Today was a trip to Mesa Verde National Park.
Mesa Verde sits at 7000 - 8000 feet above sea level.
Once on top of the mesa you can see for miles in all directions.
We are about to take a tour of Cliff Palace below.
These cliff dwellings were built about 1100 - 1200 AD and inhabited by the Anasazi Native Americans.
Sue is telling us she sees a big black tunnel over across.
It takes her about 10 seconds to figure out that she had been had.
After climbing down a very steep and scarey stairway, and crossing a
very narrow ledge, with no guard rails, we are finally there.
Our ranger fills us in on just what it was like to have lived here at that time.
You can still feel their presence around you.
Now for the long climb out up a series of five 8-10 foot ladders,
with a 300 foot drop off in back of you.
We were very proud of Sue, and overcoming her fear of heights.
On our way to our next adventure we spot this collar lizard, he was very handsome.
Out next tour involves descending 147 steps and then climbing a 40 - foot ladder,
into the Balcony House.
Good thing Sue didn't read the brochure on this one.
I never would have thought she could handle this.
If you don't think a forty-foot ladder is hard to climb, then think about it being on a 600 foot cliff.
One good thing, if someone falls you're going to take everyone below you with you.
Once to the top of the ladder, you have to slide your way through this narrow passage.
Indiana Jones move over ! It's sure-foot Sue.
I'm glad she doesn't know the worst is yet to come.
Looking down into a kiva used for a meeting place.
Now we had no idea what was ahead, as we had to crawl though this narrow 13- foot tunnel.
You break into the light, and you are on a 3- foot ledge and a 600- foot drop, with a
10- foot ladder facing you, up to another ledge. Then a steep set of stairs carved
into the rock and another 10 foot ladder strapped to the wall leading up to the ranger above.
I looked at Prilly and said we ain't never getting Sue up there. But because there is no way back,
it is amazing what you can do.
As you get to the top the ranger grabs your hand and says welcome to the Indiana Jones club.
And all you can say is WOW ! I did it.
Sorry I didn't get a better picture of our ascent,
but I was really too busy saving my own butt.
All the time you are trying to climb out of here,
the turkey vultures are flying overhead hoping for cliff kill.
Looking down into the Mesa Top Site.
After 800 years, it's amazing how much of the structures are still left.
Now only the animals inhabit some of these dwellings.
A jackrabbit jumps out in front of us.
There are over 400 sites in this area.
Another jackrabbit is on the move.
Looking into the Sun House, you can feel the spirits around you.
This has been another incredible day, in another incredible place.
Tomorrow we head North, deep into the mountains of Colorado.
See you then.
Ralph, Prilly & Sue