far views

another landmark around mesa verde is the la plata mountains, thirty or so miles to the northeast --- the highest peak there is hesperus mountain which, like shiprock, is sacred to the navajo --- i almost opted for four extra hours in the car so i could drive up to telluride, just to see a bunch of snow

but i didn't

the la platas were even within the view shed of my balcony, where the site also afforded me each morning a western towhee, sitting at the very top of a little gambel oak a few yards away, trilling his little towhee song