We stayed in the historic Strater Hotel, right next to the railroad. Here's today's early train setting off. Wish we were aboard, it was a great trip.
Down at street level our engine from yesterday prepares to make the run again.
It's a very short drive from Durango to Mesa Verde, and then you begin climbing several thousand feet up to the top of the mesas where the cliff dwellers lived from about 600 to 1300 CE.
We put on our boots and hiked to the Step House dwelling. This is a small house, holding about 30-40 people, probably an extended family.
Ranger Mike was on duty protecting the ancient dwellings from modern pillagers. Cynthia spent nearly an hour talking to him.
As we completed the loop trail we saw several other sites in the distance, not accessible to the public. There were lots of dwellings within the park area forming several neighborhoods.
At the bottom of the rock formation is the Mushroom House. With careful observation you can seen the brickwork and doorway of the small house.
The earlier communities in the Mesa Verde area lived on top of the mesas. Here's a kiva and living rooms for an early house.
In the seventh century they recognized the necessity to store and save the available water. This is an early reservoir, about 150 feet across.
Another kiva
It's a very short drive from Durango to Mesa Verde, and then you begin climbing several thousand feet up to the top of the mesas where the cliff dwellers lived from about 600 to 1300 CE.
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