Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Mesa Verde

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.