Upper Crossing Trail Passport II

Second week of May, took Upper Crossing Trail, in Bandelier National Monument, to Rito de los Frijoles in Frijoles Canyon and then retraced my steps back. The stream, clouds, blue skies, burnt trees, new spring growth all looked so pretty. Frijoles Canyon was badly burnt in the 2000 Cerro Grande fire and then again in the 2011 Las Conchas fire. I've heard the trail down canyon to Bandelier Headquarters is mostly restored now except for a section in the "Narrows". This used to be the quintessential spring, summer and fall hike for groups I hiked with. There were trees and ferns and lots of greenery all along the trail. There were also stinging nettles, poison ivy and ticks! The Lemon Lot group would have lunch along the creek, always at the same convenient stopping place each year. I haven't hiked the canyon since the fires. I'm long overdue. There used to be well-placed stones to step across the stream and even some bridges but those all washed away.

On top of the wilderness sign is a rubbing plate for the Pajarito Environmental Education Center's Passport to the Pajarito Plateau II. This is along the trail, just before it goes downhill into Frijoles Canyon.