OT: the Anasazi

dewingrm

dewingrm

Gold Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2001
Messages
1,451
I just started a College History course on the Anasazi and I have to admit I'm utterly amazed. To amagine that a people a thousand years ago could have built such amazing architecture. In my class we have been analyzing the Anasazi dwellings at Mesa Verde and Chaco Canyon. I hope to convince my fiance to spend our vacation money on a trip to the southwest to visit a couple of these Anasazi sites. Have any of the forum members been lucky enough to visit Anasazi sites? Any recommendations?

Ryan
 
Chaco's awesome. Went two weeks ago, going this coming weekend. Road in is a little rough. Remote and hoping to stay that way. There's some amazing astronomical stuff there, but I think most of it's been closed to the public to prevent damage. I'm sure you've found their website, but check it out if you haven't. They have an amazing bookstore in the visitor's center.

Aztec is pretty good. Lots of stuff you can walk through. Durango, Colorado and some other ritzy towns are nearby, if you're looking for less dust and more upscale accomodations.

Canyon de Chelly is nice - spring for a guided tour and support the local economy. There aren't too many ruins, but the White House is pretty famous. I'm not sure if it's Anasazi, though.

I hear Mesa Verde is nice - you can get into the backcountry and make a multi-day trip out of it. Never been there, though.

While you're in the southwest, a trip to Monument Valley is worthwhile. Admission seems a bit steep, but the economy is sub-third world, so I chalk it up as karma-improvement.

If you can, I'd suggest a spring visit. The summer is going to be dry and dusty :( . Late summer or fall would also be good.
 
My professor insists on vistiting the southwest during the winter to avoid the tourists. I would love to vistit Canyon de Chelly since it's a very important Anasazi area. I would love to see White House and Mummy Cave, I would also have to see Pueblo Bonito and Chetro Ketl.

Thanks Tohatchi NM,

Ryan
 
Ive been to, and they are impressive, expansive, and well worth the trip. When you go, look at the walls of all of the other mesas, too, and you'll see little windows and doors waay up in the mesas. They're everywhere there, like birdsnests. The tours take you to the best and biggest though.

Keith
 
One suggestion -

Take a pair of binoculars or a camera with a good telephoto lens. It lets you see things up close without risking damage to fragile ruins. The binoculars don't have to be awesome. Also, petroglyphs show up better near dawn and dusk, when the sun is low in the sky.
 
I used to live in Mancos and Cortez, CO, which are on either side of Mesa Verde Nat'l Park. Used to love seeing the sunset every evening behind Lookout Point from our place in Mancos. It's a great park, but don't go in the Winter as most of the ruins are closed to visitors. It's worth spending several days there in the late Spring or Summer when everything is available.

I second Tohatchi's view of Aztec Ruins Nat'l Monument. The reconstructed Great Kiva is especially cool :)

You might also try Hovenweep Nat'l Monument near Blanding, UT. It's on the small side, but as the website says, "Hovenweep is noted for its solitude and undeveloped, natural character."
 
Originally posted by Tohatchi NM

While you're in the southwest, a trip to Monument Valley is worthwhile. Admission seems a bit steep, but the economy is sub-third world, so I chalk it up as karma-improvement.

If you can, I'd suggest a spring visit. The summer is going to be dry and dusty :( . Late summer or fall would also be good.
Click to expand...

AND if you make it to Monument Valley (and have an off road vehicle) just North, off Hwy 163 in Utah is Valley fo the Gods, natural formations that leave you with a new reverence for The Creator, as undeveloped as it comes.
 
Wow, you guys are absolutely full of good advice. Thanks and keep it coming.

Ryan
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top