Karen on wed 17 apr 02
Hi all,
The thread regarding four corners area, Mesa Verde brought back wonderfully
fond memories. I visited family in Colorado in '98 and my aunt & I took a
trip down to Four Corners & MV..... (at my request). It is beautiful
countryside..... I have included a few URL's.....(towards the end) I had
more but apparently saved them on diskette & don't know where they might be
right now.
Do keep in mind that the park closes portions of it after Labor Day. I just
missed visiting "Long House" I believe it was called. There is a wonderful
park museum with awesome collections of the ancient pottery & a very good
bookstore. There is also a park service store (Far View) near the
restaurant & motel(?) if my memory serves me well. I used to have a few
books & pamphlets the park service sells, but all was lost or misplaced in
my move the year after I visited. :( I do remember one of the summer
rangers mentioning that Chaco Canyon was a wonderful place to visit as
well. Two years ago there were horrific forest fires everywhere out
west.... MV was one place hit hard. However, in the long run it was a
blessing in disquise as the fires uncovered multitudes of unknown sites,
and the rangers & fire-fighters were able to save what they already knew
was there in the park.....
I look forward to the day when I can return & take even more time to see
everything. DO take your time, remember to over-hydrate as at 6-8,000 feet
the air is very thin & over hydration (difficult to do in that climate &
that altitude) will help with the acclimation. If you don't already, you
might want to start walking regularly now in order to be a bit more
acclimated once at that altitude.... fitness (aerobic sort) helps deal with
the 'shortage' of oxygen for us 'lowlanders'.....
Enjoy & take everything you can in.....you will never forget it.... Do take
the tours, do Not be 'afraid' of the ladders, they are very sturdy & don't
seem as high as one might think they would. We did the Cliff Palace &
Balcony House (which is typically the one folks see in cliff dwelling
pictures) Following are two lines straight from the website, "Visit the Far
View Visitor Center to purchase your $2.25 ticket for a Cliff Palace or
Balcony House Tour. Visit the Chapin Mesa Museum and Spruce Tree House." So
you see it is quite inexpensive to do the tours & if anyone is a "senior"
entrance to the park is minimal. Just make sure they are in the front seat.
(even annual passes make it worth it when a "Senior" is with you.) There is
a self-guided & very well marked trail around the Mesa side & top near
Spruce House. With incredible views. A slight rain storm blew thru & it
felt like I was hearing the voice of God in the canyon between the Mesa
Tops..... It was incredible & beyond description.
National Park Guide
http://www.nps.gov/parks.html
Mesa Verde National Park
http://www.nps.gov/meve/
http://www.nps.gov/meve/mvnp/info/p1.htm
http://www.nps.gov/meve/pphtml/activities.html
Mesa Verde Museum Association Electronic Bookstore
http://www.mesaverde.org/
The Story of Mesa Verde, Page 1
http://www.mesaverde.org/smvf/p1.htm
Mesa Verde Pottery - Continuing Traditions
http://subee.com/mvp/home.html
(there is another 'store/shop' near here, or was four years ago.... the
fella there did or had pottery as well as beautiful bronze sculptures....
He was quite willing to take us in the back & show us all his processes for
his sculptures.... I could've spent the day there, but my aunt was tired of
touring (believe me she was not physically tired, that woman can run the
legs off a 20year old even (or especially!) at that altitude, and she's now
70! but doesn't look a day over 50-55....)
Most of you also know about ClayFest in Manitou Springs, CO (near Colorado
Springs).... regardless of IF you go for Clayfest (now their 12th year???)
Manitou Springs is a charming old-time western town & there are LOTS of
potters & artists there.... I can never get enough of that place.....
Wanted to move there four years ago, and I'm sure I'd feel the same if I
went back..... Also loved MV so much I considered living in Cortez, but
there isn't much else there, so what would I have done (to support
myself....) sigh.... silly things like paying the bills sure do keep us
from doing a lot more!!!
I'm blessed at the moment to be "unemployed"..... (It can't last forever, &
if it does, I might be moving into those cliff dwellings! lol.... :) This
period away from the other things I do in life has given me a wonderful
period of rest & creativity.... I am making & trying more things I haven't
begun to think of doing in decades..... I consider it temporary retirement.
I went thru the same thing two summers ago, but didn't realize the gift I
had at the time.... This time is different I am thoroughly enjoying my
"time out" from the ratrace of life & taking in as much as I am able.....
Enjoy the Mesas & the Cliff Dwellings & all the wonderous pottery..... I
wish I could go with you..... Anyone heading west this summer???
Karen
(a former 'lurker' near Raleigh, NC..... esp. wishing it would cool off as
we break spring temp records second day in a row.... pots are drying as
fast as in the desert....(ok, not quite that fast, I do have time to finish
them :)
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