May 27, 2009

Mesa Verde National Park - Saturday

We had a fun and busy Memorial Day weekend! It all started Friday afternoon, when we drove about 6 1/2 hours to Gallup, NM. Saturday morning we woke up early, enjoyed a hot continental breakfast at the hotel, then drove 3 more hours to arrive at Mesa Verde National Park, in Cortez, CO.

Charles and I raced to the visitor's center to purchase the tour tickets for the day. Luckily we made it to the park just in time to buy 3 of the last 6 available tickets for the Balcony House tour. We then waited for my parents and good friend Katrina and her husband David to arrive.

Katrina and David

Charles and I camped with Katrina and David in the Morefield Campground, located inside the Park.

Our campsite

We set up our tent, then went with my dad on a tour of Balcony House.



The Balcony House is an adventurous cliff dwelling tour! The tour involves climbing a 32 ft. ladder to enter the site,

crawling through a small 12ft.-long tunnel,


and climbing up a 60ft open rock face with two 10ft ladders to exit the site.

We all enjoyed that tour!

After the Balcony House tour, all 6 of us went on a tour of Cliff Palace (Mesa Verde's largest cliff dwelling).

As we were waiting for our tour, the rain came pouring down. Luckily we had rain gear, and didn't get too soaked.



After the Cliff Palace tour, Charles and I went out to dinner with mom and dad. We then went back to our campsite in the pouring rain and went to "sleep". We didn't get much sleep though, since the rain was loud on our tent all night and Charles left his pillow at the hotel on accident.

3 comments:

David and Amy said...

That balcony house looks incredible and the tour does seem very adventurous! I love all of your pictures!

Jay and Emily said...

It looks like such a fun trip! I am sad we weren't able to go, but it would not have worked out. You guys seem to always be doing something fun. We love you and miss you! I can't wait to see you guys.

McClintock said...

Charles left his pillow? What???Isn't this the former Boy Scout, mountain biker, adventurer, and older brother? I never knew he had a special pillow.

The sites look spectacular! When our family went there we did only the driving tour. I would love to return and take the tour with the long tunnels and ladders!!! Cool!!!