South and West of Santa Fe, the country flattens out into the Caja del Rio plateau, and it goes about 10 miles south of the airport. Then, suddenly, it drops 100’s of feet into the plains below and continues another 40 miles south to Albu-Quirky. The old timers had quite a time getting down that huge drop-off, about 500 feet of lava cliff and fought it for some 400 years. Then, between 1923 & 1924, convicts blasted out a wider route for the increasing motor car traffic. From 1926 to 1932, this was part of Route 66, and was known as one of the worst, if not THE worst portions of the route. It’s said that 1,000 cars a day drove this road. Un-believeable. For interest value, take a look at: http://www.cart66pf.org/66caravan/roadlog18.htm for more on the subject.

Several times, people have told me I should take a look at the old route, by-passed years ago by an improved road, and now the freeway. OK, today I did, and what a ride it was ! ! ! Once again, all this is close to home, and it all ties together. Remember last year when I climbed Tetilla Peak ?? ( http://gogittum.com/blog/?cat=25 ) Here, we go right past it……………

The road is pretty rough, un-maintained, and almost zero traffic, but it IS fairly straight. Here, you can see the beginning of the end…………

On the way, small birds kept jumping up and flying alongside, then veering off. Tried several times to get shots, and finally lucked out. Looks kinda like the Horned Lark from Valles Caldera last winter doesn’t it ??…………..

But, that little guy was small and dumpy looking. Cute, but still. This is a far larger and leaner bird. Then, I got a better look from a different angle. Not much arguing here, is there ?? This is a Horned Lark for sure…………….

A short distance from the edge of the precipice, the road “Y”s, and that’s not on the map or the GPS, so I went left to take a look at the smaller road. When it went phooey, it really went phooey, and didn’t look good at all. Yah, the road goes right, past the fence post, then behind that big bush……………

I got out of the ‘Runner to take some wider view pictures……………

Then a couple came up the hill in a Jeep and told me they’d made a mistake, and the main road was the one on the right fork. “This one is very bad,” they said. OK, I went over to the main road again, and got to the edge. Some very nice dry stacked stone work here, and signs of a huge amount of work………..

There were a couple of people here taking pictures and notes, but no car. I asked how they got here, and the woman - big, heavy outfit - stuck her nose in the air and allowed as how they were researchers for up-de-up university and their documentation was going into the Library of Congress. “OK,” I said, “but how’dja get here.” “We walked in from so-and-so to avoid damaging the road,” she sniffed. Man, ol’ Lar ain’t too smart, but he knows B.S. when he hears it. If that big woman ever walked 100 yards in her life I wouldn’t believe it. “Oh, fine,” I said, “never heard it put like that before.” You bet. Solid lava rock road and they don’t want to hurt it ?? The road itself got interesting right away. Glad I didn’t try the other track. Notice Tetilla Peak thru the powerline tower, and Cochiti Lake at center left. Sorry ’bout the tilted picture. Only way I could get it all in…………….

And awaaaaaay she goes. Man, this musta been a mule killer, back in the day……………

It’s steep, and it’s rough and it don’t quit. This was fun, but hadta pay close attention…………….

That 4Runner is a shiny, pretty outfit, but I did a lot of research before I bought it, and chose well. Under that sleek skin this thing is all heavy duty truck, and walks easily thru this stuff. I had a ball today………….

Out on the plains, the little village/ranch of La Bajada…………

But the road isn’t done with me by a long shot. I had to put the transfer case into low range and just walk down this - slower than a man’s walking speed. Haven’t seen a road like this for a while…..well, yah, Bland Canyon a few weeks ago was pretty rough, too. ……………

Almost to the bottom now, and the road had one more shot at me. YeeeeeeHaaaawwww………………

Looking back up at the road, it even looks rugged. That was quite a ride………………

Looking to the East, you can just about see - just above center left - where the other choice of roads comes down. Man, I’m glad I didn’t try that one……………

One day, just for the hell of it, I might just try coming in at the bottom and going UP that thing. That’ll be a 4 wheel drive chance, for sure. I did come home on the freeway - much easier.

Lar

Santa Fe, NM

www.gogittum.com

www.gogittum.com/blog

Posted: June 22nd, 2008 under 08 New Mexico, 08-6-22 La Bajada.
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