We drove to Tsankawi late in the day, after a meal of something which made me feel pretty sick, so I was debating whether we should even continue on, since I was also still having some residual calcium and potassium issues leftover from my thyroid surgery. If I ended up puking, that would make my calcium and potassium levels go even lower, and I REALLY didn't want to end up in a Los Alamos ER. But I also REALLY wanted to explore Tsankawi, so I summoned my inner Viking and toughened up a little, and we continued on.
I was looking for a very specific and unique looking rock formation, and there were a few that were close to what I was looking for, but not exactly. There was also a canyon near Los Alamos that I wanted to check out, if we could find it, since our map was tucked away in a suitcase or somewhere. Bad planning mistake number one. Lol. Or number two, if you count eating a questionable meal before a hike.
As we approached the security checkpoint into the town of Los Alamos, we realized bad planning mistake number three: James had left his wallet (with driver's license) in a suitcase, too, and he was driving.
James: Should we turn around?
Me: I don't think so. I think they'll let us in. I pulled out a few tourist brochures and put them where the guard could see them.
So, we drove up, explained we were tourists, and that we were there to visit some of Indian heritage points of interest. He was very nice, and let us pass.
We then drove around, looking for the canyon, or actually a junction of two canyons. I knew they were there, but being on the ground is much different than looking down from Google earth, as those of you who have searched already know.
We found the Sportsman's club, and the cemetery, and we took our little red Mustang GT (bad planning mistake number 4) down an extremely muddy and treacherous hole-y road. We finally realized that the little car just wouldn't make it, and there was nowhere to park. So, we said we'd come back another day.
Thankfully, I was starting to feel a little better, and we continued on past Bandolier to Tsankawi, which lies just outside the pay area of Bandolier, and is less regulated than Bandolier, but is still considered a part of Bandolier.
We started the easy hike to the ruins, but I knew it would soon get a little strenuous, as we would have to climb some ladders and traverse off the paths. I was feeling okay, but not 100%, and dusk was almost upon us. I was pretty determined, though.
As we walked further from the road, it was difficult to sight the cliff dwellings. It looked a lot like the other terrain we'd hiked through--places where large areas of sand were washed out in between steep cliffs and huge random boulders.
We climbed one of the ladders and walked around the top, enjoying the cool breeze up there, and the spectacular view. James took a picture while I climbed.
I think we talked about what it must have been like for the ancient residents that called this mesa "home." I imagined little Tsankawi kids running around half naked and wondered if their moms ever looked up from their work to make sure none of them were about to topple over the side.
Dal said he'd found a lichen that grew in the shape of a sun--a circle with straight lines as rays going out from it. If you think about it, that sun symbol is basically an asterisk.
Anyway, he said he gently scraped away the lichen with a knife and found a petroglyph underneath. How exciting that would be!
With the sun quickly setting, and remembering the sign that warned us the area closed at dusk, we hurriedly walked as much of the area as we could. We poked around the ground a little and spotted some knapped-obsidian and other small pottery sherds.
Then I felt something biting me in my hiking boots and on my legs. Red ants. I've been told they couldn't have been fire ants, but growing up in Florida, I know the sting of fire ants. And I'm a little allergic to them. With thoughts of anaphylaxis whispering doom in my head, and the sun past the dusk mark, we decided to head back to the path toward the car.
I get ridiculed about the ants, and how I supposedly use that as an "excuse" about not finding the treasure. However, those "jokes" are never used in context. Allergies to insects are nothing to joke about. People die from allergies to insects. And being stung and mildly allergic to red ants in the past, could mean a more severe, life-threatening allergic reaction the second time (or third, or fourth). People don't realize the first sting of a bee is not when you discover you're deathly allergic--it's the SECOND (or third, or fourth) time, after your body has built up antibodies in response to the first time you were stung.
Third, we were not looking for the treasure at Tsankawi. We were there as curious visitors interested in the history of a lost culture.
Before we left, we found a curious "blaze." Probably not "the" blaze, but still pretty cool! He looks like a guardian spirit, still keeping a silent but vigilant watch over his ancestral home.
Anyway, seven months later, I still have a pretty big scar from those "bitty ants," and it reminds me to be a little more prepared when hiking in a strange place.
It was such a fun day exploring!