| |
|
| | |
|
| Hiking | 0.50 Miles |
100 AEG |
| | Hiking | 0.50 Miles | | | |
| 100 ft AEG | | | | |
|
|
| |
| Linked |
|
none
[ show ]
| no linked trail guides |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | For our vacation this year, I decided to take the family up to Mesa Verde for 2 days and check out as much of the ruins there as we could. The first one we did was Balcony House, which is listed as the "most adventurous" by the Park Service. After a steep walk down the paved trail and steps, you immediately start up a 32' ladder. I was kind of worried if the kids would be able to handle the big ladder, but they both handled it very well.
I was kind of surprised and disappointed to find out that quite alot of these and most other ruins have had a degree of reconstruction done to them. Mostly it's been in the front parts and for the purpose of preventing the ruins from sliding out of their alcoves and down into the canyons. Still, all the kivas you see are pretty much redone. At the top of the first ladder, there is a little loose rock pen that the ranger said was most likely used to keep domesticated turkeys, as sign of that was discovered by archaeologists.
We were all able to make it thru the tunnel to exit. The ranger said that while you can see daylight looking out, you can't see it outside looking in. This was done for defensive purposes. I had to take off my Camelbak and camera to squeeze thru. The camera got bumped or something on the way thru and wouln't take pictures for the nearly vertical ascent out up the side of the cliff using the footholds and the 2 more ladders. Fortunately it worked again before the end of the day. After this one, the rest of the visits were pieces of cake. they also got both kids really excited to climb ever ladder they encountered for the next day and a half. |
| _____________________
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Route Editor
Route Scout
