“vf and:.23 - kivas.”
brave the path down, with the

“region. = (where
: New “Mexico,

CO: “(nied

UN
‘Nations Edicational, Scientific
| Organization)

ration. It is a high
:by .thatches of

“green table”) and. riddled with
deep sandstone canyons.”
Distantly: viewed from the
rim- of the: opposite canyon
wall, each cliff dwelling appears
have been carved as a whole
into ‘the face of the rock. But
Visitors who climb down the
steep and narrow trails, at times
o*. having to use ladders, discover
Sophisticated multi-level com-
_-plexes of: masonry and plaster
construction — living quarters,
" storage rooms, kivas (under-
sistd ceremonial chambers),
even towers.
“These communities were
‘puilt into natural alcoves, the
_ cliff overhang protecting them

jolis positions protecting
redators.

y, _ five major “cliff

* dwellings:are open to tse pub- ~
fickets must be purchased -

“for guided tours of three: Long
House¢, -Balcony House and

Chiff Palace, the - largest | and .
‘Tickets ‘are not .

mo: famous.’ Ti
expensive but serve as a conser-
vation measure, limiting the
number of visitors — and

potential. damage : -— to the L

C iF Palace, ‘built between
09 and 1275, has 217 rooms
Visitors who

cliff rising sharply on one side
‘and dropping away on the
other, are rewarded with a walk

“among the spirits of a lost cul-

ture. Under the tutelage of a
park ranger, standing on a ter-
race to peer down into a kiva
-and_up ‘at a tower, tourists can
‘sense something of the civiliza-
.tion. that created these remark-
able structures, Visitors to Cliff
Palace exit via a series of vertical
ladders placed alongside hand
and toe holds used by the for-
mier residents.

Tickets are not required for
the two cliff dwellings that can
be accessed by physically chal-
lenged people: Step House and
Spruce Tree House. Trails to
these sites are still strenuous
. bit, are less steep and more
smooth, with partial paving,
occasional handrails and some
rest areas. And because there
are nu timed tours, visitors can
come and go at their own pace.

Spruce Tree House, the
third-largest Mesa Verde cliff
dwelling, dates from the same
period as Cliff Palace.

More than 90 per cent of
this pucblo has survived in its
original condition, with paint-
ed designs still ciearly visible on

several walls. It has 114 rooms
and eight kivas, including the
only. kiva in the park chat visi-
tors are allowed to enter.

Not all communities at
Mesa Verde . were cliff
dwellings. Before the Anasazi

sought the shelter of ‘the
canyon walls, they lived in pit
houses and adobes across the
mesa top. Remains of many
such enclaves have.been exca-
vated, and a. number are open
to the public.

In all, more than 4,000
archa cological, sites are. within
the park’s boundaries, approxi-

* mately 600 of which are cliff

dwellings. Most are in isolated
parts o} the park. For conserva-
tion purposes, automobiles arc
restricted to the park entry
road and the access roads to
two main site clusters, Wetherill
Mesa and Ghapin Mesa. Hikers
are confined. to. five mapped
trails. However, in areas where
guests are welcome, ample ser-
vices are provided.

Guided bus tours opcrated
by ARAMARK Ieave trom Far
View Lodge, the only horel in
the - park, and Morefield
Campground, the only RV and
tent facility, both on the entry
road. A large cafeteria is within
walking distance of Far View
Lodge, as is the Far View
Visitor Center.

The visitor center houses
collections of Indian pottery,
jewelry, basketry, rugs and
kachinas. Ir also is the place to
buy tickets to visit the Chapin
Mesa sites of Cliff Palace and
Balcony House.

Exhibits depicting the ori-
gins of corn and development
of local architecture are on dis-
play at the Museum, located at

the head of the traii to Spruce .

‘Tree House’ on the Chapin
Mesa road. A small sandwich
shop is nearby. ©

Surface archacological sites,
Spruce Tree House, the
Museum and. sandwich shop
are open year-round, road and
trail conditions permitting.
However, unpredictable winter
snow can make even the entry
road, which has sharp curves
and steep grades, difficult to
negotiate.

Most sites and services are
open from late April to mid-
October, and all are open from
fate May to early September.

Flight connections are avail-
able through Denver to
Durango, Colorado, 31 miles
east of Mesa Verde, where

rental cars are available.
Durango, an authentic frontier

mining town with a full range’

of accommodations, restau-
rants and shops, makes a good
base from which to visit the

Information to help plan a
trip to Mesa Verde. National
Park is available from:. ARA:
MARK, PO Box 277, Maveos
CO 81328, telephone (800)
449-2288 / (970) 529-4421,
fax (970) _ 533-7831; or

Durango Arca Chamber Resort: -
Association, PO. Box - 2587,: .
Durango CO. 81302, tele-
phone. (890) 525-8855 _/°
(970) 247-0312, web site http :

‘lhwww.durango.org.

Seuson’s
Gr cetings |

Dec. 19 to Jan. 02
cin $2365: Dinas

inclusive of:

* Roundtrip airfare
from Vancouver
to Nadi via Air
New Zealand

* 12 nights
accommodation
at the oceanfront —
Warwick Hotel

* Airport transfers
* Xmas dinner

Reservations are subject
to availability.
NORTH

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