Apparently it was named incorrectly, because Montezuma wasn't the first to inhabit this area, but today we had a combined activity with our youth & went to Montezumas Castle & Montezumas Well near Camp Verde. Montezumas Castle National Monument costs $5 a person for anyone over 16 years old & all our youth happened to be under 16, but we had 8 adults. Montezumas well however, is free for all & I had a little more fun there!
For those who don't know- it is belived that the are was inhabited by the Sinagua Indians for a time, & then abondoned for unknown reasons. While they inhabited this area near Beaver Creek & the Verde River they built their homes many stories up in the cliffs around. Perhaps it was because the water at the time was a significant amount higher & it was the safest place to be while staying close to a water source.
Here are the youth + Sean in front of some cliff dwellings at the castle.
David, April, Nichelle, & Jessica
Nichelle & Jessica
Sammy & Sister Johnson :)
My awesome friend Meredith aka Sis. Duffy & me
Jose & Joey
everyone overlooking Montezumas Well
some cave dwellings at the bottom of Montezumas well
The Aland's reading about the shallot area. The well water goes right under the surrounding rock of the well, & out the other side where the Sinagua people made an irrigation system that was super awesome!
Sean's head is aligned with more cliff dwellings that were across the well. Many stories up.
Here is Meredith being daring & climbing out on a tree over Beaver Creek.
Sean, right next to the irrigation systems & Beaver Creek
David, being dared out onto the tree above Beaver Creek
Here is Meredith being daring & climbing out on a tree over Beaver Creek.
Sean, right next to the irrigation systems & Beaver Creek
David, being dared out onto the tree above Beaver Creek
Sean & Sam basking in the Beaver Creek glow
I'm mad I didnt' take any pictures of the irrigation system cause it was so cool! ... oh wait!
the magic of the internet! It was very peaceful right next to Beaver Creek, so we sat & ate our lunches there. I think the kids thought that it was race, cause every location we were at they would hike as fast as they could to the end & then while most the adults explored around they sat in the parking lot... oh well. They said they had fun, so hopefully they did. I thought Montezumas well was really worth it!! I wish we would have had more time to maybe go to Tuzigoot too. all in all.. I thought it was a sucess!
I'm mad I didnt' take any pictures of the irrigation system cause it was so cool! ... oh wait!
the magic of the internet! It was very peaceful right next to Beaver Creek, so we sat & ate our lunches there. I think the kids thought that it was race, cause every location we were at they would hike as fast as they could to the end & then while most the adults explored around they sat in the parking lot... oh well. They said they had fun, so hopefully they did. I thought Montezumas well was really worth it!! I wish we would have had more time to maybe go to Tuzigoot too. all in all.. I thought it was a sucess!
