It means “white cliffs” in the language of the Pueblo de Cochiti and those cliffs are the home of Tent Rocks National Monument.  Volcanic eruptions more than 6 million years ago deposited beautifully colored layers of pumice and tuft more than 1000 feet thick.  In time since, water and wind have sculpted that rock creating canyons and arroyos.  Erosion resistant boulders and cap rocks protect sections of the softer stone resulting in teepee shaped tent rock structures.  Fast moving flash flood waters cut narrow canyons as the water races downward. Our trail today takes us back into the narrow, twisting path of one of those slot canyons then up onto the mesa to look down upon where we have just been.  The canyon shade is amazingly cool on this bright sunny day and it is great fun to wind our way through the narrow pathway.  From atop the mesa we can see mountain ranges 36 miles away dotted with splotches of yellow aspen; the early signs of Fall.  A bird’s eye view of those weird tent rocks is very cool.

White cliffs was a busy place today with many families and foreign visitors. It got really busy when the two buses of grade school kids and all their chaperones showed up!  We stayed ahead of the throng through the canyon, which was a good thing.  They seemed to enjoy clambering among the rocks and experimenting with the phenomena of echoes.  I can see why it would be a popular place to get kids out-of-doors.