Biking the Land of the Ancients

Biking the Land of the Ancients is to know what it means to test your endurance on rugged terrain at an elevation of 7,000 to more than 8,000 feet. Steep cliffs, deep canyons, and narrow trails banked by pinon trees and yucca give way to unexpected views of the valley floor below. At various points near the top road of Mesa Verde, truly the "green table" it was named after, it is possible to see eye-to-eye with low hanging clouds.

In our politically-correct times, the people who inhabited the Land of the Ancients are called "Pre-Columbus People" or the "Ancestral Puebloans", but those of us who have grown up in the shadow of Mesa Verde know them as the Anasazi. Spread across the Montezuma Valley, the Anasazi left an indelible mark on this land, from the petroglyphs that remain chiseled in red and brown sandstone to the shards of pottery that continue to surface in the farmer's bean fields, their mysterious culture is one that wraps around the very core of our own modern society.

Mesa Verde National Park preserves a reminder of the 1,000 year old culture that lived in the area long before the Navajo or the Ute, who also call the Montezuma Valley home. The homes that the Anasazi created were built brick-by-sandstone-brick into the sheltered alcoves of the canyon walls. Today, these homes are called cliff dwellings, and the cliff-side villages of Mesa Verde represent some of the most notable and best preserved in the United States.

Imagine a 4-foot wide trail at the widest parts that winds down the mountainside into a hidden dwelling that, in some cases, dwarfs the size of a ritzy hotel (Cliff Palace, one of the cliff dwellings, boasts 217 rooms and 23 spiritual areas called kivas) and you have some idea of the exhilaration biking Mesa Verde brings.

To fully enjoy the Land of the Ancients, plan on spending at least one full day exploring its world-class archeological sites and the awe-inspiring Southwestern Colorado landscape or you will regret leaving so soon. Also, keep in mind the following points:

*Make sure that you pack plenty of water. The elevation combined with the dry, high-mountain desert heat will dehydrate you faster than you will realize.

*Due to the steep nature of the roads, lack of shoulders on the side of the roads, and the tunnel which causes low visibility, large bicycling groups are not permitted. This is a solitary pursuit for the individual or couple who wants to experience the views of a lifetime.

*This is a land of extremes, so remember to bring clothing you can wear in layers to be shed throughout the day. Summer highs reach 100, but evening temperatures will plummet to the 60's.

A land of savage beauty and extremes, the Land of the Ancients offers a biking experience that won't soon be forgotten. There is no finer way to experience the beauty of this long-gone past than on two wheels, feeling the high-mountain winds buffet your progress down winding trails and across dusty paths.