Stock Family Trip : Mesa Verde a treasure that was left for others to discover

On our first day at Mesa Verde National Park, we listened to a forest ranger tell a story which many of the modern Pueblo Indians, in the southwest, already knew. It was about how a pueblo tribe finds a new home.
Here is what we heard from their ancient story:

When it's time to find a new home, take what is important and nothing more.

Pack the generations together so they may help each other, with ease, along the journey.

It's best not to know the lands or waters where your family is heading.
The more you look back, the less magnificence you'll see before you.
Don't be afraid to cry. It will free your mind of sorrowful thoughts.

You'll know your new home the instant you arrive and not a moment sooner.

As we heard the ranger tell this story, my wife, kids, and I looked at each other and excitedly said, "That's what we are doing!" It was one of those unique moments when something unexpected touched each of us, with equally measure.

So it was, the Anasazi, also known as the ancient ones, of Mesa Verde, left everything behind in search of new lands and waters for their people. They never looked back, nor ever returned, and researchers don't know why. The treasures which were discovered throughout Mesa Verde are the day-to-day items of a society who simply walked away from what they had. The dwellings were left abandoned with pottery, jewelry, and other household items and they remained undisturbed for nearly 800 years. Kitchen pots were found sitting along fire pit edges, as if dinner could be served at any moment. Half finished tapestries still on their looms suspended in time. Hand carved toys and bedding were patiently waiting for the children to return. All of the items sat, as they were left, for nearly eight centuries. Interestingly, there wasn't any sign of conflict, the people simply left and never returned. Though the fineries and other relics of the past have long since been put into museums, the early pictures and videos of Mesa Verde's discovery are truly breathtaking and worth watching, in the park's visitor center.

Mesa Verde is one of those Native American landmarks that is as beautiful, as it is perplexing. One leaves Mesa Verde with so many questions. Why did they leave? Why did they build on the cliff walls? How did they support 35,000 people atop the Mesa? The questions go on and on. Maybe this is why Mesa Verde is so popular and recognized around the globe, for what it is, a magnificent world heritage site. If you ever decide to visit this National Park, you won't regret it.

A surreal place to visit and ponder all of the whys.

Exquisite art with fine detail.

Protected and had water too.

A relic from our own past.

An amazing amount of work went into these structures.

The Grand Palace is probably the most photographed of the ruins.

We had to climb a 32 foot ladder at the Balcony house.

Secret passage ways connected some of the rooms.

The balcony is still intact after all of these years.

Very resourceful builders.

Some of the structures have metal supports to keep the walls from falling.

At one of the complexes we saw great examples of Kivas (Ceremonial gathering rooms).

Atop the mesa, the Anasazi built reservoirs to hold the waters from the springs. This reservoir measures 90 feet across and was used by everyone

There are ventilation chambers in the Kivas to move out smoke and bring in oxygen.

Beautiful topography of the area.

Hiding under a boulder for a break in the shade.

Well preserved ruins throughout the park.

Fire has burned 75% of the Mesa Verde since it's founding as a National Park. Though forest regeneration occurs, it is at Mother Nature's speed which can take is many decades.

Hiking down hand-hewn rock steps.

There are over 4,300 ruins and 600 cliff dwelling spread out over 52,000 acres at Mesa Verde, making it the largest archaeological preserve in the U.S.