Mesa Verde is a plateau in SW Colorado where the Anasazi people lived until about 1300AD. This is the Visitor Centre, at about 7000ft – note the snow. The highest point is at 8500ft, and these jokers lived a Stone Age lifestyle up there; when we got out into the icy wind, that was not an apealling thought. For some reason, all the artists’ impressions of life up there show the locals in nothing but loincloths. Not very convincing in this weather!

This is Spruce Tree House, one of the famous cliff dwellings which were used for the last hundred years of occupation. People had lived on the mesa top and in these canyon wall alcoves for hundreds of years, but this was the most advanced stage of building.

A closer view of the buildings.

Lots of tourists taking photos…

Looking up towards the Museum, and the sky really was that blue! That’s high altitude for you.

There is a handy Walmart near here, so we are camping for free in their car park. There is a Denny’s next door, so guess where we are going for breakfast: 🙂