May 2, 2018

Weather:  1000 feet makes a big difference! From the location I’m writing there is full snow cover and 32 °, where I’m staying, it’s raining and 42°.

Things seem to move slower here than at home (Northampton, MA), and I am trying to ease into the rhythm. I can see that 2 weeks will fly by, even at a slow Colorado rate. I am here on my own, testing my independence, and happy to have no routines. Durk is traveling as well, visiting friends and family in CA, but will be home in time to pick me up at the airport!

My purpose here is to document with multiple exposure and camera movement the sites of Mesa Verde’s many fires, most caused by lightening. I have been handed the gift of 2 weeks in one place, so I can stop as often as I like at the pull-outs along the park roads and hike as many of the trails as I like. My days will be filled with photo-taking, the evenings editing and reading….and attempting to not get behind with blogging. This is beneficial as it forces me to gather my thoughts.

Mesa Verde is a fiercely protected, modest sized National Park, well known for its Puebloan Cliff Dwellings. Lesser known to the general public is the burned landscape, but introduced to every visitor upon entering. The park roads weave through large areas ‘scars’ where fire has swept through. 

See the fire map from the first post. 

To me they look like huge sculpture gardens.

Let's get started with the photos!

The cozy Hogan I call 'home'

Entrance into the screened area

From the screened area into the Hoagn

Looking into the living area

Bedroom to the left, kitchen to the right

Looking through the door into screened area

Hillside with burned trees

Top of a cliff

Yucca & Grass

Yucca & Grass &Trees

Balcony House tour with Tenancio Aragon

https://tskies.com/tag/venancio-aragon/

Link to Mesa Verde National Park map

https://www.nps.gov/meve/planyourvisit/maps.htm