December 20, 2018
Happy birthday to Shanna!
We started the day in Moab waking early and heading south. The goal was to visit the Cliff Dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park https://www.nps.gov/meve/. We were not disappointed. It was a glorious clear cool day. Snow was piled in the shadows but the roads were clear. The cliff dwellings were awe inspiring and still seem somehow unreal. Unfortunately, we were unable to do any of the hikes because of seasonal closures. I didn’t even care since we only had a few hours and it would take days to truly explore this National Park. I’d like to come back when I have more time. There were a few birds: Common ravens, Western bluebirds, Black billed magpies, and Juniper titmice. There were wild horses though I didn’t recognize them as such. Bill discovered the truth thanks to the internet. And the grand finale of Mule deer in the Junipers on our way out of the park was a nice touch.
Sculpture: “The Ancient Ones” by Edward J. Fraughton, 2012 near the entrance of the visitor center
Another view
Amazing floor at the visitor center
One of the many ravens perched on the visitor center
Another sculpture, I don’t know who the sculptor is.
Western bluebird at the visitor center
At the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum
Juniper titmouse at the museum
View of Spruce Tree House near museum
Another view
Trying for a closeup since the trail to Spruce Tree House was closed
Closeup 2
Window
View from the top of the mesa
Raven flight
Raven on Juniper
Pit houses were the precursors to the cliff dwellings
Pit house 2
View of cliff dwelling from road
Another view
A view from the road looking out on the valley below the mesa
Mule deer near the visitor center
A final Mule deer
I have no words to describe how I felt seeing these ruins and learning more about the history of the Ancient Puebloans (no longer the mysterious Anasazi). I’d been reading the Tony Hillerman books prior to and during this trip which added even more dimensions to the drive through the red rock country of southern Utah, south western Colorado and northern New Mexico – Jenny
Fore more info on the park check out their 6 minute introductory video: https://www.nps.gov/media/video/view.htm?id=1632ACC5-1DD8-B71B-0B44D3B74E6201AB
