“Make sure you visit Tent Rocks,” both friends and acquaintances told us. “Go now, before the it gets too hot.” Actually, they said that back in March. We finally made it Sunday even though we couldn’t take Tynan (the dog) which was what made us hesitate earlier. He loves going to new, outdoorsy places. But even without him there, it was easily the BEST, MOST INTERESTING FIELD TRIP since we moved to New Mexico back in August.
Technically, the national monument is Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks. It’s located about an hour north and west of Albuquerque. There are very cool geologic formations as well as a couple trails with wicked vistas that include views of the Sandia, Sangre de Cristo, and Jemez mountains and the Rio Grande River valley.
According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (because why should I re-write the wheel?):
The cone-shaped tent rock formations are the products of volcanic eruptions that occurred 6 to 7 million years ago and left pumice, ash, and tuff deposits over 1,000 feet thick. Tremendous explosions from the Jemez volcanic field spewed pyroclasts (rock fragments), while searing hot gases blasted down slopes in an incandescent avalanche called a “pyroclastic flow.”
Precariously perched on many of the tapering hoodoos are boulder caps that protect the softer pumice and tuff below. Some tents have lost their hard, resistant caprocks, and are disintegrating. While fairly uniform in shape, the tent rock formations vary in height from a few feet up to 90 feet.
What are the cool, touristy places you can visit in your area? How do they provide inspiration for your art?
I think the flowers are Indian paint brushes. They grow in CO as well. The flowers are limited but so beautiful! Someone near me has a cactus in their yard and it has gigantic bright yellow blooms. I want one! I see them in peoples’ yard but don’t know where to buy them. That looks like a great spot – I don’t know why we never heard of it or went there. Next trip…..
Indian Paint brush. That makes sense. The prickly pear cactus flowers are bright yellow and very festive. Maybe you can get them at a specialty garden shop. They can certainly take the cold weather. And then you can make candy or salad or whatever with them! Next trip…here!