Our exciting journey through the Indian Reservations opened up a whole new educational experience into the Native American culture. This laid a great foundation for our entire road trip through the southwest. As we embarked on the next leg of our trip it brought us even further back in history to Bandelier National Monument. To take an adventure through the Ancient Pueblon history would fulfill a long time dream of my mother's to climb the many ladders to the top of the Alcove House.
We arrived extremely early so that we were able to drive our own vehicle into the park. Bandolier National Monument is one of the few monuments that during peak season visitors who arrive during operating hours must ride a mandatory shuttle into the park. Arriving prior to 9:00 am gave us the opportunity to drive our own vehicle into the park and continue our journey on after Bandolier National Monument through the Jemez Mountain Trail.
Bandelier National Monument is the only park I have currently found that has broken it's Junior Ranger Program into four age groups consisting of Pre K to 1st Grade, 2nd Grade to 3rd Grade, 4th Grade to 6th Grade, and Deputy level being 7th Grade and up. Offering a different patch for each age group makes it exciting for children to return to the park often embarking on a new adventure each time they return. We downloaded our booklet at home prior to our visit and will be walking you through our journey of Bandolier National Monument for the Pre K to 1st Grade age group. Before we even set out on our adventure we were able to compete pages 4, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14 and 15. This taught Jaxon how to respect and protect the monument during our visit, what animals live in the surrounding habitat, and what the ruins would have looked like when the Ancestral Puebloans called them home.
Prior to our departure we picked up a trail guide at the Visitor's Center for $1.00 to guide us through this small piece of amazing human history. As we began our journey down the main loop Jaxon kept him self entertained by playing Bandelier Bingo.
It did not take us long to complete as for every corner we turned we were surrounded by wildlife.
As you turn the corner looking up at the enormous mountain you see in the distance small holes not yet realizing that each one was eloquently carved out by a human being.
As we took the 1.2 mile trail it led us past an intact Kiva and through what remained of a small village area before descending up the hill to the base of the cliff dwellings.
When you reach the base of the cliff dwellings you have the opportunity to climb numerous ladders into a number of the homes that still are intact today.
When we arrived in front of the Long House we sat on the bench to discuss what the difference was between a petroglyph and a pictograph while completing page 9. This was Jaxon's first encounter with any form of a petroglyph. It was the beginning to many new petroglyph discoveries along our quest of learning. He now studies them with ease trying to put meaning behind each individual picture he finds.
Once we completed the leisure walk around the main loop we returned to the visitor center to walk the gardens and learn how the Ancient Publeon people used each plant in their daily lives.
When we finished we headed back to the Visitor Center to turn in our completed Junior Ranger Book and be rewarded with an amazing Patch showing the accomplishments of our day learning through the Monuments awe inspiring historical site.
After completing our Junior Ranger Program we set out to conquer the Alcove House.
The Alcove House trail is 2.7 miles long reaching 140 feet above the canyon. Which can only be reached by the four sets of steep ladders and stone stairs that take you on a journey from terrace to terrace up the mountain.
In the heat of the day we began our climb. We were extremely relieved by each terrace we reached stopping to catch our breath and drink some water before resuming our climb to the next knowing we were just a little bit closer each time.
Once we reached the Alcove House we felt a great sense of achievement as we looked down below at the people who choose not to take the challenge. As they wait at the foot of the mountain for their loved ones they appeared to be ants. Giving us great perspective on how life must have been for the twenty-five people who once occupied the Alcove House. The climb they choose to make everyday to fetch water, and gather food.