Bandolier: this national monument is situated in one of a series of valleys deep in the Sangre de Christo Mountains. The setting is stunning and the main attraction are a series of cliff dwellings.
The Ancestral Pueblo people occupied this area from 1150-1500CE and while there are some ruins on the ground near a kiva that likely house 100 persons, the homes up in the cliffs housed another 400. Boggles the mind.
Much of what is visible from the valley floor are the holes where the homes clearly were: as evidenced by the lines of holes where the lodge pole pines were inserted. There are some rebuilt segments from 80-100 years ago to help give a more impactful sense of the homes.
If you hike up the valley floor, which we did, it was cool and shady this morning, you get to the Alcove house which is accessed by 4 ladders, 140 feet up on the cliff side. The walk was so peaceful and smelled great—like pine and sage and the residual moisture from last night’s rain. Reminds me of Alta Lake and vacations there…
Karen declined. I made it 1/2 way up the second (70ft) ladder before my nerves got the best of me.
The surrounding area is a geological masterpiece as well. But for another post…
Any geocaches up there?!?
ReplyDeleteI would have liked to climb up with you and peer into the cliff dweellings! Maybe find something so far undiscovered!
ReplyDelete