Castles in the Cliffs, and a Hole in the Hills

While Raven recovered from the cold night before, I set out to make use of my new hiking boots, and to see a couple National Monuments! Heading back down Highway 17 a few miles, I took the exit to take a gander at the unknown and inconceivable.

Montezuma Castle is a fascinating artifact from the ancient Americans. Seeing the dwelling nestled into the cliff wall shouldn't seem all that intriguing except for the fact that it is perched high above the floor of the valley! The Castle, which is more like a high rise condominium than a castle, and had nothing to do with Montezuma, is impressive because it is so well preserved, and of course its location a couple dozen feet up the cliff face.

After departing the National Monument I moved north to its sister monument, Montezuma Well. Of course, this too has nothing to do with Montezuma, but is likewise impressive. I enjoyed hiking around the paths that guided me through the well, and over and around the hill it is settled in. The ancient dwellings similarly nestled into the cliff face, and burrowed at the base of the cliff, are fascinating reminders that this land saw people before Europe stretched forth her citizens to claim the globe.

Following my walk through the well, I drove out of the Monument, turned right, and very quickly regretted it. The pavement came to an end, and I, with my masculinity overwhelming my practicality, decided to keep going to see where the road took me. Several miles into the bouncing trail I saw a roadrunner. Unfortunately he moved away before I could stop and get the camera out. Oh well! I continued on until I came to a nice spot to park and where I could climb a hill. I know, I am out of shape, but the hill was just too inviting!

At the top of the hill I could see for miles in every direction. I found a stone structure up there that I wonder about. Also, since I could see the highway passing to the west of the hill, and where the dirt road I was on met another paved road, I figured I would just have a few more miles to go to get back to my waiting wife. I would have been right if I had realized exactly where I was. That paved road leading to Highway 17 was in fact the road I would continue on to get to Sedona again... once I had traveled 15 miles up the 17 and another 15 back! I do my best Homer Simpson impersonation when I think about that! Oh well, at least I got my first pictures of snow for the trip on that drive!