Camping near Valles Caldera

So Monkey and Co. decided to take a Memorial Day camping trip into the hitherto unknown (at least for us) and explore a part of New Mexico. We decided to head up towards Jemez and the Valles Caldera, a super volcano responsible for some of the many interesting features in this state (such as Tent Rocks which some of our family have been too.).

The car is packed, its Friday and we aren't wearing sunglasses. How many miles till Chicago? Load up Torben, here we go! (someone was excited, we didn't have to ask twice)

Jemez is only about an hour or so away from ABQ, and the terrain changes dramatically. Red rocks stand in stark contrast to the green of the cottonwoods and burr oaks. We couldn't help but think of the roadrunner from the Wile E Coyote cartoons. We were extremely worried about finding a campsite, we had heard rumors that it would be wall to wall people., so we didn't stop to show you.

Finally, a campsite....

It took us a while to find it, all the developed sites were full already and the Redondo site was closed. We ended up finding our spot just off a forest service road. Clearly this site was a favorite of some hooligans, smashed glass, melted cans and hacked up trees. Torben did a fine job helping to clean up the site. After settling in we drove down to check out Lake Fenton, really a little reservoir but stocked with fish from a local hatchery, for a picnic lunch and hike.

On our return to camp, we discovered that somewhere along the line we had acquired a little pup tent, which someone required that we set up for him. This turned out to be a good thing, because Torben packed a big bag of toys to bring with him. Now he had a place to play.

 Notice Torben doing a good job keeping his shoes out of the tent, but trying to use the frying pan to drive the tent stakes was not such a good idea.

Torben turned this tent into his workshop, but contrary to appearences he did not sleep in it.

Later that night Torben learned about washing up at camp.

The next morning Torben learned that it gets quite cold in the mountains at night, even if it was quite hot during the day. But, he also discovered if you bring your santa hat and whine enough you get hot chocolate - both things which help to keep you warm.

And then the day's adventures started. Our first trip was the Spence hot springs, a short hike up the side of a mountain revealed a little cave from which the warm waters of march sprang forth. The views from the spring were fantastic, and it was warm enough to be pleasant but not too hot.

After the springs, it was time to grab a snack and then a quick swim in the mountain stream. Who knows, maybe we could catch a fish....

After the Spence hot springs, and swimming it was time to check out the volcano. Torben was convinced there was a hole he could jump down to see the hot lava. He very much wanted to find this hole. He was not dissuaded after asking the Park Rangers were such a hole could be found, even after discovering that magma was still there but five miles down. So we hiked around a lava dome, taking in the expanse of the caldera and imagining what it was like when it was more active. In the last major eruption over 1 million years ago, it deposited over 8 ft of ash, allowing the cliff dwellings to be dug in the volcanic tuff of the early humans living in Bandolier State Park. We also found lots of bones, kept our eyes out for rattlesnakes (and rattlesnake poop).

The grassy part is the bottom of the caldera. The slight hill to the right is the lava dome we hiked around.

Sunday we headed home, but since we werent in any hurry we decided to visit one more hot spring. This one was listed as a strenuous 1 1/2 mile hike in, but we decided it was early and the boy could do it. We soon discovered, the hike was switchbacks all the way, rocky and a little longer than advertised.

Notice the sign says 2 miles, and well, we already were in some distance. But, McCauley spring here we come! (actually, this was taken on the way back). We also were fighting the crowds this time, we had assumed that the "strenuous" description would keep people away, especially when the rocks seemed to impose a size limit to the trail:

The monkey made it though (with a bit of a ride on dad) and the spring was well worth it. Not as warm as the others, but pleasant non the less. Quite a bit more wildlife, little tetras in the pools and the signs of snakes. Torben and Kris in the upper pool....

 and the snake...

 And now Torben and Kris in the lower pool....

The trip down was a little treacherous, but Torben made it again (with a little help from dad on the first climb back from the pools), but he was zonked after that. A quick ice cream stop in Jemez helped, but it was all she wrote for him until we got back to ABQ. Luckily, we returned to fresh strawberries in our garden.

Well, that's it for now. However, we took advantage of the REI sale this last weekend to purchase a few new camping items. First, a bigger tent, the 2 man doesn't fit us anymore. Second, a poop shovel and a few other odds and ends. So there will be more camping to come....