This hike was led by Kathleen Rhoad. The weather was perfect and the hike up the old US 66 route was an easy climb. Pictures contributed by Rick Held.
Here is a description of La Bajada from a government document:
lcweb2.loc.gov/pnp/habshaer/nm/nm0300/nm0305/data/nm0305data.pdf
La Bajada is a prominent geologic and geographic landmark in central
New Mexico, and includes trail and road traces that represent major
cultural changes resulting from geopolitical activity, technology, and
transportation. The four historically significant road alignments built to
traverse La Bajada between 1598 and 1932 follow prehistorically and
historically established pathways over the mesa. The alignments are: El
Camino Real de Tierra Adentro dating to the Spanish Colonial era (1598)
and used throughout the Mexican period (1821-1848); U.S. territorial
wagon roads (ca. 1860); the NM 1/National Old Trails Road highway
(1909); and the original U.S. Highway 66 built as a safer alternative to the
switchbacks of the earlier auto route (1926). These routes are
characterized by a variety of engineering techniques that used the tools
and local materials available to create retaining walls, navigable grade
changes, and drainage structures.
