BANDELIER News:
Beginning this morning, Oct. 23, and continuing for about four days, parts of the popular Main Loop Trail in Bandelier National Monument will be closed for visitor safety during operations in which a helicopter will be carrying many sling loads of dirt and gravel for a trail project.
From 6 a.m. today through the completion of that part of the work around Oct. 27, the Main Loop Trail will be closed from the northern edge of Tyuonyi Pueblo to the top of the stairs at Long House. The part of the Nature Trail, which parallels Frijoles Creek between the creek and the Main Loop Trail, also will be closed.
Visitors who wish to visit Long House can use the trail on the other side of the creek (which ultimately leads to Alcove House) to access the site and return. The small cavates on the cliffs just above Tyuonyi, the ones with the short ladders, will not be available during this time. Alcove House will be open.
For several weeks Bandelier National Monument staff have been working on a project to repair and rehab the Frey Trail, the historic trail leading from Juniper Campground to the bottom of Frijoles Canyon. One part of the work involves bringing in tons of gravel and dirt to fill in worn and eroded parts of the trail tread. This work will be done with a sling under a helicopter.
It is standard procedure that no one but those trained to work with helicopters can be underneath the aircraft or the material being carried by the sling in case of an accident or if the pilot was forced to jettison the sling unexpectedly. The helicopter will be working 8 hours a day to finish the work as soon as possible. Unfortunately, it also will cause a lot of noise in the canyon.
The Frey Trail will be closed from the point where it crosses the maintenance road to the bottom of Frijoles Canyon, and will reopen when it is again safe for visitors to travel the trail.
Closing the trails and surrounding area comes under a formal Area Closure, under the provisions of 36 CFR 1.5(a). Anyone with questions should call the Visitor Center at 505.672.3861 x 517.