Vegas Vacation Recap, Part III

The last site we visited on day two was El Morro National Monument. El Morro means “the headland” or “the bluff”. The 250 foot tall massive sandstone bluff was formed largely by ancient sand dunes. The soft sandstone made it easy for travelers to carve pictures, names, dates and messages. Some of the inscriptions date back hundreds and hundreds of years.

On day three we headed to Wupatki and the Sunset Crater Volcano in Arizona. Around 1100 a series of eruptions brought the dormant San Francisco Volcanic Field back to life. Even though the field has been dormant for 800 years a working seismograph at the Sunset Crate Volcano visitor center is continually monitoring the area.

Sunset Crater Volcano



The Lava flow

More lava flow



even more lava flow

In addition to the volcano we saw pueblo ruins. The people who built Wupatki and other pueblos here were ancestors of the Hopi, Zuni and other puebloan peoples of today. Wupatki is the largest pueblo in the park. It was build around 1100.

Next update - The Grand Canyon and The Hover Dam

Vegas Vacation Recap, Part II

After spending the first half of the day in Albuquerque, we set off for New Mexico’s ”Land of Fire and Ice” the Bandera Volcano and Ice Cave. Located in the heart of El Malpais (the badlands) the Bandera Volcano erupted around 10,000 years ago. It’s lava flow is nearly 23 miles long! The crater is nearly 1200 feet wide at the top and roughly 750 feet deep. We walked up the Volcano Trail to the lookout point. The elevation there is 8122 feet above sea level – 250 feet below the rim. David disputes this, but I am convinced that due to some odd topographic trickery, the walk both to and from the lookout point is up hill!

The Bander Volcano

Dann and David on the lava flow

On the lava flow

At the lookout point

The Ice Cave, located below the volcano, never gets about 31 Degrees. Melting snow and rain water runs into the cave and freezes. Currently the floor is about 20 feet thick. The oldest ice dates back over 1100 years!

Next update - El Morro National Monument, Sunset Crater Volcano and Wupatki.

Vegas Vacation Recap, Part I

Well, we have been back from Vegas for just a bit over a week. It has been crazy trying to get caught up. Even thought I am still playing catch-up, I thought I would take a few minutes to update the old blog.

David and I left for Vegas around 5pm on Halloween night. On the first night we drove to Santa Rosa, New Mexico. Thursday morning we headed for Albuquerque. We spent the first part of the day in “Old Town”. This is the original part of Albuquerque. We had lunch outside on the patio at the Church Street Café. This café is located in the oldest house in Albuquerque.

The architecture and decoration in Old Town are heavily dominated by Latin and Native American influences. These three business seemed to “stick-out” a bit among all the southwestern flair.

Part II coming soon...