Cibola national Forest and the top of Sandia Mountain. We drove to the top, 10, 600 ft and hiked about 3 ½ miles along the crest. There was a little icy snow and it was in the 40s. Pretty though with views to as far as Santa Fe and Los Alamos (60 miles) and the snow capped mountains we were at just a week or so ago. It was a bright beautiful day and great to be outdoors.
I finally saw the elusive Albert’s squirrel. I have been reading about it and how common it is ever since we got into the Rockies and high altitude pine forests. I was beginning to think it was a myth. But today, we finally saw one. A little bizarre looking, black with big tufted ears and a bushy white tail that makes him look much like a skunk rather than a squirrel. He just sat high in the pine a munched on a pine cone with little concern for us down below.

Actually, it was a tarantula. He (maybe she I haven’t a clue) was big as a coffee cup. Not a pretty thing. All fuzzy and not at all afraid. It (I) didn’t get very close but it still got my attention. One more unique critter I can check off on my “I saw it” list.
We were at the Petroglyph National Monument. More examples of life here long before the white man. Lots of guesses as to what all the symbols mean. No one is quite sure but interesting to speculate.
Saw lizards too and lots of tracks in the sand from night time residents. Dry creek beds look like wildlife superhighways.

Disappointing since we found it closed even after we were told it was open…they actually lock a gate and you can’t even get on the property. But, the drive was spectacular scenery and we were able to see the large flat valley (caldera) of the volcano in among the mountains. That left us time to check out another part of the Bandelier. This trail was to one of the unexcavated Pueblos. The NPS has made an agreement with the decedents of these populations not to excavate any more of the ruins. They will leave them in their natural state to honor the original inhabitants. It makes it a very different sort of hike. Cool though, you can see traces of foundations and get a feel for why they chose these sites to live. Great high mesa for good vantage points, fertile valley for crops and water. The Park Service is starting to use sonic and magnetic and whatever imaging techniques to create models of the ancient communities without disturbing them. Pretty cool I think.

Bandeleir National Monument. How the Pueblo Indians lived for years in this area. This area has been excavated and reconstructed (as it turns out, newer information says the reconstruction in the 60s is probably not accurate…imagine that). Amazingly small living space. No wonder they spent most of their time outdoors! Perfect weather for the hike and the ladder climbing. Man, I wouldn’t want to have to get in and out of my house like they got in and out of theirs. One set of “apartments” was 140 feet up via ladders and little toe hold steps. Down is actually more nerve racking than up. Fun and amazing to learn how they lived and imagine how they carved these cliff swellings with just rocks and bones.