Mesa Verde, redux

Ava loved the view at Cliff Palace, the second tour -especially the opportunity  to see it from the overlook deck!  She took some great shots, here are a few of them.













I am somewhere down there in that tour group listening to an ancient Park Ranger that must be part mountain goat!













Here we are learning about a "kiva", those circular "meeting rooms/spiritual houses".  What really surprised me is these weren't dug out - they were circular rooms that they filled in around to insulate, make as though underground, and maybe add to the walk-around space in between them!








Once again, the exits are killers.  Note the natural wood log ladder putting you back on top of the mesa and







the entrance way down here!

Ava didn't miss this a bit.

Mesa Verde! a primer.

 About 10 miles away from Echo Basin Ranch to the SW lies an amazing NP - Mesa Verde.  We went there on our first day off and were in awe -first at the high, long, beautiful drive back into this lost land -then at the cliff dwellings and the efforts to preserve, and explain, this ancient place.









As the name 'cliff dwelling' suggests, there is nothing easy about getting to see these ruins.  They are, literally, stuck on the side of the cliffs.  We heard several Rangers offer differing opinions why the Indians chose to live here, and like this, but I still believe it was first and foremost for protection.








There were lots of people on the tours - all ages and sizes - so you can see anyone CAN do it.  It may not be for those with bad knees, a disaffection for heights and













anyone even a little claustrophobic!  As the symptoms tend to build as you add one to the other, this was the 'last straw' for Ava!  We made it fine because she was VERY brave - and this tunnel was the only way up and out - still, her last words were "WHAT WAS I THINKING!" 

She declined to take the next scheduled tour.






Seriously, she (we) loved experiencing it and learned a lot.  Made us thankful for the ease of modern life and, once again, thankful for those who fought to preserve a unique place for future generations.