Mesa Verde - Back into History

Another Day ... Another National Treasure.

After our late start this morning we made our way over to the Mesa Verde National Park and began our day of exploration. We started with a 15 mile trip into the park to the Visitors Center at "Far View." Those 15 miles are mostly up at about a 7% grade through some really beautiful canyons.

Once at the Visitors Center we wasted no time buying our tickets for the 12:30 PM ranger led tour of the crown jewel of Mesa Verde ... the Cliff Palace cliff dwelling. After taking a few pictures from the awesome vantage point at the Visitors Center we continued another 15 miles to the Cliff Palace overlook. Wow - what a fantastic view! It's hard to believe these structures were built about 800 years ago. It was also hard to believe that we were shortly going to walk down some 130 feet of very steep steps and ladders to the alcove floor ... but we did!

We then listened to Ranger Paul explain what was known about the ancestral puebloans - the makers of these structures. Although a lot is known about these people who inhabited this area back in the 13th century - a lot is still conjecture. Like ... why did they start living in these alcoves? ... and why did they all of a sudden abandon their homes after "only" living here for about 100 years? Regardless of the real answers - the dwellings are a truly amazing artifact of their lives and a real privilege to be able to visit - up close and personal!

After completing our hour long tour it was time to leave. Now comes the really fun part. We needed to climb that same 130 feet - pretty much straight up using steps carved between the sandstone rocks and a series of wooden ladders -- much like the ancient puebloans!

By now you probably figured out that we survived to tell all about it. But let me assure you it was a workout! Climbing 130 feet is tough enough - doing it at 7,000 feet elevation in an out of shape body is much harder.

After huffing and puffing our way back to the Vue we drove a bit on the loop road to view some of the other dwellings in the area including Square Tower House ...

and then we got to view Cliff Palace from the opposite canyon. Our trip down into the Cliff Palace and our climb out was even more impressive once viewed from this vantage point.

We continued our drive to Chapin Mesa Museum where we had some lunch in the cafe, toured the Museum, and viewed Spruce Tree House from afar. I really wasn't excited about another 1/2 mile walk downhill and then back uphill. Our view from the Museum area was plenty good for me!

Although there was plenty more to see and do in Mesa Verde - we decided to save that for another day on another trip. Our initial trip to Mesa Verde was a great day and we'll have the memories for a lifetime ... and a few sore muscles for a few days I'm sure.

Tomorrow we plan on hitting the road once more. Our planned route is through Durango to Pagosa Springs and then northeast on Highway 160 over Wolf Creek Pass. I understand this pass is famous or infamous depending on your experience. With 40 miles or so of steep (8%) ups and then downs, a few tight switchbacks, and a 10,800 foot summit it ought to be an interesting drive to say the least! 

Come on Winne ... you can do it!