Canyon barriers…
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.
Hey you, out there beyond the wall,
Breaking bottles in the hall,
Can you help me?
Pink Floyd, “Hey You”
Number three
In the cliff above Spruce Tree House, a pinyon pine can be seen growing out of the rock (top right corner). In the bottom left corner can be seen its roots breaking through. Eventually the tree will cause the cliff to collapse. When asked about the tree, the ranger shrugged. “It’s winning,” he said with a smile.
At Mesa Verde, some cliff dwellings simply can’t be saved. For these structures, you can sit off to the side and watch the buildings collapse, stone by stone, in real time.
Cliff Palace reflected in a mud puddle
Maybe I can be one of those photographers who shoot immense panoramic photos of ancient ruins? And then I will hang them in my yoga room and meditate while listening to flute music. And then I will also pretend that I belong to an ageless race of wise and peaceful aliens who shun both technology and violence. And I will join my alien brothers and sisters on frequent transcendental journeys across the galaxy in which I explore the universal consciousness, wearing only a loin cloth and flip-flops.
Ranger explains important topics like water shortages, food scarcity, climate change, pandemics and tribal warfare. Luckily we don’t have to worry about these problems today.
Not only are the cliff dwellings collapsing at Mesa Verde, so are the alcoves above the cliff dwellings. In this photo, the park attempts to stop entropy with a well-placed steel rod (lower left).