The Volcanoes

Trail to JA Volcano

The trail map has the incorrect name of the road to the trailhead and I can only say it is exit 149A (that is Atrisco Vista Blvd.) -- will check and correct the name tomorrow morning or later today.  As mentioned the Volcanoes Access Rd. is only some 3 or 4 miles north of the interstate and easy to see as you approach with the three volcanoes quite visible on the high plateau to the right.

When I arrived there at the entrance to the road, I saw a couple school buses already up in the parking area and lots of small kids running around -- most vehicle parking was full and there were a number of cars parked all the way down by the road.  I drove in anyway and found a couple spaces open and took one as another two more buses came in behind me with numerous other cars swarming the parking area.  This old man needed to use the restroom so, I hussled there first and then headed up the trail to JA Volcanoe first.



Top of JA Volcano

After climbing JA Volcanoe and taking pictures of the valley in the distance and Sandia Peak beyond, I faced toward the other two volcanoes and could only see the closest one -- Black Volcano.  Vulcan Volcano was obsured by the other volcano so, I decided that I must make it to a point on the other side to see the last of the three volcanoes.

Plenty of time to still make that 1:00 p.m. time I had in mind for the $5 buffet at the casino.  No water with me but, I would get that soon enough when I got back to the Jeep -- and stay ahead of the swarms of youngsters starting to populate the trails behind me.

Vulcan Volcano

Will have to return to this nearby set of volcanoes and make the hike to Vulcan's top.  Maybe some better pictures of some distant peaks to the northeast which seemed to have snow on them -- perhaps the Sangre De Cristo Mountains near Santa Fe.

Did enjoy that buffet afterwards and a good tall iced tea too -- now if only a beautiful woman in a hot red dress had been sitting across from me, that would have really made it even more enjoyable (like at Binkley's in Cave Creek, AZ that special July 4th weekend a few years back).  Let's see $300 for that dinner and $5 for this one -- HMMM.  That expensive one was more memorable for sure.  Oh well, I'm full and that's enough for now.