roadtrip 2019 |
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new mexico: kasha katuwe tent rocks national monument
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If someone made a shape like this and stuck it up on a cliff and told everyone it was a natural feature, no one would believe it...
the colors (a little washed-out) are actually the way they appeared. Could be the time of day, closer to noon and not morning or evening,
not the best for photography.
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The tent rocks. Apparently, they once had "caps" of harder stone that fell off at some point and the cone-shaped
support of softer rock is all that is left. It will eventually erode down to nothing either in a few million years or maybe next
week with all the hiker traffic on this trail. Word has it that the gatekeeper will hold traffic back at the entrance and only let a car in
when one exits. I think this is a fine idea but with half the number of parking spots and half the number of cars.
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The trail into the slot canyon. At some points it was only a foot-width wide, the walls tapering out higher up.
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Intrepid explorer.
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The way narrows...
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Tree root.
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The canyon walls are pocked with openings large and small, and this one was home for birds.
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The shapes of the rock are astonishing. The tent rocks themselves are cones of soft pumice and tuff beneath harder
cap rocks, and vary in height from a few feet to 90 feet. Yes, "tuff" is a technicl term and not a mis-spelling.
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Trees find a way to grow. It's all rock, there are no lush soils like those found in the forest or even the sandy soils found
in the desert, and yet seed find their way in here, take root and grow. The entire area is volcanic.
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More fantastical shapes way up on the cliff. By the way, "Kasha-Katuwe" means "white cliffs"
in the Pueblo language Keresan
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