Look closely and I can see how early people made a living here
At first, the environment looks kind of barren. Early people grew squash, corn and beans and supplemented their diet from the local plants and animals. I hadn't realized that wild turkey were here - but early people built stockades and kept turkey.
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| I've seen wild turkey in Mesa Verde, the Needles and the Manti-La Sal mountains |
Mountain sheep, deer, rabbits, birds and other small game. Now, a wild horse herd also calls the mesa lands their home (I didn't see any - but plenty of horse poop!). Regular poop and 'stallion piles' were all over Weatherill Mesa.
On one short hike (1 mile - knife edge trail), a booklet identified over 30 native plants used by native people.
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| Yucca pods - edible and sweet (judging by the bees) |
Mule deer came into the campground to browse several mornings while I was there.
The Navajo have a prayer about "Walking in beauty" - I can see why
The fall colours have been spectacular!
Since the records began in 1902, over 70% of the Mesa Verde National Park has been affected by natural fires that occur. Dry Lightening in the summer heat ignites dry vegetation and is devastating. Grasses, cactus, shrubs, and Gambel Oak come back fast - the junipers, firs, and pinyons can take a 100 years to come back.
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