An invitation to return to Bandelier

By Jason Lott, Bandelier National Monument Superintendent

On June 26, an aspen tree fell in the Santa Fe National Forest, bringing down a power line and triggering sparks that would set off the Las Conchas Fire. It quickly became the largest wildfire in New Mexico’s recorded history.

In the first 14 hours alone, the fire burned more than 43,000 acres, more than a third of it within Bandelier—at a rate of an acre per second. Thirty-five days later, on Aug. 3, firefighters completely contained the fire, which eventually claimed more than 150,000 acres of public lands, pueblo lands, and private property. More than 62 percent of Bandelier had been burned—more than 20,000 acres.

Although the fire is over, risks to the resources and visitors persist. The threat of flash flooding in canyons and post-fire dangers such as snags near trails in the Monument will take time to mitigate. Sections of the Monument have already been reopened, including Juniper and Ponderosa campgrounds, Burnt Mesa Trail, Tyounyi Overlook Trail, the Blue Ski Trail, Tsankawi District, Frijoles Canyon, the Main Loop Trail, Frey Trail, Nature Trail, Tyuonyi Pueblo, and Talus House. On Nov. 1, we plan to reopen the trail to Frijolito Pueblo, the trail to the Upper Falls, and Alcove House. And as fast as staff can assess and mitigate risk, we’ll reopen additional areas of the Monument, trail by trail, site by site.

Bandelier has so much to offer, and it concerns me to hear people speak as if we have lost something because of this fire. Certainly the landscape has been transformed, but this is just another natural process, one which will continue, and one that I believe we’ll enjoy watching and experiencing. Soon these large burned areas will transform into a forest of aspens and montane meadows. Trails will be re-established—perhaps we’ll even put in a few switchbacks on the Cerro Grande Trail. As we watch, our rangers will tell stories of the fire and of landscape recovery, the story of nature and its renewal process.

Please consider this your personal invitation to return to Bandelier. You can once again visit Frijoles Canyon by a free shuttle bus (Atomic City Transit) from the Town of White Rock, and on Nov. 1, the canyon will open for personal vehicles.

For more information, go to Bandelier web site, follow us on Facebook at Bandelier on Facebook, or call (505) 672-3861 x517.