Our Amazing Arizona {and Utah, and Colorado} Adventure!! part 5

June 4, 2010

Mesa Verde National Park..

I have to say, I wasn't sure how I felt about this one..

I mostly thought it would be boring..

BOY, I was wrong..

This was MY FAVORITE..

In fact, I'm pretty sure it was everyone's favorite!!

Spruce Tree House

One of the "self-guided" tours..

..just grinding some corn..

Apparently, the Anasazi Indians lived here between 1200-1300 BC

Apparently, the term Anasazi now has negative connotations.. {?}

So, now at Mesa Verde they are referred to as Ancient Puebloans..

{doesn't that roll of the tongue..}

Descending into a KIVA..

A Kiva is something else we heard a lot about..

A Kiva is a religious structure,

but was also used as a winter dwelling..

In fact, the number of Kivas in a cliff dwelling

helped archaeologists determine how many people

lived in each dwelling..

Do you feel educated now??

Inside the Kiva

Our flash worked really well,

because it was quite dark..

Heading out..

Cliff Palace

Our first guided tour..

The overlook above Cliff Palace..

Looking down from the overlook..

Starting the tour..

{yes, it was very steep}

and now back UP a ladder to get there!

waiting for the rest of our group..

We were on ladders all the time!

getting a closer look!

climbing back up the cliff face..

and more ladders!!

Balcony House

This is considered the "Adventure Tour" of Mesa Verde..

In fact, they kind of try to talk you out of it..

Because once you go through the gate, you are committed!!

{NO turning back..}

We went down a huge set of "stairs"

to this "seep stream"

{their water source}

See the ladder to the left??

double wide, 32 feet high

UP WE GO!!

Through the rocks..

The overlook from Balcony House..

See the grooves Adi is walking in?

These, along with ladders, are how

the Ancient Puebloans got up & down

the cliffs..

They made everything work..

No matter where the boulders were!

This was a 12 foot long,

3 foot tall hole you HAD to make it through..

No problem for the girlies..

I took video..

Davy considered being air-lifted out..

{he's a little claustrophobic!!}

Woo-hoo Davy!!

He was very proud of himself..

{But he kept dreaming that night

that he was getting stuck in the hole!!}

Literally up the cliff!!

But first, this ladder!!

{short, compared to what we were used to!!}

This "video-ing while climbing"

wasn't my best idea...

Now up one more ladder!!

Square Tower

{you can't get down to this one..}

On the other side of the canyon from Cliff Palace..

{Click on this picture, you'll see it!!}

Hard at work on their Junior Ranger Badges!

These are not easy!!

The Sun Temple..

{they're not sure what it's purpose was,

and are pretty sure it was never used!}

A little canyon-side dancing..

Chelsea, measuring Cliff Palace..

Spinning..

"Action Shot!"

Taking the Junior Ranger Pledge!

Mesa Verde..

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED it!!

Took off from here and drove to Moab..

Quick look at the Monticello Temple!