Nambe Falls - West of Santa Fe

Yesterday was a SNOW day. Our light rain in the morning turned out to be 2 inches of snow in the early evening. We spent the day reading, snuggled under warm blankets, and then played in the snow when it arrived. I explored the City of Cochiti Lake (took about 15 minutes at 10 mph); quaint little town. It's more of a neighborhood of 400 people with a community center.

Today, I traveled in the mountains west of Santa Fe to hike to the Nambe Falls. (Pronounced nom-BAY.) The view was beautiful and the hike very enjoyable. So peaceful. I was treated to an osprey and an owl. The river had camping spots and a group area with a large kiva with electricity and an indoor oven along with an outdoor kiln. Cool looking.

I ended my day watching Harry Potter and admiring the shooting star across our clear night sky. Tomorrow on the road again.

Personal: I learned a lot today, and faced a few fears I didn't know I had. First, I followed through on what my heart wanted to do regardless of my company, drove over an hour through desolate tribal lands to an area I've never been to, and hiked alone through the wilderness. I never felt afraid during any of that, but I now realize that I expanded my world by doing this on my own and following my intuition / heart. I also had to be responsible for my own safety, something I usually don't think about. And on where and what I was to do - to make my own choices based on just what I wanted. A newer experience than what I'd like to believe.

I stuck pretty much to the main trails and kept an awareness of the weather, people and environment. Last year I wanted to go travel to visit the world, the earth because I knew that it had things to teach me. Along my hike up the mountain, I'stopped, sat, meditated, listened, and yet got an urge to keep going. I listened and kept going even though it was an uncomfortably shaky 20 feet. I was rewarded at the top by an osprey coming out of the woods who flew directly to me, circled overhead, flew down the path further into the forest, came back, circled again, and down the path again, and repeated this a third time. So I followed. As soon as I started walking, the osprey disappeared. I followed the trail until it hit a dry river bed. I timidly walked up the bed admiring the different footprints and keeping a close eye on the storm clouds coming closer. Just as I stopped due to a fallen tree, I spotted a giant fist-sized rock that looked and felt like a beautiful sample of citrine. All the rocks in the river bed were beautiful! Large, full of color, even pegmatites. In honor of the tribe's request, I left all the stones where I found them... and felt grateful that others had done the same so I could enjoy such beauty.

The walk back down was a little shaky since I thought I was going on the safer, larger path but it turned out to be on loose slate. I didn't realize the park's season was only a week old and the trails hadn't been re-worn from the winter. I enjoyed the "Lazy Bear" hike along the river reading the interpretative signs that listed the Tewa, common, and scientific names of the plants. I have a photo of one of the signs to recall the Nambe's saying for "Respect Earth Mother" and "Welcome". I remember the Loco Plant as a small-leafed, short plant with purple flowers that the cows and horses can get addicted to... and DON'T EAT them.

After crossing the river, I followed the trail up the other side of the river toward the bottom of the falls. Interesting trail. I didn't have to go far before running into a large boulder blocking the trail. Or I thought so. I discovered very large rocks had been placed in the river around the boulder. On I went... fun. The trail ran into another boulder and this time the workaround was up and over. I had to go past a cave that was too dark to see all the way in to know what was inside. The next boulder had a natural 1 foot shelf around the bottom that needed to be traversed to continue on the hike. Eventually the trail dead-ended to a boulder and the only way to continue was to walk through the river. I saw how read the feet were on the young ladies who did this. They glowed red bright enough for me to see from the top of the falls.

I did see water coming out of the rocks into the river. And I noticed a gravel bed in the middle of the river that could be reached by staying fairly dry. So, on I went. I thought it would be kinda cool. I made it half way, and then saw one rock that had water barely flowing over it. Rapidly, and fully covering the rock, but if I was quick enough to the next rock, I should keep dry. Some fear, but stubborness won and on I went. And yes, the view from that point was beautiful. I took a photo of the river from there, but it doesn't do it justice. When looking up, I see the sides of the river canyon crossing each other so it looks like the river's coming from a giant hole in the side of the mountain.

Now, to cross back. That wet rock looked very slippery. and the water felt like it was a little deeper. and the next rock wasn't a gentle leap, but a "higher than knee level" step up which meant I had to have a good footing on that wet, slippery rock to make it back dry. What's the worse that could happen? I roll up my pants legs and stare at the rushing rapids that are only mid-calf deep where I need to cross. I was shocked to realize that I was frozen with fear. Clint's usually there on the rock to provide me a safe hand in case I needed it. He wasn't there, and the storm clouds are overhead, and I don't want to be in this river if they decide to increase the flow from the dam. But what if I slipped and twisted or broke something? There's absolutely no one here and no new hikers will be coming by until tomorrow since it's near closing time. The storm clouds won. I took a deep breath and went for it. So simple. My grandsons would have just skipped right on over without a care.

On the way back, I stopped again to enjoy, ground, connect and meditate. So peaceful. Just as on top of the mountain, I'm enchanted by how good a place can feel when it's loved. All the love and respect the people give this place emanates back. I know that you get what you give, but it's a different lesson when I experience the difference so strongly. While enjoying the sounds of nature, I felt a bear standing behind me. Not fearful, but definitely strong and big. Enough that I turned around to see. No bear, but a huge boulder was nearby behind me.

I made it back home safely, and even tried a different route based on observations of road signs. It worked. I don't know if it was any quicker, but I did bypass all the stop and goes of the city. I looked up "Bear" and discovered it's about Caution, bravery, good decisions, and curiosity. All of which I learned on my adventure. I was expecting enlightenments while I sat and listened, but they came instead by my doing. I trusted and followed my heart, my intuition. I trusted me and my body to keep me safe. I experienced how different an area feels that is loved and respected and know that people are the same. I enjoyed the beauty of an area that still retains all of it's elements still in tact for all to enjoy. I gained memories that are mine. I grew in confidence that I could go new places alone, follow my lead, and take care of me.

Afterwards, I learned that the puebloan languages have similarities in structure as the Chinese. A common characteristic is the sing-song method of pronouncing the same sound to indicate different items. Example: "p'o" with a high pitch means "moon". "p'o" with a medium pitch means "trail". and "p'o" with a lower and trailing pitch means "river".

In putting together what I learned about languages of the Puebloans, the geology of the land and the history of the Spaniards, I discovered that the basalt escarpment south of Santa Fe separated the development of the Puebloan cultures. All the tribes north of the escarpment have a very common languages with slightly different dialects whereas all the Puebloan tribes south have their commonalities. It's easy to trace that both languages came from the same source but evolved differently. The escarpement limited trade between the tribes and even affected which ones were attacked and which were safe. The Spaniards also couldn't find a way to cross it and tooked the Camino Real around it.

I just realized I've now been on the original Camino Real in at least three different states on this trip.

Overall, I'm very grateful for all the lessons of the day and the blessings from the osprey, the yellow finch who came to see me, the sounds of the owl, the teachings from the "bear", and the beauty of the land.