Onion River Exploration Project: Bandelier National Park

Jemez

Day 4 (4/1/2015)

We saved the best for last and had decided to head up to Bandelier National Park for our last full day in New Mexico. Once again the weather was beautiful but the wind had picked up slightly. Again we headed out to pick up Tauni. She had been very gracious through this whole trip and never tired of showing us the sights. The trip to Bandelier is through the Jemez Reservation and some of the most beautiful scenery that New Mexico has to offer. Our first stop is at the Walatowa Pueblo of Jemez Information Center were we learned about the very proud traditions of the Jemez Pueblo, one of the nineteen Pueblos of New Mexico. We also spent some time talking to a young potter who had one of her pots sent to the 9/11 memorial representing the Jemez people. I have always been a sucker for a good story so we bought one of her small seed pots. Across from the Center is one of the most beautiful red stone bluffs I have ever seen. From what the Pueblo lady told us it had been the area where they shot some of the movie, “A million ways to die in the west” along with scenes from “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”. A guide was required to go beyond a particular point so we headed back and hit the road again. Not far up the road we stopped at San José de los Jémez Mission and Gíusewa Pueblo Site. It is the site of an early 17^th century Spanish mission. By the 18^th century the Jemez had banded together with other Pueblo and drove the Spanish out of the area. It is an interesting mixture of Spanish and Pueblo religion and architecture. Our next stop was Soda Springs a sulfur spring that has developed some interesting mineral formations. Apparently there is hot springs in the area that the locals frequent. Our plan was to go down into Valles Caldera National preserve but when we got to the entrance there was security blocking the road. Apparently they were filming an Adam Sandler movie and the park was closed until the weekend. After talking to the guard and taking pictures we headed off to Bandelier. The park did not disappoint. In spite of being plagued by floods that had left fallen trees scattered across the landscape the cliff dwellings were amazing. We climbed up and into some of the chambers where you could see the remains of wall painting that were hundreds of years old. The highlight of the day was climbing 165 feet up the cliffs via ladders to the main Kiva, or sacred site. It was a perfect climax to a wonderful day. After that we wandered back through the park and took the scenic route home. It was sad saying goodbye but we have already decided to go back and hit the spots to the south of Albuquerque.