On the way home from Tucson we took a detour to visit Mesa Verde National Park. It was really neat to see how these people built their homes right into the side of the rocks and how they have endured for so many years.
Outside the visitors center
The first hike we went on was a self guided one where you walked down a path for about 1/2 mile to the buildings
It was a pretty steep hike at first
They actually let you walk around in the ruins
We climbed this ladder down into a sacred hole or something, I don't really remember what they said it was for
Down in the hole
This is where they ground their corn
Xander got his junior ranger and he is being sworn in. Paizley has a super ticked look on her face because she didn't want to do it at first and now she's mad that she didn't
A couple of the tours you pay extra for and they are guided. We are waiting for ours to start
We had to climb down several hundred feet on stairs that were cut into the rock like 40 years ago
It was pretty narrow in places
And then we had to climb back up to where the buildings are on these ladders
This is our tour guide. Steven was excited because he's a retired history teacher
Our tour group
It was even steeper climbing back out
Us old fat folks had to rest for awhile after all the strenuous exercise
Paizley managed to pull out the junior ranger requirements at the last minute and she is being sworn in.
Showing off the badges.
