Marc Valdez - The Early Years

I stumbled across a photo album with some of my pictures from the 1956 to 1994 time frame. I thought I'd share a few photos with you (in several posts).

Left: Yours truly.

My cousin, Larry Becker, my father, Marcial Valdez, and myself, at the house on Truman St. in Albuquerque.

Left: My mother, and me.

Above: Launching Estes model rockets, in Corrales, NM, circa 1968. My parents made me build a sort-of bunker (foreground) to protect me from explosions (that was overkill).

In July, 1973, I participated in a summer biology class/workshop, in the bosque at the oxbow of the Rio Grande River (near La Luz, and the former University of Albuquerque - the current St. Pius High School). I'm in yellow. I confess I've forgotten so many names. The teachers were Mr. Templeton (left) and Mr. Funk (right). Some people I remember are here: Jeff Anderson, Glen Kellogg, Patricia Smith, Patty Decker, Nancy Garrett, Greg, Anne-Marie, Mike Mills, Jacqueline Sattler, Brooke Bigney, etc., etc.

On July 22, 1974, right after high school graduation, David Baltz (right) and myself commenced a 6,500 mile, month-long trip up the west coast, into southwestern Canada, and back down the Rockies. David was keen to climb mountains, and indeed, we did some of that: an abortive attempt to climb Mt. Shasta, in California; a successful but nearly-deadly climb of Mt. Hood, in Oregon; plus assorted hikes in Banff and Jasper National Parks in Canada; plus hikes in Montana, in Yellowstone National Park, and in Colorado. We also visited the 1974 World's Fair in Spokane, Washington.

This marathon trip coincided with the Richard Nixon impeachment hearings in the House of Representatives, and so we were condemned to argue politics the entire way. Indeed, as you can see, Dave has a Joe Skeen for Senate (Republican) sticker on his front bumper. David's father ran unsuccessfully on the GOP ticket for the New Mexico legislature in 1972.

On August 1st, our third Musketeer, thoroughly-apolitical Jeff Anderson, flew up to Seattle, where we picked him up for the rest of the trip. We bored him to tears with our debates, and he employed various tricks (like driving off with the car) to change the subject.

We first learned of Nixon's resignation while hiking the south shore of Lake Louise at Banff National Park, in Canada, but couldn't watch TV coverage of the event, even at the large and very civilized lodge there, because TV signals from Calgary couldn't penetrate the mountain valley where we were located.

A Polaroid shot of Marc, likely in the vicinity of Kelly, NM, not far from Socorro, NM (c. 1975).

In the Valle Grande of the Jemez Mountains of New Mexico, near Los Alamos (c. 1977).

Trip to the Pecos Wilderness of New Mexico, 1975

Marc on the slopes of Pecos Baldy (or is it Santa Fe Baldy?)

On a ridge near the summit of Pecos Baldy. I think that's Santa Fe Baldy in the background.

The Truchas Mountains, as seen on a ridge near the summit of Pecos Baldy.

To our surprise, while descending the slopes of Pecos Baldy, we were approached by young, wild, and astonishingly-bold Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. At Pecos Baldy Lake, we made a stand, and the sheep approached.

Coaxing the sheep to come closer with imaginary treats.

John Wright, with Santa Fe Baldy (or is that Pecos Baldy?) in the background.

Zion National Park Trip

In 1975, in the company of David Baltz and several others, I spent a week in the Thunder Creek/Deer Creek watershed of the northwestern corner of Grand Canyon National Park.

In 1978, in the company of friends Jeff Anderson and Ira Gershin, I tried to reproduce the trip, but we met powerful obstacles. The temperature was much hotter than on the 1975 trip, and we lost valuable time trying to puzzle out a descent after we lost the trail. We ran out of water on the burning south-facing cliff faces. So, we retreated and opted instead to travel to Zion National Park, in southwestern Utah.

Here, Jeff and I traverse a portion of Zion's Echo Canyon.

Marc and Jeff at camp.

Look at our campsite!

Ira Gershin.

Just as we had run out of water at the Grand Canyon, we began to run out of money in Zion. We decided to go to Las Vegas, in order to get closer to 'civilization'.

In Las Vegas, we decided to phone home for money if necessary, but decided to first try self-reliance. We pooled what money we had left and gave it to Ira to try his luck at the blackjack table. Ira was successful! He more-than-doubled our money!

The previous day we had to brush ants off of cheese blocks in order to eat anything at all, but now we were in the lap of luxury. We saw Bill Cosby perform his comedy act (I think it was at the old MGM Grand, before the big fire, and now called Bally's), and we ate our fill at the buffet lunch, before returning to Albuquerque.