Balcony House and more

November 26, 2009

Mesa Verde’s Balcony House is a very memorable — and challenging — place to visit. It certainly isn’t for those who have a fear of heights or a problem with tight spaces. Those with health problems that prevent strenuous activity should not attempt this tour.

From the park website: The Balcony House tour requires visitors to descend a 100 foot staircase into the canyon; climb a 32 foot ladder; crawl through a 12 foot, 18 inches wide tunnel; and clamber up an additional 60 feet on ladders and stone steps.

The climb out:

Rain in Montezuma Valley:

Tansy Aster against a ruin wall:

Mesa Verde National Park, September 14, 2009

We had tickets for a 10 AM ranger guided tour of Balcony House. We had been to this ruin at least two other times before, the first in 1986, when we were in our mid-thirties.

To get into the ruin requires a bit of a climb, shown in the two views below and the one on the right, which exaggerates the steepness of the ladder because I had to rotate the image a little to get it all in.

Waiting to go through the small passage:

A hungry coyote zeros in on food — found on road:

Rabbitbrush with Sleeping Ute Mountain in the background:

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Commentary and images from the road

image and information from September 14, 2009

This post is being simultaneously published on Exit78 and Haw Creek Out ‘n About

{ 6 comments }

Dot November 27, 2009 at 9:23 AM: Awesome pictures! It does look really strenuous, but what a great reward when you get there.
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Cath Lawson November 28, 2009 at 3:11 AM: Hi Mike – It looks awesome but we are way to scared of heights to do a climb like that.
Davina November 29, 2009 at 11:17 AM: Hi Mike. I get woozy just looking at these pictures. I’m like Cath; afraid of heights. These are amazing shots that I’m quite comfortable to view from my computer.
.-= Davina´s last blog ..Where Did that Crummy Paddle Go? =-.
Barbara Swafford November 30, 2009 at 3:05 AM: Hi Mike,

Wow! What an awesome place. The climb looks like it’s all worth it, but I don’t know if I could handle heights.

Now I can say I know someone who saw it first hand.
.-= Barbara Swafford´s last blog ..The Battle Over Comments – Part 2 =-.
XUP November 30, 2009 at 7:28 AM: Like Davina said, the photos make me a bit queasy, so I’m not sure if I could do the climb or the tight squeezes, but I might give it a try.
.-= XUP´s last blog ..Impatience =-.
Rose December 7, 2009 at 9:36 PM: You climbed all the way up there? Not on your life would I.