In my own head, winter is a bleak time as far as plant life. Bare trees, fields of snow, long grey days that are chilly, damp, cold, and dark. Yet, life is still present, such as this young mullein growing at 7100 feet in the La Plata mountains of Colorado.
Looking back toward the Mancos Valley, before seeing any cliff dwellings, this is the view from Mesa Verde, a tall outcrop above the valleys below. Click through to see the snow on the distant mountains. Brrr!
I am still going through the pictures I took during our stay in the Four Corners area and our visit to Mesa Verde National Park. The colors of the high desert, combined with the sudden appearance of a cliff dwelling, are breath-taking. As you descend toward the Spruce Tree House, glimpses are caught here and there.
Can you imagine the surprise of seeing these buildings tucked underneath a sheer cliff, with no apparent access? Trees above, canyon below, with only ropes and ladders and narrow paths to come and go.
Another view from Mesa Verde National Park. This is a corner of one of the park buildings built during the 1930s, probably under the WPA.
Ink, Yarn & Beer 