Montezuma Castle & Verde Valley Railroad

On Valentine's Day 2013, our Road Scholar group took a field trip to see the cliff dwellings called "Montezuma Castle" where we were awed by the 5-story, 20-room dwelling nestled in a limestone recess high above the narrow flood plain of Beaver Creek in the Verde Valley. In the afternoon, we took a leisurely 4-hour tourist train ride through the beautiful Verde Canyon from Clarkdale to Perkinsville on an old mining train line.

When our Road Scholar group first arrived at the Montezuma National Monument Site, our leader Garrett Roberts gave us an explanation of the trees, cactus, and plants in the area. This gave us some ideas about how the prehistoric people lived in the area.

The people who built and inhabited these cliff dwellings belonged to the Singua culture which thrived in the Verde Valley from 600 to 1400 A.D.

In addition to the dwellings in the main cliff structure, the Singua people built additional dwellings and storehouses at the base of the cliff. They were a settled people who grew beans, corn, squash, and cotton on the narrow flood plain of the nearby Beaver Creek (part of the Verde Valley system).

The limestone cliff has many cave entrances which were undoubtedly used by the prehistoric people.

The economy was highly successful. This map shows the extent of the many villages across the Verde Valley when it reached its maximum population estimated at 4,000 to 8,000.

 

When we left Montezuma Castle, our group became happy and excited - at the thought of our upcoming lunch.

After lunch, we boarded the Verde Canyon Railroad in the tiny town of Clarkdale. It had been the smelter town for the copper mines of the higher-elevation town of Jerome where the mines were located. Clarkdale prospered between 1914 and 1953 when the mines closed down. 

The railway excursion gave us many fascinating views of the beautiful Verde Valley. This photo reveals the home of some of the prehistoric cliff dwellers of the area.

The scenic views including horses drinking from the river were quite spectacular.

Our train had alternate passenger cars and observation decks for indoor and outdoor viewing.

The cliff face fascinated the passengers.

Some imaginative observers thought they could see the profiles of various characters in the shapes of the craggy rocks on the cliff sides and tops. In this photo, some people said they saw a profile of Richard Nixon!

Do you see a rocky tortoise at the top of the cliff?

Perkinsville was the end of the railroad line. In the 1960's, parts of the film "How the West Was Won" were filmed here. One scene here at the old depot featured George Peppard, Debbie Reynolds, and Eli Wallach.

On the return trip from Perkinsville to Clarkdale, we had a second opportunity to see the lush habitat along the river and the dry and rocky slope of the canyon sides.

The Arizona flag flies proudly back in Clarkdale.

Sedona and Area 1: To Sedona

In February 2013, we drove our rented car from Phoenix to Sedona where we began our second Road Scholar seminar in Arizona. The drive took us north from Phoenix and we climbed onto the plateau above the Sun Valley. On the way, we visited the remarkable experimental town called Arcosanti. Continuing north through part of the Prescott National Forest, we arrived in the beautiful resort town of Sedona where we stayed for a week.

The red rock terrain in Sedona is uniquely beautiful, as you will see below.

The rest areas on highway 17 north of Phoenix gave us a beautiful view of the canyons and plateau.

On our way north toward Camp Verde, we pulled into an experimental town called Arcosanti. Begun in 1970 by architect Paolo Soleri, it is intended to illustrate how an urban settlement could be improved while minimizing negative effects on the earth.

The concept of "arcology" on which Arcosanti is based, combines an urban environment with minimal use of resources and access to the natural environment. Today it is primarily an education centre.

Many design features at Arcosanti are very engaging. The natural environment touches the buildings at every moment.

Metal and ceramic bells are made and cast from bronze on site. They are sold to support Arcosanti financially.

By 2012, over 7,000 people had participated in one of the five-week workshops.

Eventually we arrived in Sedona, only to find that it was snowing.

Local people in Sedona told us we were lucky. We would be able to capture unique photographs of the snow lying in the layers of the red rock mountains.

We were immediately drawn to Oak Creek Canyon,  just north-east of Sedona. Note the scale of the view by looking at the highway bridge near the middle of the photograph.

Even though was had gone to Arizona to get away from the snow at home, we did have to admit there was something enchanting about it here.

The red sandstone rock layers were laid down under sea over hundreds of millions of years. Eventually some sediment hardened into gray layers of limestone on top of the red sandstone. Then it was all lifted upward by the collision of tectonic plates.

This view of Thunder Mountain and the town of Sedona from Airport Road was photographed after most of the snow had melted away.

It was neat to see the cloud come rolling up the valley.

The Chapel of the Holy Cross was built in 1956 by Marguerite Brunwige Staude, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright. It was built on a pinacled spur about 250 feet high, jutting out of a thousand foot red rock wall.

Inspirational!

The red rock wall behind the chapel was stunning!

A Western Bluebird joined us, just as I switched to my telephoto lens!

Many people thought they could see various human and animal figures carved naturally from the surrounding buttes! I  spied the ancient Egyptian figure of Horus the falcon god here. But I was told this was not likely accurate!

This view, at Red Rock Crossing, reveals Cathedral Rock on the horizon. It was made famous in countless cowboy movies.

At this pathway below Cathedral Rock, visitors have celebrated the power of a vortex by piling stones and rocks into little statues. This vortex, or energy centre, is said to strengthen the feminine side.

Sandi built a small statue to celebrate our recently departed friend Anne. It contains eight stones, each one representing a member of our two families who enjoyed so many good times together from 1962 to the present.

Another view of Cathedral Rock.

The setting sun on Courthouse Butte caused the rock colours to intensify.

This is the hill I climbed to get the sunset photos.

The butte on the right is called Coffee Pot Rock. It was just outside our hotel.