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A Bandelier Thanksgiving
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| Author: | 4085956033 |
| Source: |
 on my Nextel phone
|
| Activity: | Backpacking |
| State: | New Mexico (NM) |
| Distance: | 18.78 mi |
| Difficulty: | 4 / 10 |
| Rating: | Unrated |
Bandelier is a great place to spend Thanksgiving. This 3-day loop will take you deep in to the backcountry where you will enjoy more moderate temps than at higher elevations. Water can be found at both Upper Alamo and along most of Capulin, so plan accordingly. This NP is a fee area where you will need a backcountry permit. You will also need to pack out ALL of your trash (including TP). For this trip, we hikedthe 9 miles in to Capulin on day one where we enjoy rehydrated pumpkin soup, turkey casserole and cranberry sauce with gingerbread cake and dream whip for desert. On day two we hike a scenic 6 mile loop back to zone 1702. From here it is an easy 5.25-mile hike out even though track d3 does not indicate this. Along the way feel free to take some side trips to Painted Cave or Yapashi, but the spirituality of the hike will captivate you the whole way!
| Position Format: | Datum: |
Tracks
d1
| Distance: 8.64 mi | Points: 683 |
d2
| Distance: 6.04 mi | Points: 496 |
d3
| Distance: 4.10 mi | Points: 339 |
Points of Interest
Camp 1
Location: 35.770088, -106.337944This is where we chose to spend night 1.
Camping Zone 1702
Location: 35.797104, -106.345619There are numerous good camping spots in 1702, but there isn't any water. Plan ahead and carry water out of Upper Alamo on Day 2.
End of Zone B
Location: 35.760910, -106.332497Find a spot before you get this far.
Loop Junction
Location: 35.781376, -106.339539This is the spot where you will join back up with this loop on your return. For day 1, continue towards Capulin.
Loop Junction Sign
Location: 35.781502, -106.339439Mesa Sunset
Location: 35.797386, -106.345711The sunsests on the mesa are great, but the night skies are even better. It is worth a late night glance from inside your tent. One year we even saw the northern lights here.
Park Here
Location: 35.777122, -106.273048This is the back country parking area. The actual TH is just up the road a little to the north.
Pecos Wilderness View
Location: 35.798244, -106.316429From the Mesa Top, on a clear day, you will have wonderful views of the Pecos.
Ranger Cabin
Location: 35.758060, -106.329994Can you smell the sourdough pancakes?
Sign
Location: 35.765186, -106.323982The sign marking this trail is in need of repair.
To Dome TH
Location: 35.758232, -106.329735This marks the path to the Dome TH.
To Dome TH
Location: 35.758125, -106.329910This marks the intersection with the Dome TH and also the location of the ranger cabin.
Transition out of Capulin
Location: 35.754898, -106.325768This marks the trail that you will take out of Capulin. A nice side hike would be to Painted Cave, but you might want to plan an extra night if you do that. Be aware that Zone C is closed to camping.
Upper Alamo Trail Junction
Location: 35.786182, -106.286942Make sure to continue on the Mesa Trail towards "Upper Crossing".
Upper Crossing Junction I
Location: 35.802361, -106.343246This is the first junction with the trail that would take you back to Upper Frijoles.
Upper Crossing Junction II
Location: 35.800175, -106.346008This is the second junction that formes a trail delta. This is also a good marker spot to head off in to camping zone 1702 on your way back.
VC trail
Location: 35.755314, -106.325874Flollow the VC trail.
View down Alamo
Location: 35.790173, -106.345276Enjoy the views as you climb out of Alamo.
View looking down Capulin
Location: 35.776691, -106.342789On a clear day, you can see some great views.
View Looking West up Capulin
Location: 35.777721, -106.342361There are awesome views as you start your hike down in to Capulin.
View out of Capulin
Location: 35.758575, -106.326385The Sandia Mountains are visible as you leave Capulin.
Views in to Frijoles Canyon
Location: 35.781673, -106.276245Take time to enjoy the views as you hike the slight incline about 1.2 miles up to the Upper Alamo Trail Junction.
Water
Location: 35.792599, -106.350845This is the water crossing in Upper Alamo. Make sure to fill up here before going to 1702 on your way back.
wpt 0157
Location: 35.758408, -106.326302null
Yapashi Junction I
Location: 35.765358, -106.324120If you continue on the VC trail, you can take a side trip to the Yapshi Ruins. For this hike we continued back towards Upper Alamo.
Yapshi Junction II
Location: 35.767033, -106.324226If you do go to Yapshi Ruins, this is where you will intersect back on the trail to Upper Alamo.
Zone A/B
Location: 35.774071, -106.343987This is the bottom of Capulin and the divide between camping zones A and B.
Zone A/B sign
Location: 35.774117, -106.343903There is plenty of good camping in Zone B. Find a spot as far down as you feel like walking.
Zone C Closed
Location: 35.755054, -106.325790Zone C is closed to camping due to over use.
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