Montezuma National Park

Today, Pralines had to go to the groomers.  She was very dirty.  I should have taken a before and after picture, but I know it would embarrass her for me to photographer in this condition.  While she was getting her bath, Bob and I went to Montezuma National Park.  Our driver on the wine tour told us that we would like this park.  Since we had never heard of it and didn't plan a stop there, we decided to check it out.

First we went to Montezuma Well, where the legacy of the Sinagua culture surrounded us.  This constant supply of warm, 74 degree water was the life-blood of the people who made their home here.

Cliff dwellings are perched along the rim of Montezuma Well.

Another view from across the well.

Large Pueblo homes have their ruins here also.

This home had 10 to 14 rooms and approximately 35 people would live here.

Over 1.5 million gallons of water flows into the Well every day, a rate that has not fluctuated measurably despite recent droughts throughout the state of Arizona. The water from the well enters a "swallet" near the end of the trail into the Well and flows through over 150 feet of limestone before re-emerging from the outlet into an irrigation ditch on the other side.  This is that ditch and it dates back over 1,000 years. (This is the only picture of the swallet Bob took. I know it hard to see, it is on the left between two trees.)

The shaded forest along the trail near the swallet ruin and the outlet provides welcome relief from the hot sun. The temperature difference at the outlet can be up to 20 degrees cooler than along the rim of the Well. (This is the Beaver Creek where the swallet flows into from the Well.)

It is easy to imagine the people of the Sinagua culture spending the hot summer days by the Beaver Creek, in this tranquil setting.  Next we headed down 11 miles to Montezuma Castle.

Montezuma Castle is one of the best preserved cliff dwellings in North America.  It has 4 stories and 20 rooms and is nestled into a towering limestone cliff.

Montezuma Castle is the story of the Sinagua people.  They lived here for over 300 years ago between 1000 and 1425 BC.

Castle A is not as well preserved but is a neighbor to Montezuma Castle.

This the Beaver Creek where the Sinagua's got their water while living in these cliff dwellings.  The Sinagua people disappeared and still is a mystery today why.  There are no descendants of the Sinagua people today.

This is Pralines after being groomed.  She is under the table because the groomer put those silly orange Halloween bows in her hair.  Don't you love her!!