 |
| Chapin Mesa Top was homeland for the ancient Anasazi cliff dwellers |
Mesa
Verde National Park happened to be only thirty-six miles away from Durango our
base camp. JR suggested we make a
run one day in the Jeep to enjoy a revisit to this national treasure. As long as
we didn’t have to climb the park’s steep cliff dwelling ladders at Balcony House or Cliff Palace as we did
twenty-five years ago I was up for the excursion.
Famous
for the astonishing cliff dwellings built into its rocky outcroppings by the
Anasazi people, Mesa Verde National Park is a spectacular monument to the
area's history.  |
| Takes climbing five ladders on a ranger guided tour to visit this cliff site |
The dwellings, left behind nearly a thousand years ago by the
Anasazi when they migrated to what are now New Mexico and Arizona, are
painstakingly constructed and preserved, accessible to visitors by guided tour.
Along with ancient dams, pueblos and towers, the dwellings provide a view into
the rich archaeology of the park. Mesa Verde meaning “ Green Table” is a very unique and
incredible place where ancient Anasazi puebloans once lived a top the Chapin
Mesa between 700 AD until 1300 A.D cultivating corn, squash, and beans as their
agricultural way of life.
Driving into the Mesa Verde park entrance is like entering another world. The initial drive into the park takes us higher and higher, offering breathtaking views.The park is beautiful and verdant with mature pines and foliage.
Driving into the Mesa Verde park entrance is like entering another world. The initial drive into the park takes us higher and higher, offering breathtaking views.The park is beautiful and verdant with mature pines and foliage.
 |
| A yucca plant sandal |
The Chapin Museum has display of artifacts uncovered in the area providing clues on the history of the lost culture that lived on the mesa top and as cliff dwellers below. Late 1800s archeological digs proved evidence that the ancient Anasazi were basket makers, potters, and traders.
It was only a short walk along a paved
path from the museum to Spruce Tree House, which is advertised as the best
preserved of the pueblo dwellings at Mesa Verde. We hit the trail on a pleasant
hike down to the ruin along numerous switchbacks on a 1.5 mile trail.
The
weather threatened rain as thunder roared above. Fortunately only a light
drizzle caught us for a short while hiking down to the Spruce Tree House cliff
dwellings. Upon arrival a park guide was on hand to answer questions! This site
was unbelievable and so amazing we pondered how the ancient Indians could have used
the cliff as their dwellings. Seeing how the Pueblo people built their homes
right into the rocky cliff leaves you in awe.
Folks are able to even climb down
a ladder and descend into a reconstructed kiva. We bypassed the opportunity
having been below into one at prior time.
JR
and I on Chapin Mesa did a basic drive-through, touching on most of the parks
highlights, which took us about six hours. We saw a variety of plants like yucca,
yellow mule ears, indian paint brush, pinon and pine trees. Blue jays, magpies,
and lizards made a few teasing appearances.
Ending with a grand view of Cliff
Palace, the crown jewel of the park, from a far at the Sun Temple outlook across the mesa was
cool. Biding farewell to the sacred
land of ancient Anasazi dwellers, we descended twenty miles down off the mesa
top into the valley floor below while listening to soft Indian flute CD music
in the Jeep. The majestic peaks and cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde continue to linger
in our memory forever as one of the great national parks worth visiting and
revisiting.
