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Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado – 4/13/2015

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Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado – 4/13/2015

April 13, 2015 (Monday)

Woke up to bad news – our visa card has been compromised AGAIN! Thank goodness Bank of America is on it. Had to have been when we got gas in Walsenburg, Colorado. Anyway, it took a little while on the phone with the bank but once that was done we had breakfast and headed out.

Today we went to Mesa Verde National Park. Uncle Claude and Aunt Gail, as well as other friends, have talked about how nice it was. Wasn’t sure what to expect but got so much more. Have I told you that I absolutely LOVE cliff dwellings. Have for years. Have enjoyed them in Canyon de Chelly National Monument and Montezuma Castle National Monument, both in Arizona. This one tops those amazing places by about 100%.  The drive was about 45 miles or so and took about an hour. 

First off, we stopped at the Visitor’s Center and looked around. Pretty neat place.

It was a pleasant drive.
It was a pleasant drive.

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Pretty distinctive entrance.
Pretty distinctive entrance.
Beautiful sculpture at the visitor's center. When we first arrived I didn't really appreciate the work of scaling a cliff with groceries to get home. Fingers and toes grabbing for life hundreds of feet above certain death.
Beautiful sculpture at the Visitor’s Center. When we first arrived I didn’t really appreciate the work of scaling a cliff with groceries to get home. Fingers and toes grabbing for life hundreds of feet above certain death.
Copies of hieroglyphs.
Copies of hieroglyphs.

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Pretty woman getting excited.
Pretty woman getting excited.

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Looks like a Gorman work.
Looks like a Gorman work.

 

We saw a line for tour tickets and decided to see what that was about and how much it cost. We were told the only tour they had today was at the Balcony House and the next tour was at noon.  The Parks employee described it as the most adventurous cliff dwelling tour where we would climb a 32 foot ladder, crawl through a 12 foot long by 18 inch tunnel, and then climb 60 feet up a cliff face. I didn’t think so because I had been wheezing and having a hard time with the altitude and the spring pollens. When Michael found out it was only $4.00 per person, we decided what was the worst thing that could happen – I faint and he catches me. We went for it. So glad we did.

In order to get to the tour, you have to drive into the park (used our old person pass and saved $10.00) and drove about twenty miles. We were supposed to meet all the others in the tour (about fifty of us) at the parking lot of the Balcony House. It was only about 10:30 AM so we decided to drive to Chapin Mesa area to a place we were told would have water and snacks for us. There was also a post office there that we used. We got some water and a snack, looked at the gift store but we were short on time and had to get going to the Balcony House parking lot.

Old man pass got us through.
Old man pass got us through.
Driving into the park you get some breathtaking views.
Driving into the park you get some breathtaking views.

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We were both feeling the altitude.
We were both feeling the altitude.
We parked at the Museum complex to find some bottled water.
We parked at the Museum complex to find some bottled water.

 

The tour guide, Kevin, and his assistant, Jim, did an excellent job of trying to frighten everyone out of the tour. He described how to crawl through the tunnel and what not to touch (mostly everything). He also did an excellent job of explaining what life must have been like and how the Pueblo people survived on the mesa.

Our guide, Kevin. He did an excellent job.
Our guide, Kevin. He did an excellent job.
His helper, a volunteer, Jim.
His helper, a volunteer, Jim.
Berries grow on this plant and the Pueblioans would eat them.
Berries grow on this plant and the Pueblioans would eat them.
Your life is in your hands and your hands only in the National Parks.
Your life is in your hands and your hands only in the National Parks.

We started out and it was pretty easy, down a bunch of steps. Then things got interesting. When you think of a ladder, you think of a modern ladder. Not the reality when you’re going to a cliff dwelling that dates back to around 1250 AD. The ladders are like they used back then. Fun but scary, especially when you see how steep the cliff sides are. The easiest part was the tunnel, but not for Michael. Poor guy. He’s big, especially through the shoulders, and he scraped his knees and elbows up a bit scooting through the tunnel. The last ladder up the side of the cliff was the most exhilarating. So glad we did it but probably won’t do anything like that again for awhile.

We left the parking lot and ascended on a fairly civilized path.
We left the parking lot and ascended on a fairly civilized path.
No hand rails here.
No hand rails here.
Our escalator straight ahead.
Our escalator straight ahead.
Pretty woman's picture of the ladder and it looks a little intimidating.
Pretty woman’s picture of the ladder and it looks a little intimidating.
Interesting stains on the rocks.
Interesting stains on the rocks.
A 32 foot ladder, that shakes and creeks as you climb. About half way up it came rushing back from my memories that I have a morbid fear of ladders.
A 32 foot ladder, that shakes and creeks as you climb. About half way up it came rushing back from my memories that I have a morbid fear of ladders.
grumpy fell off a ladder in his youth and battles old fears.
Grumpy fell off a ladder in his youth and battles old fears.
Once at the top we disappear into a crack in the wall. You go down about 10 irregular steps, climb a short ladder and worm your way out a small opening.
Once at the top we disappear into a crack in the wall. You go down about 10 irregular steps, climb a short ladder and worm your way out a small opening.
The ladder inside the tunnel.
The ladder inside the tunnel.
The little opening where you come out.
The little opening where you come out.
Looking down at those yet to join us.
Looking down at those yet to join us.
Our next exit.
Our next exit.
Pretty woman examining the walls. She fell in love with Cliff Dwellers from the first time she saw a dwelling. It is suck a treat for her to be in one, with the original surface and structures.
Pretty woman examining the walls. She fell in love with Cliff Dwellers from the first time she saw a dwelling. It is such a treat for her to be in one, with the original surface and structures.
Stones with mud mortar. The red mud mortar comes from the iron rich mesa top soil. The tan mud mortar comes from the canyon bottom.
Stones with mud mortar. The red mud mortar comes from the iron rich mesa top soil. The tan mud mortar comes from the canyon bottom.
Heck of a view.
Heck of a view.
First archaeologist in 1902
First archaeologist in 1902
This is called the Balcony house because of the balcony seen in the photograph.
This is called the Balcony house because of the balcony seen in the photograph.
Grumpy checking out the balcony.
Grumpy checking out the balcony.
Those folks built it really well, It is behind the ranger and looks really good.
Those folks built it really well, It is behind the ranger and looks really good.
A wood branch header over a little window.
A wood branch header over a little window.
Looking through the little window.
Looking through the little window.

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Kevin points out where a door was and they closed it up.
Kevin points out where a door was and they closed it up.
On to the next section.
On to the next section.
Main fire in winter and a source of water.
Main fire in winter and a source of water.
Fireplace on the side, beams and mud would have covered this place. A ladder would have got them in and out.
Fireplace on the side, beams and mud would have covered this place. A ladder would have got them in and out.
Kevin explaining.
Kevin explaining.
We all listened.
We all listened.
She was enjoying herself.
She was enjoying herself.
Grinding stones.
Grinding stones.
The 18 inch wide hole we had to crawl through.
The 18 inch wide hole we had to crawl through.
Pretty woman asked this guy if it would help if she pinched him, he said it probably would.
Pretty woman asked this guy if it would help if she pinched him, he said it probably would.
Big man worming his way out the 18 inch opening.
Big man worming his way out the 18 inch opening.
Half out.
Half out.
Edie up the ladder and on to the cliff face.
Edie up the ladder and on to the cliff face.
Here we go again.
Here we go again.
The path is just a little wider than my foot.
The path is just a little wider than my foot.
You get dizzy and fall, forget it.
You get dizzy and fall, forget it.
Edie scrambling up the wall.
Edie scrambling up the wall.
Very irregular and tall steps for the climb.
Very irregular and tall steps for the climb.
Up the cliff face.
Up the cliff face.
My fellow ants following me out.
My fellow ants following me out.

After the tour, which lasted about an hour and a half, we took the Mesa Top Loop road, which is absolutely fabulous. We saw so many different types and styles of cliff dwellings. Amazing! We saw the Spruce Tree House, Square Tower House, some pit houses, Cliff Palace, and more. Love, love, loved it! Want to go back.

There are over 600 known dwellings, and the majority and in Mesa Verde.
There are over 600 known dwellings, and the majority are in Mesa Verde.

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The biggest, called Cliff Palace.
The biggest, called Cliff Palace.
Headed back, still great views.
Headed back, still great views.

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Falling down.
Falling down.
Got a little gas.
Got a little gas.

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Got back to our home and Michael took the laundry downstairs while I made a salad for dinner. For some reason he’s really loving salads with the Albertson’s chicken. We are now very tired and just vegging out. Michael is supposed to help Aaron with his taxes tonight. That was our day. Hope yours was great!