Wordy Wednesday and Photos #4

HOLY BAT CAT

On Friday June 23 it was time for us to leave Red Cliff Lodge for 

Mesa Verde National Park and a visit to more 'Cliffs'

Click here to read all about the Cliffs Palace of the Ancient Pueblo People

I was truly in awe of the entire tour.  It was HOT as blue blazes though.

I'd recommend one take this tour in late April or early May

To get to the location below where the tour began was better suited for a mountain goat. Everyone made it w/o incident.  One lady on our tour was deathly afraid of heights.

She literally took some of it on all fours

In the picture below  we have made our trek way down to a cover area where the Park Ranger is 

giving a presentation before we all traipse down to see the buildings.  

It was a tad hard to concentrate on what she was saying. Our group consisted of my tour mates and about 25 other folks including a toddler about 18 months old. 

STEPPING ON MY SOAP BOX MOMENT

THIS IS NOT A PLACE FOR ANY CHILD UNDER 10!  PERIOD EXCLAMATION POINT!!

STEPPING OFF MY SOAP BOX!!

As I said it was H O T,

the child had to be restrained.  Toddlers don't like confinement WE all know that.

Once we got to this location there was a very very very steep drop off no gates or fence. There

were 3 adults with him.  One decided it was a good idea to sit on the edge of the drop off 

and point out birds to the child.  At this point I lost ALL concentration.

One wrong move  was all it would have taken.

Finally one of the adults took back to a place where he could stand.

Looking down into what was more than likely a kitchen or common area. 

The group you see below was the group before us.  It is the  end of their tour. Guess what?

There are 3 ladders one has to climb to get back up 150' to the top of the cliffs.

Now it is time for our us to head down.

I am thrilled to say we made it up all 3 ladders which thankfully are all pretty much surrounded by rock and very narrow so I felt ok on them.  I don't know how in the world the family with the toddler made it up the ladders...but I know they did.  Once we were on the motor coach I saw them.

Later I'll show you some photos from Arches National Park...most taken from the Motor Coach.
Below is a photo of Wilson Arch...the only arch one could actually walk to.
Click here to read about Wilson Arch
Several tourist were actually walking up to stand under the arch.  If you squint, you can see them.  It was actually farther away than you would think and it was a rugged climb.
The elevation of Wilson Arch is about 6,150 feet

 Madi Dad and Madi Mom at Wilson Arch
...mom should have had on her shades... I think she might
have added about 100 wrinkles around her eyes.

Thank you for stopping by...Mom says she promises not to bore you with too many details on our pics...we will give links to where you can read if you so desire.
Hugs
Madi