Photos of Mesa Verde--Anaszai Cliff Dwellings--for your viewing enjoyment

[joeybee12]

[Straight Shooter]

1. Ahhhh. Thank you.

:toast:

[joeybee12]

4. You're welcome!

:hi:

[Radio_Lady]

15. Straight Shooter, I had to look for this place in a search -- Moab, Utah?

http://www.moab-utah.com/anasazi/cliffdwellings.html

[Straight Shooter]

29. Isn't Utah absolutely one of the grandest scenic states in the U.S.

I think all the states have their own unique charm, but Utah's terrain holds so much mystery.

What a shame that Senator Hatch calls Utah home. x(

[Radio_Lady]

41. We're on our way to Salt Lake City around New Year's --

to visit family. Our son and daughter-in-law live in Layton, UT. We've been a couple of places to the north and west, but not to the scenic canyons to the south.

Hoping to get there in the spring or fall -- someday.

Agree with you about Sen. Hatch. What a piece of work!

In peace,

Radio_Lady

[PDittie]

38. Southwestern Colorado, near Durango eom

Google Mesa Verde.

[Radio_Lady]

42. Thank you, PDittie. Appreciate the information.

[hippywife]

2. Beautiful shots.

Did you take them? Have you seen the 500 Nations DVD series? It's a 4 DVD set about the history of the First Nations of the Americas. Really worth reserving at the library and watching.

[joeybee12]

3. Yes, I was there last week...

...I believe that was my 4th visit...good thing was that it was almost abandoned there this time of year...bad thing is it's abandoned because a lot of the areas are closed for the season!

Thanks for the tip about the DVD--maybe I can find that at the library.

[hippywife]

8. Maybe you can get it and watch it

on your birthday!
LOL

[joeybee12]

12. Good idea!

It's raining outside, so my birthday will probably be spent doing something indoors!

[hippywife]

16. LOL

I jsut said that so I could razz you about your birthday again with another smilie. }( :P

[joeybee12]

17. You know, being so old, I think going outdoors in this weather

could be dangerous!

[Withywindle]

5. My father was a Park Ranger there...

...I was born in Cortez. He got transferred to another park (in VA) when I was only about 1, but the very beginning of my life was all around that amazing place.

It always lifts me up to see it again, even just pictures. Thank you!

[joeybee12]

10. You're welcome...have you been back lately?

ONe thing I noticed from my last trip was all the fire damage--not to the ruins, but to the vegetation. It's pretty dry and sparse there to begin with, and this made it more so.

[Beausoir]

34. The fire damage

really is amazing. Parts of the mesa look like a moonscape.

[Thew]

36. Former Park Service kid here as well

This has always been one of my favorite parks. I've known a few of the historical interpreters there (the ones who lead the tours).

I loved hearing some of the questions they got asked - my favorite: "Can we see pictures of these being built?"

**should plug Dad's current park - Black Canyon of the Gunnison (http://www.nps.gov/blca/) and former - Great Sand Dunes (http://www.nps.gov/grsa/)

Both not that far from Mesa Verde...

[Withywindle]

40. "Can we see pictures..."

Wow, that's....


Nice to meet another one! :hi:

That park is lovely. I'd love to go there!


Most all of my childhood was spent in VA - after this, my dad worked at the Blue Ridge Parkway in VA until he retired. (He's actually Executive Director of the FOP chapter now, but he wants to get rid of that job.)

[Thew]

43. Almost the opposite here...

I was born in NC when dad was working Blue Ridge - but we moved west (well...mid-west first for awhile, Theodore Rosevelt and Fort Union in ND).

Definately nice to meet another...

[Metta]

6. Wonderful stuff! Many thanks.

:toast:

[joeybee12]

14. You're welcome!

[KamaAina]

7. Betcha can't tell me why the T-shaped doorways are there.

Googling will be permitted, as the answer is both fascinating and still relevant today...

[joeybee12]

11. Just took out my visitor guide, and it didn't say!

My guess is that they were carrying things across their shoulders????

[KamaAina]

37. Actually, they are believed to be the world's first accessible design

The T-shaped doorways baffled archeologists for decades. Were they there for some sort of ceremonial purpose? Finally someone discovered that the water supply in Anasazi country was heavily laden with certain minerals, which would have implied that many Anasazi had arthritis.

The T-shaped doorways were designed to be accessible to Anasazi using crutches, 1,000 years or so before the Americans With Disabilities Act.

[joeybee12]

39. Now that you mention that...seems I heard that somewhere

before...maybe not with the Anasazi, but some other native Americans....interesting!

[LSK]

9. i was there a brazillian years ago

Did you go to the four corners and lay down in 4 states at once?

[joeybee12]

13. Not this time!

I'd done that before--not laying down, but standing in the area!

[KitchenWitch]

18. Gorgeous

I have not been there in years....I loved that place.

[joeybee12]

21. It really is amazing...and well-preserved....

...wish I had more time to spend. It was just a day stop-over on my way to Vegas!

[DemoTex]

19. And why are we so smart?

We ain't. Look at that architecture - how it blends - and weep.

Mac

[joeybee12]

20. AND how it has survived!

We're building throw-away buildings these days!

[DemoTex]

23. In other words, in these pics we are looking back into the future.

Know whut that means, Vern?

[joeybee12]

31. Aww...poor Jim is gone!

[fishwax]

22. Ah, I love Mesa Verde. Bravo!

Nice pics!

:applause:

[joeybee12]

24. Thanks!

[usedtobesick]

25. Great Pictures...

I live in Co and don't have pictures this good of the dwellings. You should join the Photography Forum... lots of people from CO in there as well...

[joeybee12]

26. Thanks...

...I have some better ones from other visits--not digital, though, and the colors on those are much better!

[StellaBlue]

27. Totally inspiring

Went there on Sept 9, 2001.

Thanks for this reminder!!! Mesa Verda is an amazing, amazing place.

[joeybee12]

28. You're welcome1

[CaliforniaPeggy]

30. These are wonderful photos!

Thank you for posting them, my dear joeybee12.......


:hi:

[joeybee12]

32. You're welcome!

:hi:

[Beausoir]

33. One of my favorite places.

I try to get down there once every couple of years.

Last time, we took our sitter. As we climbed down the path and she got her first view of the dwellings her eyes flashed wide open. She couldn't believe what she was seeing.

I always feel an eerie sort of supreme calm there.

Love it.

[joeybee12]

35. I've always felt like I've truly gotten away from it all when I'm there...

...even if there are lots of people, they tend to be very quiet and respectful.

[Cathyclysmic]

44. Thanks for the pics!

Still one of my favorite vacations was to Mesa Verde.:hi:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

45. Episode 2X25

ALBERT: There was a tribe of indians who lived here more than 600 years ago. Their name was Anasazi, it means ancient aliens. No evidence of their fate exists. Historians say they disappeared without a trace. They say that because they will not sacrifice themselves to the truth.

MULDER: And what is the truth?

ALBERT: Nothing disappears without a trace.

[Canadian Socialist]

48. So, I'm not the only X-File freak...

Did you see the last episode, where Cancer Man was hiding in the caves? So cool. BTW, the fellow that played the father (not the elder) is from here (Calgary). Because the X-Files was filmed in Canada (B.C. & Alberta) for the first 5 years.

[LizW]

51. Oooh, a "Phile" who can still quote episodes!

I am not worthy.

:applause:

[Syncronaut Seven]

46. I have been there! Have they done any restoration in the last 25 years?

It looks just beautifully maintained. Pray there's no oil under those rocks. :yourock:

[joeybee12]

57. Not sure how much...I do know that the House of the Sun (it was

never finished and they don't know it's purpose) has been "capped" with cement to help preserve it.

[likesmountains 52]

47. Beautiful...at Christmas they light the path and ruins with luminarias...

it is stunning.

[joeybee12]

53. Sounds like I need to make another trip!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

49. Thank you!

One of these days... ~sigh~

[joeybee12]

56. You're welcome!

Go!

[NMMNG]

50. Beautiful! I adore the Southwest.

I could explore the deserts of the Southwest forever and never be bored.

[joeybee12]

55. Thanks...I know what you mean...

...too much to see, not enough time.

[newyawker99]

52. Those are great pics, joeybee!

:thumbsup:

[joeybee12]

54. Thanks!!!