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Fantastic journey, super photos, Blackthorn. I'm looking forward to the rest!!
Does Art Fawcett still make the Anasazi?
Does Art Fawcett still make the Anasazi?
I just got back from an eleven day trip to Utah and Colorado. I won't post all the pics today, but a few at a time, one adventure at a time. First, the story of Balcony House, in Mesa Verde, Colorado. Mesa Verde is home to some 600 cliff dwellings dating back to 1200 AD. To get into Balcony House, you have to climb this very tall log ladder:
Once at the top, you have to go thru some interesting passageways:
...to get to this beautiful cliff dwelling:
On the way out, more interesting passageways, designed for easy defense:
This passage was so narrow that I could only go thru by...:
..crawling on my left side:
The second passageway wasn't so bad, but still made for easy defense against intruders:
and then another log ladder to get up to the top of the cliff, and back to the Lodge for dinner:
Mesa Verde is a magical place. I was hooked from my first trip there when I learned the Anasazi lived there for 800 yrs & have now been gone for 700 yrs, leaving food on the tables, grass mats on the floors & art on their walls when they left. Balcony House, Cliff Palace, & Spruce Tree House are among my favorites. They say there are hundreds of smaller sites along the Wetherill Mesa that have never been excavated or explored because of lack of funds.
Can you imagine what it must have been like to have been old man Wetherill riding along the canyon rim & looking across to see Cliff Palace for the first time?
Looking forward to the rest of your posts.
I find that fascinating also. Most scholars today believe that the Hopi & the Zuni are decendents of the Anasazi, but not the Dine (Navajo). Mesa Verde & also Canyon de Chelly (Navajo) are among the few places that speak to me when I'm there.And what happened that they vanished so suddenly (like immediately GONE !) ? Interesting and Strange ... , actually leaving a LOT of Questions to ponder ... .
Actually we never got to Durango, Jack. MV was as far as we went into CO, the rest of the trip was in Utah and Nevada.Before you finish your report you need to update us on what hat shops are still in Durango. And if Gardenswartz Outfitters is still there. They have a pic of Doc Holliday taken there.
One of the Rangers who gave a talk on it said if you ask three archaeologists about it, you'll get five opinions on why the left.Great Place and Trip @Blackthorn !
Yeah HJ , that place at Mesa Verde left a LOT of questions ... , It took a lot to build , who or what were are they hiding/defending against ? And what happened that they vanished so suddenly (like immediately GONE !) ? Interesting and Strange ... , actually leaving a LOT of Questions to ponder ... .
I love the canyon lands of southern Utah. I've spent several nights at Mexican Hat, UT at that little hotel right on the river; camped out a few times out on the overlook of the switchback. All through Monument Valley.Actually we never got to Durango, Jack. MV was as far as we went into CO, the rest of the trip was in Utah and Nevada.
One of the Rangers who gave a talk on it said if you ask three archaeologists about it, you'll get five opinions on why the left.
Great pics and info Blackthorn! I'd love to go visit there one of these days.Thanks Jack and Bob, it was really meaningful to be there.
Thanks HJ, we really did. And we are thinking of staying in Mexican Hat next time, cool little town.I love the canyon lands of southern Utah. I've spent several nights at Mexican Hat, UT at that little hotel right on the river; camped out a few times out on the overlook of the switchback. All through Monument Valley.
Sounds like you had a great trip.
If you didn't go out on the lookout over the switchback you need to add that to the list of things to do. Mexican Water, UT is an interesting area also.Thanks HJ, we really did. And we are thinking of staying in Mexican Hat next time, cool little town.
Seeing some of those canyons, I don't doubt that a bit!If you didn't go out on the lookout over the switchback you need to add that to the list of things to do. Mexican Water, UT is an interesting area also.
The only thing that makes me nervous is Dugway Range & the Dugway Pass...with what's rumored a guy could disappear there & never be seen again!
What terrific pictures! And your CB fits in perfectly!OK, chapter 2 of the recent adventure. We went horseback riding in Bryce Canyon, some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen:
My favorite pic of Mrs Blackthorn on this whole trip:
she took this pic of me, in my adventure vest and my new Akubra Coober Pedy with the Peruvian hat ribbon:
and a good time was had by all: