Unexpected treasures are always the best and we found one when we camped at Cochiti Lake, mid-way between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. We wanted a layover day to stretch our backs and legs, and our choice to head north out of Albuquerque to this Army Corp campground proved to be perfect. The campground itself was just okay and the lake was a bit disappointing, though as we learned more about why the water was so low, we gained new appreciation for it. The massive dam impounds the Rio Grande but the Pueblo de Cochiti sued to block their ancestral (and present) lands from being inundated with flood waters… and won! A smaller lake, designated no wake so it is perfect for fishermen and paddle/oar powered boats, was the result.

The real treat was a day hike in nearby Kasha-Katwe Tent Rocks, established relatively recently (2001) as a National Monument. The interesting hoodoo formations resulted from ancient volcanic eruptions which deposited over 1,000 feet of ash, tuff and pumice in the area. Subsequent action from wind and water created the “tent rocks” reminiscent of Bryce and Zion National Parks. From the base of the Monument, we hiked through a slot canyon, gaining 660 feet in elevation, to a ridge with panoramic views of the Rio Grande Valley. Though shorter and easier, the top reminded me of Zion’s “Angel’s Landing” and, just like when I hiked it decades ago, as soon as we got there, the sky let loose with a belt of thunder. No lightning this time though, and the storm was moving away from us, so we got to stay and enjoy the views before heading back down. As we headed back down, we were serenaded by Rock Wrens and then in, the slot canyon, we had a beautiful sighting of one of Steve’s all time favorite birds, a Canyon Wren, accompanied by it’s distinctive, silvery, descending song.

The final gift of the day was getting back to the trailer and getting an email from Josh, the very nice man who built our house. We had arranged for him to add a railing to our new deck to match the one on the original deck. He had all summer to do it but it’s done already! Isn’t it beautiful?