August 25-26; Day 9 and 10: Mesa Verde

We arrived Thursday at Mesa Verde around 9 am and were able to go right to the campsite. This is one beautiful national park. We did our first “official” hike on this trip. Prater Ridge separates Prater Canyon from Morefield Canyon with views of the Montezuma Valley and the San Juan Mountains. The loop starts at 7600 ft, gains 675 ft, and is 7.8 miles. All total we hiked 10 miles. We were both winded as we climbed even though the elevation gain was minimal. It was another blue-sky day with some spectacular canyon and cloud views. It was hot, low 90’s and we were tired at the end of the day.

“Mesa Verde National Park was created in 1906 to preserve the archeological heritage of the Ancestral Pueblons, both atop the Mesa and in the cliff dwellings below” as written in the park brochure. Friday we drove around the park visiting sites and learning about the Pueblons. They settled in this area about 1400 years ago and stayed for 700 years. Local cowboys in 1880’s accidentally discovered the dwellings. Most of the cliff dwellings are original and only a few have been restored. We did take a tram ride around one section and took a ranger led tour. We really learn so much more and tend to remember the information as opposed to just reading for ourselves. Phil was happy with the sun and timed our visits to the various points when the sun would be shining on the dwellings.

The campground is not crowded and we have a peaceful setting. There are mule deer in and around the campground and appear at night to eat. Many fawns are in the herd. I guess they are used to people as you can walk right by them and they continue to munch

Tomorrow we depart for Moab, UT and Arches National Park. But first we will get up early and take a 2-mile hike and then attend a pancake breakfast at the campground!