MESA VERDE; CANYON OF THE ANCIENTS; GALLOPING GOOSE

Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado serves as a spectacular reminder of the ancient culture of the Ancestral Puebloans who lived there 1400 years ago.  The closest town is Cortez where we camped at the KOA.  It is a very visitor friendly park with accommodations for the handicapped, and options for those who are unable to climb the steep terrain or negotiate ladders to the cliff dwellings.  One of the most famous ruins in the park is Cliff Palace.  To enter you must take a ranger guided tour, climb ladders and stairs, trek steep trails, all at over 7,000 feet.  Or, you can take photos from the viewpoint:

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Cliff Palace has over 150 rooms and was built from the late 1190s to late 1270s.  It has been restored to a point.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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This rendering on display at the visitor center shows what the Cliff Palace looked like when discovered by local cowboys in the 1880s.

 

 

 

 

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And an artist’s sketch of what life at Cliff Palace may have looked like when occupied.  The puebloans were farmers and spent much of their time getting food.  They were experienced builders.  Fortunately they tossed their trash close by and much of what we know about how they lived comes from those garbage heaps.

 

The Ancestral Puebloans are known to archeologists as Anasazi, from a Navajo word meaning “the ancient foreigners.”

 

For all their silence, these structures speak with a certain eloquence telling of people adept at building, artistic in their crafts and skillful at making a living from a difficult land.

 

We are fortunate for the opportunity to visit this historical sacred land.

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THE SPRUCE TREE HOUSE has changed very little in 700-800 years.  It can be viewed from a shaded viewpoint or accessed without a guide by a steep hike into the canyon and up the other side.  A spring is located nearby, making this dwelling a good place to live.

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The Spruce House contains 8 kivas.  Alan insists the kivas are early ECV sites.

 

 

 

 

 

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He descends into the kiva to check it out. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Museum located near these dwellings exhibits numerous displays showing the typical pottery and basketry crafted  by the Puebloans.

 

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Headed down the Mesa Verde, we look out over the Valley toward Cortez

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 And back to camp after an exciting day:

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DOLORES COLORADO HOLDS SOME PLEASANT SURPRISES

Located on the Rio de Nuestra Senora de las Dolores, or The River of Our Lady of Sorrows, Dolores claims to be a proud small town USA. It is home to the historic Galloping Goose Train Engine:  This hybrid vehicle, half bus, half rail car, ran the mail and passenger runs.

 

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 The Galloping Goose (above) rode on the rails and at certain times of the year it rides again taking passengers for an historic experience.  Below is a photo of what the Goose looked like when in action.

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THE ANASAZI HERITAGE CENTER

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This beautiful museum interprets the history and culture of Canons of the Ancients National Monument and the Four Corners Region.  The special exhibit entitled Sacred Images of Native America Rock Art.  The photos are fascinating:

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“The highest truths, which would not be communicable or transmissible by any other means, can be communicated up to a certain point when they are, so to speak, incorporated in symbols, which will hide them for many,no doubt, but which will manifest them in all their splendor to the eyes of those who can see.” – Rene Guenon