After a day filled with teMples, we took advantage of being down in the South East corner of the state by hitting up a few adventures!
Remember that crazy rain storm?
Here is Kris's video of such downpour:
4 Corners National Monument.
About 80 minute drive from Blanding where we were staying, the road was like a roller coaster.
I don't mind the loop-d-loops but there was other damage on the road as we drove through the Indian Reservation. We arrive and it's $5 per person, cash only (website said $3 each and didn't say anything about cash only).
Tyler refused to stand on any other state other than Utah.
Pit stop for gas where me & Kris ran across to the casino park to play with the tepees.
Can you see me and our adventure dinosaurs?!
An hour or so + lunch stop later.. we arrive at Mesa Verde!
Group photo at the Balcony House
House of Many Windows.
Tyler packed his telescope which helped spying on some more cliff houses like this one.
Tyler packed his telescope which helped spying on some more cliff houses like this one.
You have to pay for the tour to see Balcony house ($32 for all 4 of us to tour Balcony & Cliff Place), which was totally worth it! The Ranger, Deb, was less than awesome and got mad at us for taking our time when is came to the 15ft ladder part- me and Kris wanted to take a photo, however, there was a group of French people who basically wore nothing and then a girl in a skirt and well, we just didn't want someone else's wa-whoo in our photos. Ranger Deb (bie downer) also didn't appreciate our Indiana Jones theme song playing.
The ruins were REALLY awesome! And you were really right on a cliff! There was this one house that has a pole sticking out that the Ranger said the natives most likely used to dry hides- we decided it was for cross fit :P We had to crawl through this little hole to get out- the same hole the natives once used to get in and out themselves. Then another scetchy rock ladder with chains to get up off the cliff face. The park did widen the rock steps, but it would've be more helpful if they made them deeper too.
Ned and Patrick.. our adventure mascots!
Because WE CAN, that's why.
Because WE CAN, that's why.
Next Tour was the Cliff Palace. Freakin' AMAZING!
Lots of climbing down which means lots of climbing up ladders. Not gonna lie, some of the ladders gave me anxiety! Ranger Jim was the best! He LOVES this park! He gave great history and stories that made it all the better! And a few corny corn jokes- that man loves corn too. He totally made the difference and made sure we all had enough time to spend in awe of the ruins, yet still made sure we moved along.
We spent the rest of the day in the park-totally worth it! Spruce Tree house ruins are right behind a little museum and is pretty cool too.
We spent the rest of the day in the park-totally worth it! Spruce Tree house ruins are right behind a little museum and is pretty cool too.
And this little gem... Derek's expression says it all!
If we had more time we would've hit up Canyon of the Ancients National Monument, Hovenweep National Monument, and maybe the Yucca House- maybe. I am bummed we didn't have time to go see them, but spending the day at Mesa Verde was just so worth it!
Thursday came and it was time to head out. But before we left we spotted this little Dinosaur Museum and decided to stop and check it out.
If you are ever in Blanding, YOU MUST STOP HERE!!! OMG! For such a little town this museum was so amazing! And at $3.50 per adult, totally worth it! The exhibits were great! They had dinosaur related items to go along with all the bones, like books, magazines, toys, movie posters- they had an entire room bigger than my house devoted to dinosaurs in film! It was great, we spent an hour in there and it was great!
All old school!
All old school!
Of course we had to get our pictures taken in front of the Blanding sign because well, it's base camp to adventure, and we surely had an adventurous time!
And this guy.. thank you Sinclair!
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