Gila Cliff Dwellings

Sandy and the Ladder

Gila Cliff Dwellings

Gila Cliff Dwellings

Gila Cliff Dwellings

Gila Cliff Dwellings (with fear of heights added)

Cliff near Gila Cliff Dwellings

Gila Cliff Dwellings

Highest Point on the way to Gila

Sunset at Gila

Sunrise somewhere?

Sunset at Gila

Highest Point on the way to Gila

Highest Point on the way to Gila

Teaching the Dog to Fly

Highest Point on the way to Gila

Highest Point on the way to Gila

A Dog and her Master- (with tongues)

Gila Cliff Dwellings
         I sit now and de-stress. It has been a harrowing 4 hour ride to get here. The road, obviously one of the most beautiful in the universe, is easier for smaller vehicles. We climbed and descended and switchbacked so many times I truly think that I am now inside out. At one point we were at the top of a mountain, looking down on three of the most amazing canyons. In each direction the cliffs fell to reveal rock cliff walls and winding river ribbons and miles and miles of forest and far off mountains. The road like a thin black belt runs atop from mountain top to top. From there, straight down, smelling the burning brakes the whole time we descend into the valley where we will live for a bit. We may stay here a long time. At least until we forget the drive and may be able to do it again backwards. We sit now in a wonderful twisting valley, hundred foot rock cliffs in many places. We will see the cliff dwellings tomorrow but I can imagine those primitive people hunting on this fresh and wild land.

            Many of the places we have been to have hit me on a viseral level. Grand views, natural formations, colors and patterns, but the 1 mile journey up the canyon, steep and many stops to rest, was an intelectual one. The cliffs are amazing, 200 feet of bulbous tan and white rock with streaks of black. We learned that the rocks are all compacked volcanic ash from nearby eruptions. Amazing in itself- hundreds of feet of ash smashed together to form massive cliffs. But as we rose through the trees, we caught our first glimpse of the dwellings. Beautiful rock walls built of the cliff rock itself, walling up huge natural openings of the caves. Square and “T” shaped windows with wooden lintils for suport. I think it is the tanglable connection with these ansesters. In this park you allowed to walked through most of the rooms.  We sat for a while trying to get a feel for what is was like to live here.

We know that other peoples came before us, but all we have to know about these peoples is what they left behind. Here is an astounding relic, proving inteligence and craftsmanship. By the layout of the rooms we know where they slept and where they cooked. Where they had there ceremonies. We know a huge amount about these peoples and there culture. But there are even more questions. They started to build this fortress into the side of the cliff in 1287 and finished in 1299, but they also left the area 30 years later. Why put so much effort into a dwelling and then take off. There is evidence that they started with sleeping rooms for 8 and then built a huge double roomed area for ceremonies. An area for what they believe would satisfy the ceremonial needs for hundreds. The conjucture is that this was a place for 30 to 60 to live, but for up to 200 to come and gather for holidays and special times. The one thing that was missing for me in this fantastic spiritual place was the time machine. It was almost painful to stare at the ruins and not share words or food or spend a day with these people.