Frijoles Canyon at Upper Crossing

Since Cerro Grande and Las Conchas wildfires, I haven't ventured very far into the fire and flood damaged portions of Frijoles Canyon. Hiking from Ponderosa Campground to Bandelier National Monument Headquarters used to be a looked-forward-to, yearly rite of passage for many local hiking groups. So, last Wednesday's hike from Ponderosa Campground was a happy chance to once again see the canyon bottom at Upper Crossing.

As we descended into Frijoles Canyon, El Rito de los Frijoles looked like a thin, silver ribbon in the sunshine. When we reached the Rito's streamside, we continued south up the impossibly steep-looking Upper Crossing Trail. Or, at least it looked impossibly steep from the Ponderosa Campground side - the optimistic swaths of trail seem to hang on for dear life, as I imagined myself doing! In reality, the trail is now in really good shape, thanks to hard work of volunteers this summer.

El Rito de los Frijoles, Frijoles Canyon, Bandelier National Monument.

From north rim of Frijoles Canyon, looking south across canyon at Upper Crossing Trail. Upper Crossing Trail flows so lengthily back and forth across the burnt hillside that the hike up is not as steep as it looks. (And that was not me you heard huffing and puffing on the way up - oh, no it wasn't!)

The Rito flows prettily, even past this raft of dead and down trees. At one time, this canyon belonged to us hikers, or so we imagined as we trekked downhill from Ponderosa Campground to Bandelier Headquarters. Now, after the fires and the floods, it's revealed itself to be very much a wild canyon and a wild Rito, yet full of beauty despite all the changes!