Mesa Verde

Since I was a kid I've always wanted to go to Mesa Verde. Something about those cliff dwellings were so enchanting; so mysterious. We learned a lot about the Ancient Puebloan people on this trip. Evidence of their existence was everywhere from the beginning of our trip to the end, but Mesa Verde was a treasure. We continue to marvel at the ingenuity and resourcefulness and survival of these people.

Adele loved all of the wild horses in the park

Cliff Palace House

A view before our descent

Going down

and then going up

Getting up and out

Spruce Tree House

We met a Native American Ranger here that gave us a lot of insider scoop information! He himself had grown up on a reservation using the same farming techniques; hunting for wild game to survive, and knowing all plant life and its many medicinal uses. There was a reverence about him.

Coming out of a kiva (thought to be a ceremonial/gathering room for each family)

Inside the kiva

Pretending to grind corn with the metates and manos
(We found one of these on the hill behind my dad's old house a few summers ago!)

Petroglyph Trail - 3 miles

This hike was absolutely gorgeous, and so varied. For the first time we weren't going straight down or straight up, and there were no drop-offs! Very nice.

Adele wasn't too excited about another hike, but when she and Ceci came up with the idea to be horses to pull my carriage it gave them a renewal of energy

We had a tiny booklet that interpreted the engravings. It was the story of their migration, and when certain tribes broke off. Tennie, in particular, loved decoding the symbols.

Balcony House

This had some nice drop-offs so I decided to stay in the car and allow my adrenals to rest while Geoff took the girls. It was the highlight of Mesa Verde for them. They loved the tall ladders, the small tunnels, and the freedom to explore inside the ruins more than other locations. I'm still glad to have stayed behind...

That is Ceci in the upper right corner of the photo

We have three Junior Rangers for Mesa Verde!