Hiking with Hoodoos: New Mexico’s Tent Rocks
“Is it any wonder that the Cochiti people believe Tent Rocks is a living landscape, as their mere presence changes by the moment based on the trajectory of the sun, the angularity of light and shadows, variabilities in weather conditions, or the demeanor of clouds passing overhead.”
– panethos.wordpress.com
Scenic stone vista
We had our first opportunity to visit magical Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument located between Albuquerque and Santa Fe on April 16. It is hard to describe the surreal beauty of this national monument that includes a magnificent slot canyon, tent-shaped rock formations that are jaw-dropping in their multi-faceted geological history, and other spectacular natural features dotting this post-volcanic landscape.
The national monument is situated within the Cochiti Pueblo.
“For the Pueblo de Cochiti, Kasha-Katuwe is a living cultural landscape. The cliffs, mesas, and canyons are connected to oral histories, traditional teachings, and long-standing relationships between the people and the land. These places have served as areas for travel, observation, learning, and spiritual reflection across generations. Respect for the land is central to Pueblo values, and care for Kasha-Katuwe reflects responsibilities passed down through families and community leadership.” – Cochiti.org
Due to the rare and delicate geological structure of the formations, as well as their spiritual importance to the Cochiti people, Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument has a limited operating schedule that requires prior reservations and prepaid fees for visitors to traverse these amazing formations.
Source: blm.gov
A national recreation trail leads both hikers and sightseers through a meandering slot canyon and up a steep incline past the tapered hoodoos to a mesa summit. A second trail passes a once-occupied shelter cave and a gathering of hoodoos that resemble a quiet campground amongst the juniper trees or Native American teepee village from afar. A separate scenic overlook is located at the northwest corner of the monument.
Throughout this post are a series of photographs that depict the amazing beauty of Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument.
Peace!
Weaving through the slot canyon Geological wonderHoodoo Tent Village Tent CityWithin the slot canyonView from atop the mesaTent tops Narrow passage Perched atop a tent rockSurreal landscape Layers of sediment colors Skylighting Enchanted scenery
#archaeology #environment #fun #geography #geology #hiking #history #hoodoos #landUse #landscape #NationalMonuments #NativeAmeriucaqns #nature #NewMexico #slotCanyon #TentRocks #TentRocksNationalMonument #tourism #travel #volcanoes
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