Beautiful day today- mid 80's, taking a trip north to the
Gila Cliff Dwelling National Monument.
Passing through the old mining town of Pinos Altos.
Gold was found here in 1860, population
grew to 9,000 during the 1880's to 1890's.
Abandoned in the early 1900's
Many of the building still remain.
Old Opera House
The Buckhorn Saloon
Once abandoned, the town is now a place for
summer homes. Pop. 198
Ice cream shop/post office
Deer in town
From Silver City to The Cliff Dwelling is only
44 miles, but it takes over 2 hours to get there--
And we found out why
Hills
Curves
Up and down, round and about
Glad we're driving a Jeep
Beautiful Day
Gila Cliff Dwelling National Monument
Javelina (Peccary) type of wild pig
There she goes
WOW, way up high
no guardrails on the road, either
That's the road over there
Gila River
begins in this National Forest and flows
to the Colorado River
Geronimo was born near the headwaters of the Gila
Pathway leading to the Cliff Dwellings
View of the Dwelling from the path
Head Explorer
Pathway up and out of breath puff puff
Remember we are flatlanders and altitude here
is over 8,000ft
Small Pictograph
First Cave
Another small pictograph
It was determined that the wood used dates between
1276 and 1287
Snake pictograph
700 year old corn found here
The only way down
Back down another way
Taking another route back
through the towns of Mimbres, and San Lorenzo
No more curvy -curvy
Chino Open Pit Copper Mine
Looks like a small Grand Canyon
only sell copper in 200# ingots-no bracelets here
Almost back to Silver City
Wonderful Day
