BETTY AND I STUMBLED ON MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK ON OUR WAY HOME FROM ALASKA IN 2004. WE ONLY GOT TO STOP IN FOR SEVERAL HOURS SO THIS VISIT WAS A TREAT ALLOWING US A MORE COMPLETE VISIT. THE ANASAZI (NOW CALLED ANCESTRAL PUEBLOAN PEOPLE) SETTLED IN THE AREA ON THE MESAS FROM 700 TO 950 AD. THEY THEN FELT THE NEED TO MOVE INTO THE CAVES BELOW THE MESAS FROM1000-1300 AD. WHERE THEY BUILT THESE SPECTACULAR CLIFF DWELLINGS. NOTICE FROM THE PICTURES BOTH THE MESA AND CLIFF DWELLINGS HAD ROUND KIVAS WHICH WERE THE SOCIAL AND CEREMONIAL LIFE CENTER. SOMETIME AFTER 1300AD THE DWELLINGS WERE ABANDONED DUE TO POOR CROPS, DROUGHT AND DEPLETING ALL NATURAL RESOURCES. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO DESCRIBE THE DWELLINGS THAN SIMPLY AMAZING.
ABOUT TEN OF US TOOK THE OPTIONAL BALCONY AND CLIFFHOUSE TOURS WITH A LARGER GROUP EXPLORING THE SPRUCEHOUSE DURING THE BUS TOUR.
BALCONY HOUSE TOUR
THIS TOUR HAD US CLIMBING A 32 FOOT LADDER CRAWLING THOUGH A TUNNEL AND FINALLY CLIMBING UP THE FACE OF THE CLIFF USING CARVED FOOT HOLDS.
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| RANGER SAFETY TALK PRIOR TO DESENDING |
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| ENTERING THE BALCONY HOUSE |
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| FINAL ASCENT TO BALCONY HOUSE |
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| AT BALCONY HOUSE |
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| ENTERING BALCONY HOUSE |
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| NOTE KIVA COMMON IN ALL STRUCTURES |
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| LEAVING |
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| CLIMBING OUT UP THE ROCK FACE |
CLIFF HOUSE TOUR
ON THIS TOUR WE DESCENDED SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET DOWN PATHS AND LADDERS TO THE SITE. THEN UP SEVERAL MORE LADDERS THROUGH CREVICES TO EXIT
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| CLIFF HOUSE VIEW WHILE DESENDING |
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| RANGER TALK |
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| WALKING ALONG THE FACE OF CLIFFHOUSE |
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| ANOTHER VIEW |
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| SPRUCE TREE HOUSE |
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| SHERRY EXITING THE KIBA |
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DOWN IN THE KIVA
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| NOTICE THE KIVA IN THE REAR |
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| A DEEP PIT HOUSE |
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