The High Road, July 2003
Sipapu Bridge, the eighth largest natural span in the world, Natural Bridges National Monument
Abby at Cuervo, New Mexico
This was my first vacation with Abby Milligan, who was destined to become my wife.
We got the name for this trip from the Third Eye Blind song Crystal Baller. We had a tape of Third Eye hits and listened to it over and over, singing along the whole time…
Can we try and take the high road though we don’t know where it ends
I want to be your Crystal Baller
I want to show you how it ends…
Day 1…
•Traveled well together. Abby is so excited that she is giggling.
•Perfectly timed to shoot the sunset and last light at Cuervo, a town in disrepair that we dubbed a “ghost town,” that I had photographed once before.
Abandoned building, Cuervo, New Mexico
Day 2…
•We took the Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway (instead of driving), then hiked through the trail system to the peak, where we had lunch. It was Abby’s first veggie burger.
•Hiked the shorter of the two loops at Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, which was far more interesting and more expansive than I imagined it would be.
•In Santa Fe, we discovered one of the best Chinese places we have even experienced, next door to our motel, called “Ten Ten.” It was Abby’s first time to have Egg Foo Yung.
Abby takes a moment to admire the scenery at Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico.
The author photographs White Rock Overlook near Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico.
Day 3…
We are so happy. It’s hot, but we are tolerating it well.
•White Rock Overlook.
•Bandelier National Monument
•Soda Dam.
•Jemez State Monument.
•Church at San Ysidro.
Abby at Acoma Pueblo
Abby at Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
Day 4…
•Acoma Sky City
•La Ventana (Spanish for The Window) Natural Arch. The trail that was closed two years ago was open this time, and we hiked up to and under the arch.
•Petrified Forest and Painted Desert National Park. Wild wind; light was muted by smoke from distant forest fires.
Day 5…
•Long drive from Page, Arizona into Utah, through Monument Valley. Still experienced haze from smoke to our south.
•Drove up the Mokee Dugway, a steep, narrow gravel section of Utah 261 that ascends Cedar Mesa.
The Mokee Dugway
•At Natural Bridges National Monument, we hiked down to Sipapu Bridge. Nice little hike. We both had a great time.
•Goosenecks of the San Juan State Park.
•Sunset near Kayenta.
Abby’s panorama of Goosenecks of the San Juan
Tsegi Canyon sunset, northeastern New Mexico
Day 6…
•Vermilion Cliffs and Navajo Bridge over the Colorado.
•Grand Canyon. Though crowded, being there together was great.
•Kaibab National Forest.
•Giant Jackrabbit near Winslow, Arizona.
Originally this trip was just intended to explore the area around Tent Rocks and Bandelier in New Mexico, but as we traveled and had so much fun together, we decided to see more and more. We had the times of our lives.
The La Ventana Natural Arch, El Malpais National Monument, New Mexico
Additional images:
Abby watches the sun go down in Santa Fe, wearing her “Armed and Dangerous” shirt.
The road from I-40 to Acoma Pueblo passes the Mesa Enchantada, regarded as sacred by the Acoma.
Blue door and wall, Acoma Pueblo.
Kiln, Acoma Pueblo.
Looking from Acoma Pueblo toward Mesa Enchantada.
Ladder, street and sky, Acoma Pueblo.
Door, window and wall, Acoma Pueblo.
Detail, Frijoles Canyon, Bandelier National Monument.
Cliff dwelling, Bandelier National Monument.
View inside restored cliff dwelling, Bandelier National Monument.
View inside ceremonial kiva, Bandelier National Monument.
Fisheye view of the ceremonial kiva, Bandelier National Monument; this cave is accessed by ascending four wooden ladders.
Abandoned house, Cuervo, New Mexico.
Window, abandoned house, Cuervo, New Mexico.
Well and abandoned house, Cuervo, New Mexico.
Puddle, side road, Cuervo, New Mexico.
Sunset across Interstate 40, Cuervo, New Mexico.
Sunset across Interstate 40, Cuervo, New Mexico.
Fisheye view of Goosenecks of the San Juan river, Utah.
Birch bark, Kaibab National Forest, Arizona.
La Ventana natural arch, New Mexico.
A trail leads to an area directly under the arch. The first time I visited, that trail was closed, but in 2003 it was open and I made some very nice images from beneath the arch.
Another view of La Ventana, which is Spanish for “The Window.”
We were only passing through Monument Valley, but did stop to make a few images. Just before I made this one, I startled a steer hiding near the road.
Looking north up the Colorado river from the Navajo Bridge; it flows through Marble Canyon.
Windswept cliffs of Sandia Crest, which overlooks Albuquerque 5000 feet below.
Cave and tuff cliff, Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument. Kasha-Katuwe means “white cliffs” in the Pueblo de Cochiti language.
Sunset, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
You can watch The High Road QuickTime movie here…
Themocracy
