The "Falls"

The Falls Trail at Bandelier National Monument. Well, there wasn't actually any water in the Falls just then. We did get treated to this view, when we turned a corner and beheld the gateway to the confluence with the Rio Grande.

Along the trail, Krista spotted the heart-shaped pattern on this tree. There was a terrific interpretive guide for this trail, about the flora and geology, shaping and shaped by the flow of the river and the orientation of the canyon.  Just a few steps around the corner to the south, the exposure and air temperature create different conditions.  Flowers of the same species bloom a full month later in the cooler, sheltered part of the canyon.








Below: It was a steep drop to the valley floor.  Vivid colors in the rocks and vegetation (a little washed out in this shot). Amazing how the shrubs and trees find footholds on the cliff faces.