After leaving Santa Fe, we traveled west to
Los Alamos and
Bandelier National Monument. Los Alamos National Laboratory and supporting town is located on a number of high plateaus. It was opened during World War II and was very top secret. As we drove on to Bandelier National Monument and Frijoles Canyon we noticed "Tech Sites" related to the lab everywhere. It is still very much an operating laboratory.
We took the mile or so walk through the Frijoles Canyon. It was fascinating to view the ruins and imagine the hustle and bustle that must have once existed in this quiet, out of the way place. This picture shows the foundation of what was probably a large ceremonial kiva.
There were living quarters on the floor of the canyon as well as in the walls of the canyon.
Emilia stands near walls where multi-storied structures once stood surrounding a central plaza.
The canyon walls were covered with lines of holes where roof timbers once extended. The canyon walls were called "tuff" and were formed when volcanic ash fell from a nearby volcano and formed a 1000 foot layer. It could easily be carved out to form additional enclosed areas.
There was also wall art and pictographs. These two people seemed to be cataloguing the art work and taking pictures. This path followed a long wall which had once been lined with structures.
Ryan and Emelia catch up to me after taking a side trail including ladders and steep steps. They were able to enter into some of the carved out areas. I had declined attempting the ladders and small spaces.
There was also fall color in Frijoles Canyon along with the calls of sand pipers immigrating south for the winter. It was a great side trip.
After leaving Santa Fe, we traveled west to Los Alamos and Bandelier National Monument. Los Alamos National Laboratory and supporting town is located on a number of high plateaus. It was opened during World War II and was very top secret. As we drove on to Bandelier National Monument and Frijoles Canyon we noticed "Tech Sites" related to the lab everywhere. It is still very much an operating laboratory.
We took the mile or so walk through the Frijoles Canyon. It was fascinating to view the ruins and imagine the hustle and bustle that must have once existed in this quiet, out of the way place. This picture shows the foundation of what was probably a large ceremonial kiva.
There were living quarters on the floor of the canyon as well as in the walls of the canyon.
Emilia stands near walls where multi-storied structures once stood surrounding a central plaza.
The canyon walls were covered with lines of holes where roof timbers once extended. The canyon walls were called "tuff" and were formed when volcanic ash fell from a nearby volcano and formed a 1000 foot layer. It could easily be carved out to form additional enclosed areas.
There was also wall art and pictographs. These two people seemed to be cataloguing the art work and taking pictures. This path followed a long wall which had once been lined with structures.
Ryan and Emelia catch up to me after taking a side trail including ladders and steep steps. They were able to enter into some of the carved out areas. I had declined attempting the ladders and small spaces.
There was also fall color in Frijoles Canyon along with the calls of sand pipers immigrating south for the winter. It was a great side trip.
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