Gila Cliff Dwellers

On our day off at Silver Springs, New Mexico, three of us rented a car and drove north two hours on the Trail of the Mountain Spirits on a scenic road through the Gila National Forest. The Ponderssa pine forests, junipers and the towering rock formations reminded me of the Colorado. There is a "spirit of place" throughout this area in the solitude and in just thinking of those people who have passed this way generations ago. We saw a total of five mule deer cross our path and quietly stare back at us before heading off to the cliffs to see the seven caves carved out high up a rocky cliff face. We climbed a trail that looped upward for about a 1/2 mile. It was cool and crisp in the wooded area below. We were under dressed in our Teva sandals, shorts and thin shirts but as we traveled upward, the sun shone on our backs and warmed us up on that southwestern slope.

It was amazing to see what remains of the caves, the walls that were built and the little rooms that may have been a ceremonial area for many Native Americans. We could see what looked like a smokehouse for meats, and possibly drying skins, several holes in the rock to hold pots, and sooty, blackened walls and ceilings where fires must have burned for years and years. Supposedly the cliff dwellers grew corn, squash, and beans atop the mountain tops. There is some evidence that they collected the rain water and had some sort of irrigation system as well. Some evidence indicates that a generation of natives may have lived here at one time during a severe drought, but other indications are that this was a sacred place and many used it for ceremonial purposes.

After hiking up, and in the caves, we hiked back down and headed toward Gila hot springs for a little soak in the natural heated pools. It was kind of a funky little place, with three rounded pools of various temperatures with wooden sticks and driftwood built nearby for a little shade.

Later in the evening we went to town for dinner at a very interesting restaurant that had a wonderful selection and varieties of cuisine. You could order in three different sizes so most of us chose three of the tapas, or small variety in order to sample a greater amount of dishes. Food was great but the service was so slow, it got to be unbearable, especially knowing that we have the hardest climb tomorrow to the highest altitude. Anyways, it's late and I need to get to sleep for the big one tomorrow!

Overall, it was a great day to try something a little different such as driving a car, and walking about. The best part is the peaceful feeling from experiencing such a beautiful and unique area of New Mexico. May the serenity and spirit of place extend outward to all of you....
Love,
Robin