Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

After the Four Corners signaled the beginning of the end of deserts and canyons, the approach to Mesa Verde was the beginning of mountains that looked like a Coors Light logo. I began to see snow in abundance and after my scare in San Diego I was hesitant to proceed where I thought the roads might be bad. The park ranger at the entrance informed me that the roads were fine so I went to the top of Mesa Verde. This national park houses some ancient ruins from the Native Americans. The ruins ranged 600-1250 A.D. Now there are two big things I have learned traveling west. The first is that it is absolutely beautiful and that is the best way to describe it. The second is that the Indians were an astounding and beautiful people. Their way of life was something to behold. It was never a secret to me that we absolutely screwed over these people, but the ways in which we did it continue to shock me. This ruins in the pictures posted are literally carved into a canyon. The ingenuity it must have taken – “bounds of human tenacity.” A residence for 15-20 people built into canyon. The park also had some preserved sites of the first Indian houses. What amazing minds it must’ve taken. So on the way out of the park I spotted the these horses who were beside the road. I got out of the car and got as close as I could without them getting freaked out. I suspected that these were not domesticated horses because they looked pretty dirtied up. They had a small colt with them so I did not want to get too close. I assumed horses were like ducks and I know when a mother ducks attacks me I get scared shitless. Horses are bigger than ducks. True story. Anyways, I got a picture and on the way out asked the park ranger if they were wild horses. They definitely are. He said they showed up years ago and there are two stallions that keep them pack going. Definitely saw one of those stallions.

From the top, I could see a snow covered mountain that I believe was in Utah. Maybe Arizona. It was definitely too far away to be in Colorado. I got off the trail to get a good picture. I was stepping in what was at some points as deep as two feet of snow to get the picture.

I love the West.