trail
Hand-pecked basins along the trail
Believed to be used ceremonially
View from Pueblo Alto trail across
Chaco Canyon
Pueblo del Arroyo from mesa top
View of Pueblo Bonito from the overlook
After visiting Pueblo Bonito we thought we'd head up the Pueblo Alto trail to see the Bonito overlook and maybe make it on over to Pueblo Alto. It was starting to rain by that point and the first 300 ft or so of the PAT is a hard scrambled up & over boulders and toe-holds once used by the Chacoans. The puppies, Hannah & Maggie, of course, raced up the trail until they hit their first boulder - then they were ready to head back down. After boosting them up and dragging them around wet, slick rocks we decide to bag PAT for the time being and go on another hike that wasn't so strenuous - the Penasco Blanco Trail fit bill. Longer than we wanted to go, but long enough to wear H & M out so they would wait patiently in the Jeep while we did the Pueblo Alto trail.
We successfully pooped out the dogs, stowed them in the Jeep and tried the Pueblo Alto Trail again. The entire loop of PAT is 5.4 miles long. By this time we were starting to poop-out too so we opted for the shorter trip out to the Pueblo Bonito overlook which was just a two mile round trip and once you made it to the top of the mesa - a very easy walk. We want to go again and make it to Pueblo Alto (3.2 mi RT) as this part of the trail passes by old Chacoan ramps, stairways, roads, etc. 
