Burnt Mesa

Our next destination was Abiquiú, NM about a 60 mile drive.  Without much pre-planning, we decided to stop along the way and hike in Bandelier National Monument among the ancient cliff dwellings.  However, upon arriving at the entrance, we were informed that we had to drive into town and take a shuttle bus into the park.  That seemed like a bigger deal than we were up for, so, instead, we backtracked a couple miles and hiked the Burnt Mesa Trail, which travels several miles across a high mesa before ending atop rocky bluffs above the national monument.  High-country, big-sky hiking.  Some storm clouds were moving through, but somehow managed to steer clear of us ... at least while we were hiking.  The remainder of the drive was a slightly different story.

Lone Pine Tree

One of numerous large ant hills. 

Snag and Storm Clouds

Some sort of Aster (purple, I suppose).

 

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