Valles Caldera in the Jemez Mts

After our White Mesa and Ojito Wilderness excursion I asked my wife what she wanted to do tomorrow. "Something less athletic," was the immediate response. "Okay, give me an example," was my reply. So today we had reservations for an Archaeological tour in a van at the Valles Caldera National Preserve in the Jemez Mountains near Los Alamos. I have paid to ride my mountain bike on the preserve, but it never would have dawned on me to pay to ride around in a couple of vans with a dozen other people and a handful of tour guides. Despite the lack of strenuous exercise, I actually had a great time.

I have lived in New Mexico since 1972, and always had a strong curiosity about "Valle Grande." However, without any way to explore and learn about the region it has always been a huge mystery. Now based on today's tour I strongly recommend visiting it if you are in the area. The best way to do it at this time is to schedule a tour or event online. It is worth every penny of it, and hopefully the "Trust" will become financially solvent before the deadline in 2015. Otherwise, with inevitable budget cuts, then most, if not all, of these wonderful interpretive tours and events will disappear.



Valles Caldera is not part of the National Park Service, the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), or any other governmental bureaucracy. Instead it is set up with a "Trust" management structure, and by 2015 must be self-supporting. They are struggling with the realization that they will not be funded by the government, but still report to the government. Thus the educational programs, hunting and fishing opportunities, and other events such as a marathon, as well as mountain biking, hiking, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing opportunities.

The GDMBR just brushes the northern border of the Valles Caldera National Preserve, and there are many places between Polvadera Mesa and San Gregorio Reservoir in the Jemez Mountains that overlook the Valles Caldera area.





An obsidian "block."







Based on the terrain and the number of arrowheads with broken points found here, this area was probably used as a natural ambush area by hunters.







After a tough "van workout" a 30 minute soak at the Jemez (Hot) Springs Bath House was in order.



Definitely a positive calorie intake versus output day for us. With excellent food and service our stop at The Laughing Lizard Cafe was a great way to end our "less athletic" excursion to the Jemez (HAY-mez) Mountains.