Monday, March 14, 2016

Upper Cliff Dwelling–Tonto National Monument

Sunday, March 13, 2016

This morning, we left our poor doggies to fend for themselves, as we headed back to the Tonto National Monument.  This time we are hiking one and a half miles up the side of the mountain to see the Upper Cliff Dwelling.

Neither of us was sure we could make the ardous climb, but we were going to give it a try.   The weather was beautiful.  Cool with full sunshine.  Just perfect for hiking a mountain.

The climb first followed a stream and then slowly we hiked up the many switchbacks in the trail to reach the dwelling.

Our objective is the cliffs at the top of this mountain.

Upper Cliff Dwelling

Switchback Trail   Switchback Trail

1-DSC01761   Switchback trail

 

Switchback trail

Upper Cliff Dwelling

Upper Cliff Dwelling

 

Upper Cliff Dwelling

Upper Cliff Dwelling

Upper Cliff DwellingUpper Cliff DwellingUpper Cliff DwellingUpper Cliff Dwelling

What a view the Solado Indians had of the valley below.

Upper Cliff Dwelling

We had heard there is a crested saguaro cactus near the visitor’s center, so before we left, we asked where is was located.  Found it.

1-DSC01817-001   1-DSC01819

It was a long hike; but it was a beautiful hike and the ruins were very interesting.

See you later.

1 comment:

  1. Congratulaions ! You're a better man than I Gunga Din ! Had all I could do to make it to the lower dwellings.

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