Trip to Mesa Verde: October 2017
Saturday, October 7
Well, I'm kicking myself on this one. Without noticing it, I somehow
knocked my camera out of auto mode and into manual ISO. As a result,
all daylight shots are overexposed and all shade shots are underexposed.
I tried to salvage and adjust what I could, but I'm not at all happy
about it.
Mesa Verde
I had two specific goals for this trip: the Petroglyph Trail and Kodak
House. I've been to Spruce Tree House several times, but never hiked
the Petroglyph Trail that starts nearby. It's a relatively short but
rugged trail, which the park's web site claims is "the only trail in the
park to view petroglyphs." That's actually baloney, because after
reviewing my pictures of Step House from 2015 [see below for a link],
there are clearly some
petroglyphs there.
Petroglyph Trail
Kodak House
The previous
time I was at Mesa Verde, I went to Wetherill Mesa for the first
time. There I visited Step House, the Nordenskiöld Site #16 overlook,
took the Long House guided tour, and walked through the Badger House
Community. By that time, I wasn't feeling up to making it all the way
to Kodak House.
This time I'd brought the telephoto lens along, but the pictures were
too washed out. I actually got better results from blowing up the
picture I took through my regular lens.
Anasazi Heritage Center
Upon leaving Mesa Verde, I found I had some time on my hands, and
decided to visit the Anasazi Heritage Center. I'd seen the sign at the
turn-off many times, but had no idea what the place was. It turns out
that it's the headquarters for Canyons of the Ancients National
Monument, and is a decent museum in its own right, with a couple of
archaeological sites.
Escalante Pueblo
Despite camera troubles, overall I had an excellent little trip, and
I look forward to the next time I can return to the Cortez area and
explore some other places I haven't yet visited.