Activity Note
Walking about 2 miles throughout the day; paved pathways with slight grades at elevation of roughly 7,000 feet; be sure to stay hydrated and take your time. Hike at Cliff Palace, at an elevation of 7,000 feet, involves climbing five, 8-10 foot (2.6-3 meter) ladders on a 100-foot (30 meter) vertical climb. Getting on/off motor coach often for stops at overlooks and ruin sites; driving approximately 27 miles throughout the day; about 4 hours total.
Breakfast:
At an eatery close to the lodge (Far View Terrace), we’ll have multiple choices in a cafeteria setting including vegetarian and gluten-free choices, plus coffee, tea and water; other beverages available for purchase.
Morning:
A regional expert will join us in the lodge meeting room to give a presentation introducing us to the geography and pre-history of Mesa Verde. They will cover how and why the first people came to the Mesa, how they adapted to its unique conditions and environment, and how these ancestral Puebloan people fit into the larger economic and social network of the region. Mesa Verde National Park has been declared a World Heritage Site. Some 4,400 archaeological sites have been recorded, including villages built on the Mesa top.
Lunch:
Far View Terrace: multiple choices in a cafeteria setting including vegetarian and gluten-free choices, plus coffee, tea and water; other beverages available for purchase.
Afternoon:
This afternoon we have our big guided field trip of Mesa Verde and its many wonders. Enjoy a chronological view of the lives and culture of the Ancestral Puebloan people by stopping at a variety of archeological sites. Each stop will illustrate how the people adapted both architecture and social structure to meet the changing needs of their society. The final experience is a walk down into Cliff Palace, the best known of all the Mesa Verde cliff dwellings with an NPS ranger. Cliff Palace is the largest cliff dwelling in North America and a site recognized by people around the world for its beauty, well-preserved condition, and historical significance. With 150 rooms and 23 kivas, as many as 100 people may have inhabited Cliff Palace, which is also thought to have served social, administrative and ceremonial purposes. A Mesa Verde National Park Ranger will interpret this World Heritage Site throughout our exploration. Exploration of Cliff palace requires climbing five, 8-10 foot (2.6-3 meter) ladders on a 100-foot (30 meter) vertical climb. For those people who are unsure of their abilities to explore the inside of the ruins, they can remain behind at the overlook of the ruins and use their listening device to hear the park service live interpretation of the site.
Dinner:
Lodge restaurant plated meal.
Evening:
In our meeting room, enjoy a video telling the story of Mesa Verde.