Six Weeks/14 Parks
2008
We don’t care what gas costs!
MESA VERDE, CO
I can’t begin to describe the sensation I experienced when touring these ruins. To imagine the people who lived here 800 years ago, walking in the same spaces that they walked in, feeling the vibrations of their existence across the ages. It was eerie and awe-inspiring. We went on the 10:00 tour of the Cliff Palace, which faces west, hoping to avoid the heat of the sun. There is a 100’ descent down steel and sandstone steps, then a walk along a paved path into the cliff dwelling. Sean went first!
Inside the ruins, there are rooms and storage towers. Also, there are round structures called kivas, which were used for spiritual and ceremonial purposes. Cliff Palace even has a set of connecting kivas, which may have been used for wedding ceremonies.
To exit the ruin, you climb up a single ladder, then a series of three 10’ ladders to the top of the cliff.
Next we hiked a trail along the eastern rim of Spruce Canyon which leads to some petroglyph carvings in the sandstone. Although the Developmental Pueblo people that lived here did not have written language, they did use art and symbols for decoration and story telling.
7/4/08
The sandstone overhangs that provided shelter for also have been formed into the most amazing forms and shapes. This was a fairly strenuous hike, with some major scrambling to get up the side of the canyon for the return loop.
Cliff Palace Guided Tour
Petroglyph Trail
Balcony House Guided Tour
These are the petroglyphs.
Next stop, Balcony House. This one is a little harder to get to. Down a flight of stairs about 60’, then along a path, then back up a 30’ ladder into the cliff dwelling. After going through the ruin, the exit is through a narrow (18”) tunnel, then up another 30’ ladder, then across the cliff face with toe and hand holds and bars, then up one more 25’ ladder. Most exciting!
The day finally ended with a beautiful sunset, followed by a campfire. Definitely more fun than watching TV.
