Exploring Mesa Verde NP, Utah, & Arches NP
Ron had a restless night with Remi and wow it was chilly again. The full propane tanks did not solve our furnace problem. Today, we will pick up a heater and then get our furnace looked at.
We were up early and off to explore Mesa Verde National Park. This National Park was established in 1906 to preserve the archeological heritage of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made this area home for over 700 years. They lived here from 600 to 1300 CE. There are over 600 cliff dwellings in the National Park. We were excited to see the cliff dwellings. Sadly the tours of the cliff dwellings are closed due to Covid. Still, we can view them and take pictures.
The early morning drive into the park was so beautiful and we were excited to see 4 bucks along our drive to the cliff dwellings. We have learned that if you are able to get into the parks early it is worth it. You have a greater chance of seeing wildlife. I’m sure these bucks feel safer in the park with hunting season going on. Let’s hope they stay within its boundaries.
Our first stop was Spruce Tree House, the third largest cliff dwelling in the park and the best preserved. The trails we used today didn’t exist back then. Instead, the Ancestral Pueblo people pecked into the stone cliffs and used to travel up and down the canyon walls. They climbed up to work their fields, gather food, and hunt on the mesa tops, then climbed down again, carrying whatever they needed back into Spruce Tree House. The kids and I marvelled at this idea.
What is incredible to think about is that the Pueblo people only built these cliff dwellings around 1200 AD. Before that time they lived in pit houses. Building their homes into the sides of these sandstone cliffs provided more protection and better shelter. They truly used nature to their advantage. Ancestral Pueblo people lived in the cliff dwellings for less than 100 years. By about 1300 Mesa Verde was deserted. No one knows for certain why they left, but many believe it was due to a shortage in food supply or possibly social and political problems. The cliff dwellers joined the other Ancestral Pueblo people who were moving south into today’s New Mexico and Arizona.
The last cliff dwelling we saw was Cliff Palace. It is the largest cliff dwelling in Mesa Verde and in North America. Until we ventured on this trip I had no idea I would be seeing such spectacular sites. The history of our world is amazing and the resourcefulness of the Ancient Civilizations is astonishing.
After an incredible morning soaking up history at Mesa Verde we headed back to camp to hook up our RV and head to Utah. Our next destination was Arches National Park, but our first stop was Walmart to buy a heater. We now have snow in our future forecast and we need some heat! We also got some treats for Maggie and Remi. They have been so patient with all the traveling, so we gave them some more love today.
As we travelled into Utah we saw a glimpse of the landscape we expect to see in Arches National Park. We stopped at Wilson’s Arch on the way into Moab so we could see the spectacular site. We got to our campsite just after lunch so we were able to set up and then head into the park. Ariel wanted to know how all these cool rocks were formed and I wanted to make sure I found out for her. To quote the National Park website, “Water and ice, extreme temperatures and underground salt movement are responsible for the sculptured rock scenery. It has taken 100 million years of erosion to create the spectacular landscape that we get to see today. This National Park has one of the world’s greatest densities of natural arches.”
Now we all know that Wyatt powers out at about 0.5 miles so our hikes today were pretty small. We walked along Park Avenue Viewpoint and Trailhead and then to Balanced Rock. Like they did in Glacier National Park, they are turning people away if the park gets too busy due to Covid. We were OK this late in the afternoon but tomorrow we will have to arrive early to get in.
Our hikes and the views were everything I had imagined. My best friend Naomi, who’s been here before, told me it was beautiful and she was right. All four of us were in awe. Hiking beside these tall and impressive landforms all in a beautiful shade of red/pink was incredible. The kids loved the sandy paths we got to follow as well. This sand would make the most impressive sandbox.
Wyatt was a champ on this hike!
After 2 hours in the park and then headed home for dinner. Spaghetti and garlic bread was the requested meal today. We have rearranged our trip again to accommodate one more day here since we don’t want to rush this trip and this park needs another day of exploration. We are all excited to explore the park tomorrow, and we have booked the KOA site for our next stop. That makes us happy.
The KOA’s are consistently good and the sites are larger than the ones at other private campgrounds. Granted they are a lot smaller than the State and National parks but those sites are hard to come by unless you book a year in advance. To be honest, doing a trip like this is so much more enjoyable when you have full hookups. Ron will be happy to be at a site that is better than the one we are at now.
Goodnight from Utah!