Mesa Verde

On our way home from Texas, we visited Mesa Verde National Park in southern Colorado. The name translated into English means green table. This rock formation may be why the park bears that name.

Mesa Verde was the first National Park that was set aside to preserve archaeological sites, not natural resources like it's national park predecessors.

Mesa Verde is famous for its cliff dwellings that were abandoned in 1300 A.D.

We chose to go on the most adventurous hike because, that's just what we like to do.

Savanah was asked by the ranger to help lead the group down the trail. She received a small badge at the end of the tour for her services.

 The trail was gorgeous! After a recent rain, the canyon was all the more beautiful.

This tour took us to the Balcony House, a medium sized cliff dwelling with 40 different rooms. We had to go up a 60 foot ladder. It was a bit nerve racking for me because I kept picturing myself falling off backwards and dieing. AJ informed me that is the worst thing to do in under the circumstances. I didn't think I was afraid of heights until that day.

Another part of the trail took us up a smaller (32 foot) ladder, then up a shear rock face with only small toe holds and chain link rails to hold on to.

There was another area that we crossed using only toe holds in the rock.

I was so proud of myself for surviving the trail then I realized that people lived in this area for 700 years. They had no railings or national park built ladders. The dwelling is built into a cliff 600 feet about the canyon floor. Amazing! I wonder how they kept their toddlers in check especially when the rock was wet do to rain or snow.

There was another part of the tour where we had to crawl through a tunnel that was 18 inches wide and 12 feet long. This was a bit awkward with a camera bag strapped to my back.

This tunnel was used as defensive strategy at the time of the Ancestral Puebloans, it was the only way in and the only way out. Like the ranger said, it meant the dwelling could be defended by an old lady with  a stick.

Having shared only the treacherous parts of the trail, I have to say it is so worth it.

The perfect way to end a vacation.