I always dreamt of visiting An American Badlands. My dream came true when my primary school buddy took me to the alienation. That’s to say, my friend, surprised me to the other side of the world by taking to the Bisti Wilderness. Petrified logs are scattered among the numerous landforms and unique geological features of this part of New Mexico. Photographers come from across the globe to capture this unique landscape, featured as an alien planet in many Hollywood movies. During our couple of hours trekking to the petrified wilderness, we lost our contact with the entire universe. Therefore, we halted the time in a futuristic world where no living creatures were seen. The hoodoos and fragile-looking grey hills turned into orange hills during the magic hours before sunrise and sunset.
Bisti is the best explored for any travelers where there were no trails or proper directions. Any traveler would feel that they have arrived in the unearthly place. So, a word of caution, travelers have to help themselves to find their own way in an American badlands. Sunscreen and compass are a useful element to carry. Cell phone service is sparse. No services or water are available. That’s why travelers are advised to bring water and dry food to explore the badlands for at least 4-hours walking. The wilderness area is located 37 miles south of Farmington Highway.
IDEATION BEFORE HITTING THE ROAD
Overnight stop to the hotel in Colorado, we discussed our next road trip, where could it be? I left it on my friend’s judgment because he knows better than me about New Mexico tourism. Finally, it was mutually consented that we’ll visit the highland desert into the wilderness of New Mexico. On the way to Bisti, I observed horses running on the vast ranch yard. I have always seen this type of scene in the movie or music video. But it was absolutely amazing to see in the natural location. I also observed some amazing formations of highlands. Trust me, it was in the middle of nowhere.
CANYON TREKKING
We reached like in the middle of the day. That’s why I couldn’t do sunrise or sunset photography. However, no regret whatsoever. It was a decent hike in absolute wilderness. There are no trails. There are no signs. The landscape is completely alien. If you are going to explore the canyons (which we did), it is imperative to have a GPS, else you’ll get lost very easily. It is a long hike at high elevation to even find these amazing formations. Altogether we trekked about couple of hours on foot with lots of drinking water on the backpack.
HOODOOS SPECIAL
The hoodoos photographs are my favorites from the trip. Though I didn’t get an iconic hoodoos picture of New Mexico from the location where I have been. However, I did get some awesome highlands desert perspective from the canyon.
THANK YOU
Pulak, my primary school friend kept me wandering from Albuquerque to Los Alamos to Silverton to Durango to Farmington to Los Alamos to Albuquerque unconditionally which I’ll cherish for the rest of my life. Thank you buddy for experiencing me such an adventurous trip to the other side of the world.