Arches Highlights - Balanced Rock, the Windows, Turret Arch, Landscape Arch

Balanced Rock

Heading up to the North Window

The North and South Windows together are called the Spectacles 

Turret Arch

On the 1.6 mile trail to Landscape Arch

In 1991, a huge 73 foot slab fell from Landscape Arch.  You can see the video on YouTube.  Now you are no longer able to go under the arch as the thinnest section is only 6 feet.  

Running Bear and Willful Warrior - on the trail to Landscape Arch

360 degrees

Window Arch

3 Gossips

Wow!

Ready to explore Arches

http://www.nps.gov/arch/index.htm

Mesa Verde National Park - southwestern Colorado

We are getting ready to hike to the cave site, Spruce Tree House,  where Ancient Puebloans lived until the 1200's.  Spruce Tree House had 130 rooms and 8 kivas.  It probably housed almost 90 occupants, all who had to scale the walls of the cliff to enter.  They would grow food on the mesa above.  

a kiva - a large circular underground room used for religious and other important events in the pueblo

Will and Claire are using the mano and metate to grind down corn.  This was the reason the Puebloans had bad teeth.  As they ground the corn, sandstone was mixing in with their food.  

Our ranger was very entertaining and full of information.  

Will continues to work on earning his Junior Ranger badge.  

http://www.nps.gov/meve/index.htm

All I want for Christmas...

Are my two front teeth.  Who can believe that Claire just lost her second tooth of the day exactly 12 hours later?

Earthship - Taos, New Mexico

Earthship - These are really amazing. The structures are built primarily from recycled items, -tires, bottles, cans, old boards and windows. Most are built into the side of a hill and face south to maximize solar gain. The walls are made from tires that are filled with earth that is packed in tight with sledge hammers. Then cans and cement are used to create the exterior and interior walls. Solar panels and windmills generate the energy required to sustain these homes. The buildings are also designed to capture and store water from rain and snow melt. They have cisterns (big containers) that are hooked up to an elaborate filtration and pump system that separates the water for different uses (irrigation for indoor gardens, washing and flushing of toilets, and fresh water for drinking). These Earthships are 100% self sufficient and do not require any electricity or water from the town (they are off the grid).
 

Rio Grande Gorge Bridge

More Taos Pueblo

Claire purchased a bear fetish from Dancing Hummingbird.

Taos Pueblo

Yesterday we visited Taos Pueblo. It is considered to be the oldest continuously inhabited community in the US. The structure that Will and Claire are standing in front of is over 1,000 years old. The buildings are made entirely of adobe which is earth, straw and water mixed together. There is no running water or electricity in the pueblo.
There are only 100 people that still live in Taos Pueblo today, although there are many members that live right outside the walls. All of the villagers were very excited about the first snowfall of the year. It means they will be getting visitors that come to ski. Most houses are open to the public with art and fresh baked goods for sale. Taos has always been a center for trade.

Claire has some news!

Leaving Taos Ski Valley...

Two of our favorite restaurants in Taos. The Blonde Bear Tavern was right in our condo complex and had delicious food. It wasn't until I had seen the sign that I realized that we have a blonde bear, too. Abe's breakfast burrito was cooked for us by Lena. Matt recommended them and they were delicious. Our other favorite in Taos was the green chili at Tim's Stray Dog Cantina. We could not get enough.

Taos Ski Valley

The best mountain host in all of the land

I feel so fortunate to have such a great friend here in NM. Matt really hooked us up this week. We can't possibly thank him enough for his time and incredible generosity. From the accommodations at the premier spa in Taos to making sure that we were all treated like royalty everywhere we were, Matt really went above and beyond for us. I am most grateful to him for helping Will and Claire fall in love with skiing today. My kids are hooked on the sport. I think we got some lifers Matt... Yahoo!!!

Great Ski Day in Taos!

The ladders of Alcove House