The forest fire that charred this ground was considerate enough not to cross the trail

this sign needs more icons. . . what about a person with a dog? or a dog off leash? or mountain biker with four dogs, two off leash, two on? or a family of raccoons? or a bear? or a porcupine? or an alien? All of these scenarios are common in the forest.

Support beams at Square Tower.

There is something quixotic (oxymoronic?) about preserving ruins.  Especially sandstone ruins, patched with clay and mud, and built below large sandstone cliffs. Everything is moving. Everything is collapsing. The mesa is a great sand-filled wave, cresting in slow motion.  And if you sit still, you can watch it roll.

Wild horses are considered an invasive species at Mesa Verde (here is  one we saw above Mug House). According to the Denver Post,

Besides damaging water lines and ice machines outside tourist facilities, they [horses] have collided with vehicles and torn up wires at a weather station. They have also compacted the ground over some unexcavated archaeological sites.

Maybe I can be one of those cool photographers who do everything in black and white, just like Ansel Adams? Let me Google him. Hmmm. Ansel Adams said, “a true photograph need not be explained, nor can it be contained in words.”

Oops.