We actually missed some of the first morning launch of the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. Around 8:00 a.m., we met up with Harold's brother, Arlo, and his wife, Linda, and soon departed for Trinity Site.
Trinity is where the first atomic bomb was tested. The site is only open two days of the year to the public. Beginning in 2022, this will be the second Saturday in April and October. We figured that since we had been to the balloon fiesta in 2013 and were going to be there for a few more days, Trinity was worth skipping the fiesta.
It's a drive to get there, even once you've run the gauntlet of protesters at the Stallion Gate. The site is truly still isolated. The army brings in the base's MWR (Morale, Welfare, Recreation) staff to act as a food vendor as well as lots of porta-potties. There may be a couple of vendors, such as the national parks and historical societies, but that's about it.
There's really not a lot to see. There's an obelisk at ground zero and a few signs on the perimeter fence. The McDonald Ranch House was closed this year. Normally, you can board a bus to see the ranch house where the bomb was assembled. Even so, most visitors possess a solemnity, recognizing the significance of what happened at the site.
If you look hard enough, you can see small pieces of Trinite lying on the ground. Just don't take them from the site. That's a federal offense. Trinite is the rock that was formed from the heat of the blast. Essentially, it turned the sand into glass.
It's a haunting site, worthy of reflection.
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| Ground Zero |
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| Walking the perimeter |
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| Trinite |
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| This piece is a little glassier |
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| No putting it in your pockets! |
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