Last year on my trip to Monastery in the Desert ( http://gogittum.com/blog/?cat=1 ) I made a comment to the effect that on the way to the Chama Canyon, there were some canyons in the Ghost Ranch area that looked like they’d make a neat hike. So, today I took a look. About a mile past the turn-off to Abiquiu Reservoir the highway goes over a divide where, in the distance, you can see the beginning of the Chama Canyon, and to the left the 1st look at the reservoir. When coming out of the cut at the top, be ready. Immediately on the right there’s a long turnout, with the 1st canyon “right there.” Yup, park, and figure out what to do. Going down into the canyon isn’t an option. It’s only about 30 feet down, but you’d certainly break your neck getting there. Ahhhh…Haaaaa……..there is a trail. See it ?? Starting at lower right and angling up to the center…..hug tight to the cliff face, please………

…….

Actually, it wasn’t all that bad, I just like to dramatize things. The trail was at least 8 inches wide. That’s OK, after a short scramble of about 100 feet, it opened out onto a multi-colored rock-scape and became much easier going……………

The colors are great, and tho’ it’s very rugged, it’s actually fairly level, not much altitude gain, and the trail is well defined. This is obviously a popular hike, tho’ I saw nobody all day. Farther up the trail, I saw a rock spike in the distance, and as I approached it, I thought I’d been transported to the South Pacific. Scenery is great…………

When you get closer and look the thing over, it looks (to me) for all the world like one of those statues on Easter Island. Or am I delusional ??

OK, I know I’ve got an imagination. Ahead, it keeps getting better, and more rugged…………

Remember my wonderful climb up Cerro Pedernal last September ?? ( http://gogittum.com/blog/?cat=10 ) A look back from up here, across Abiquiu Reservoir, and there’s mighty Pedernal, dominating the skyline. That was probably the most satisfying climb of my career…………

Look a little more to the right (west) and there’s where the next canyon down merges with this one. I was tempted to try going down this one, but changed my mind later on…………..

Moving right along, it gets much rougher in the canyon, but the trail goes around the right side, fairly high up, and isn’t bad at all…………..

But then, come around a corner and there was a surprise. A natural formation, but what a formation………….

Yup, it looks very spooky, and is about 8 feet across…………

Someone, long ago, went to enormous effort to build this fence and pour this slab on this steep, loose hillside. It were a tough climb, must’ve been a heck of a job, and I wonder what it might have been ??……………….

Now I’m really up there, and the view is tremendous. At the right side of this panorama, (try scrolling it left and right) by the spikes at the end, it looks like there’s a big natural bridge…………

But a closer look shows it to be an illusion………..

Still not in shape yet, I was feeling the pull on my legs and in my feet, and was debating how much farther to go, ’cause this is pretty much a decision point. From here, you’re going to get into some serious terrain, and get a Really Good Workout. Seems like I was about a mile or so in, so reached for the GPS in my shoulder strap pouch to check for sure, and…………no GPS. Gone. $350.00 worth. HoooooBoy. That kinda took the fun out of it, so I decided to go back and look for it, before someone else came along. When I lost my neck warmer on Chicoma last November, ( http://gogittum.com/blog/?cat=39 ) I used the GPS to help find it. What do I use to find the GPS ?? Eyeballs, old son, keep ‘em peeled. About ½ way back, there was a wonderful blue gleam beside the rock at lower right……………

That put a lift in my step, and I hustled right on back out……..but how do I get to the car ?? Actually, it wasn’t too bad…………

And even a local resident came out to encourage me on. This guy is all of about 4 inches long…………….

Before descending to the 4Runner, a look to the west shows the farther canyons (to explore next time) with Georgia O’Keefe’s Ghost Ranch in the distance………….

Look closer & slightly to the right of that for a whole different outlook……………

What an absolutely beautiful place, and only about 40 miles from home. A nice, easy, half day trip.

Lar.

Santa Fe, NM

www.gogittum.com

www.gogittum.com/blog

Posted: June 22nd, 2008 under 08 New Mexico, 08-6-21 Abiquiu Canyons.
Comments: 2