{"id":969,"date":"2016-08-25T18:46:07","date_gmt":"2016-08-25T18:46:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/?p=969"},"modified":"2017-06-07T21:36:51","modified_gmt":"2017-06-07T21:36:51","slug":"day-6-mesa-verde","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/day-6-mesa-verde\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 6: Mesa Verde"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hiking: 9 miles<\/strong><\/p>\n

Part 4\u00a0of our 10-day trip. Check it out from the beginning<\/a> or maybe from DAY 4-5 CANYONLANDS \u2013 THE NEEDLES DISTRICT<\/a>.<\/p>\n

After yesterday\u2019s backpacking trip, we drove directly to Mesa Verde, stopping for some serious food, just outside Mesa Verde. When we drove into Mesa Verde late in the evening it was like driving back in time, to what I think would have been the 1950\u2019s. The park campground has kitschy art deco signs, pancake breakfast, caf\u00e9, showers, laundry, and all the makings of an a Brady Bunch family vacation.<\/p>\n

The next morning, the day of the 100th<\/sup> Birthday of our National Parks, we did the 2017 special archaeological hike of Mug House near Wetherill Mesa. Mug house was named after the finding of three mugs tied together inside on of the rooms. The ranger-led hike was 3-miles down the side of the cliff. It was our first experience of Puebloan life and the kids listened like it was their ancestors. It’s interesting that this area of the desert had more people then, than there are today. On the road to our next Mesa Verde destination we saw tons of poop along the side of the road. We found out later it was part of some wild horse that have escaped from neighboring ranches into the park.<\/p>\n

\"Mug<\/a>
Mug House – Mesa Verde<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Mug<\/a>
Thinking of how these people built into the cliffs and what they woke up to each day. Quite different then today.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After we tried to visit Spruce Tree House, but it was closed for some reason. We opted instead to visit the museum and bought tickets for Balcony House. As we were buying the tickets, Will began feeling ill and opted against the hike.<\/p>\n

\"Mesa<\/a>
Compulsory Balcony House Photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On our way to Balcony House, I began feeling sorry for who we were and what we did to the Native Americans of North America. Scattered among the National Park are native sites and trading posts. Each one reminded me of our white barbarianism.<\/p>\n

When we arrived\u00a0to Balcony House, Noah was picked to be the Jr. Park Ranger by the Ranger Guide and he stood by the ranger the whole time, close and open iron gates, and remind people of rules. He jumped into the role with full enthusiasm. The hike required a climb up a 32-foot ladder. I didn\u2019t think I was afraid of heights, but because the ladder was thicker rungs and painted white my sense of perception was skewed and I had a minor panic attack on the ladder. My silent attack I\u2019m sure lasted only a few seconds, but I was sure it was 5 minutes. It reminds me that no matter how old we are, we are always discovering who we are and what our bodies and minds will allow.<\/p>\n

\"Noah <\/a>
Noah – Jr. Ranger <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"The <\/a>
The ladder doesn’t look too high. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Climbing <\/a>
Climbing the white rungs. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Steps <\/a>
Steps in the rock on the right side, something between stairs and a ladder. <\/div> <\/div>
\"These <\/a>
These Urban dwellers created 2 and 3 story houses <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"It's <\/a>
It’s been over a thousand years and many beams and stone are still in place. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Squeezing <\/a>
Squeezing through the tunnel <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Looking <\/a>
Looking Back. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

On our way back, we did another self-guided tour of the massive plateau and realized the impact that thousands of people, more than live in the area today, had on the land and their resources. After hundreds of years of cutting down slow growing trees for firewood the land became barren\u2013barren enough to farm!<\/p>\n

That night, I was SO excited for my white birthday cake at the ranger talk to celebrate the 100-year anniversary, but the rain had followed us and rained out the talk. We went to sleep with me craving cake. Tomorrow we were on the road again, starting\u00a0the long ride home\u2026<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hiking: 9 miles Part 4\u00a0of our 10-day trip. Check it out from the beginning or maybe from DAY 4-5 CANYONLANDS \u2013 THE NEEDLES DISTRICT. After yesterday\u2019s backpacking trip, we drove directly to Mesa Verde, stopping for some serious food, just outside Mesa Verde. When we drove into Mesa Verde late in the evening it was…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":990,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"Part 4 - Day 6: Mesa Verde","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[5,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-969","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-car-camping","category-hiking"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-content\/uploads\/9575864847_5bae8419bb_b.jpg?fit=1024%2C586&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p527vR-fD","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":998,"url":"https:\/\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/day-7-natural-bridges-capitol-reef\/","url_meta":{"origin":969,"position":0},"title":"Day 7 Natural Bridges and Capitol Reef \u2013 Driving & Flash Floods","author":"Mom","date":"August 26, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Hiking: 2 miles Part 5\u00a0of our 10-day trip. Check it out from the beginning or maybe from DAY 6 MESA VERDE. The monsoon type rain continued through the night and into the next morning, we all were starting to feel waterlogged. As we drove back the sun came out and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Car Camping"","block_context":{"text":"Car Camping","link":"https:\/\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/category\/car-camping\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Capitol Reef","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_1570.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_1570.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_1570.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_1570.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_1570.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":878,"url":"https:\/\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/finding-the-magic-number\/","url_meta":{"origin":969,"position":1},"title":"Finding the Magic Number","author":"Mom","date":"August 20, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Everyone places some sort of limit on themselves, whether it be a time, an ability, or a monetary limit. What if you told yourself there were no limits? We\u2019ve tried to instill this belief in our children. To overcome your limits, you must prioritize your limit higher, save more, remove\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Backpacking"","block_context":{"text":"Backpacking","link":"https:\/\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/category\/backpacking\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_1739.jpeg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_1739.jpeg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_1739.jpeg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":783,"url":"https:\/\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/pushing-the-limits\/","url_meta":{"origin":969,"position":2},"title":"Pushing the Limits","author":"Mom","date":"August 26, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"I realize as I complete my packing list for our next big adventure, I haven't written anything about our last adventure. How can that be I ask\u00a0myself? This was an epic adventure. One filled with everything our family would hope for with rock throwing, getting our feet wet, living out\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Car Camping"","block_context":{"text":"Car Camping","link":"https:\/\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/category\/car-camping\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-content\/uploads\/P1060050.jpeg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-content\/uploads\/P1060050.jpeg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-content\/uploads\/P1060050.jpeg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-content\/uploads\/P1060050.jpeg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-content\/uploads\/P1060050.jpeg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1072,"url":"https:\/\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/three-creeks\/","url_meta":{"origin":969,"position":3},"title":"Introducing Friends","author":"Mom","date":"September 10, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"When Nate and Josh were little we went on a Labor Day weekend camping trip with their cousins west of Sisters in the Three Creek Wilderness Area, just at the base of Broken Top. We took a short hike to Little Three Creek Lake. As we hiked we began seeing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Backpacking"","block_context":{"text":"Backpacking","link":"https:\/\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/category\/backpacking\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-content\/uploads\/three-creeks-2016-5.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-content\/uploads\/three-creeks-2016-5.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-content\/uploads\/three-creeks-2016-5.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-content\/uploads\/three-creeks-2016-5.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-content\/uploads\/three-creeks-2016-5.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1094,"url":"https:\/\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/beach-camping\/","url_meta":{"origin":969,"position":4},"title":"Beach Camping","author":"Mom","date":"May 27, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"During Memorial Day weekend, I wanted to take the kids on a trip. Will was still not feeling well and with twins you never get a break and there never is downtime. I let him catch up on sleep and took the kids to Olympic National Park for three nights.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Backpacking"","block_context":{"text":"Backpacking","link":"https:\/\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/category\/backpacking\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-content\/uploads\/olympic-2017-17.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-content\/uploads\/olympic-2017-17.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-content\/uploads\/olympic-2017-17.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-content\/uploads\/olympic-2017-17.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-content\/uploads\/olympic-2017-17.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":35,"url":"https:\/\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/preschool-yurt-camping\/","url_meta":{"origin":969,"position":5},"title":"Preschool Yurt Camping","author":"Mom","date":"May 3, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Bike\/Hike: 7 miles Chickadee Montessori is a huge part of our lives. The kids go to school 5 days a week for half days and we love the teachers and kids. One of the dads, Robert, put together a camping trip in January. We went to Fort Stevens Campground and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Car Camping"","block_context":{"text":"Car Camping","link":"https:\/\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/category\/car-camping\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013-05-03-20.18.45.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013-05-03-20.18.45.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013-05-03-20.18.45.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013-05-03-20.18.45.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013-05-03-20.18.45.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/969","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=969"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/969\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1014,"href":"https:\/\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/969\/revisions\/1014"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/990"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=969"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=969"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/richerdesign.com\/backpacking\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=969"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}