HIKING IN PARKS OF THE SOUTHWEST May 18 - 24, 2008 $1465 Lalita Malik, Trip Leader TRIP NOW FULL - CONTACT TRIP LEADER FOR WAITING LIST The Four Corners region, located where the states of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona meet, is a vast wilderness of 130,000 square miles, containing some of the richest archaeological resources in the world. During this hiking adventure we will visit several parks including: Mesa Verde, Cedar Mesa/Grand Gulch, Natural Bridges, and the Needles District of Canyonlands. We will see cliff dwellings, petroglyphs, solstice sites, Big Man Panel, natural bridges, and a wonderland of hoodoos and other red rock formations. We will hike up to 8 miles round trip per day carrying a small day pack, and be at elevations up to 7,500 feet. Daily elevation gain/loss will vary from 300 feet to 1,200 feet. Mesa Verde, Spanish for green table, offers a spectacular look into the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made it their home for over 700 years, from A.D. 600 to A.D. 1300. Today, the park protects over 4,000 known archeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings. These sites are some of the most notable and best preserved in the United States. The Grand Gulch/Cedar Mesa Plateau is a unique area where cultural resources are found in primitiv and wilderness-like settings. Most canyons and cultural sites can only be reached by hiking or backpacking. The Ute Mountain Tribal Park has been set aside to preserve remnants of the Ancestral Puebloan and Ute cultures. It has been selected by National Geographic Traveler as one of "80 World Destinations for Travel in the 21st Century", one of only 9 places in the United States to receive this special designation. Tours are guided by Ute Indians with a broad knowledge of Ute and Ancestral Puebloan cultures.  Natural Bridges preserves some of the finest examples of natural stone architecture in the southwest. On a tree-covered mesa next to deep sandstone canyons, three natural bridges formed when meandering streams slowly cut through the canyon walls. In honor of the Native Americans that made this area their home, the bridges are named "Kachina," "Owachomo" and "Sipapu." Canyonlands preserves a colorful landscape eroded into countless canyons, mesas and buttes by the Colorado River and its tributaries. The rivers divide the park into four districts: the Island in the Sky, the Needles, the Maze and the rivers themselves. While these areas share a primitive desert atmosphere, each retains its own character and offers different opportunities for exploration. Level of Difficulty: Moderate.  Willingness to hike up to 8 miles round trip per day carrying a small day pack, participate in a group setting, and be at elevations up to 7,500 feet. Daily elevation gain/loss will vary from 300 feet to 1,200 feet. Daily Itinerary Cost includes: All food from dinner Day 1 to breakfast Day 7 (6 dinners, 6 lunches and 6 breakfasts) Van transportation from/to Cortez, CO airport 6 nights lodging Entrance and camp fees Expert staff, and group gear & supplies Not included: Soft drinks, alcohol Airfare or transportation to/from Cortez, CO  Items of a personal nature Single supplement: $240. TRIP NOW FULL - CONTACT TRIP LEADER FOR WAITING LIST For more information and to sign up contact Lalita Malik, 61 Patrick Drive, LaGrangeville, NY 12540, (845)592-0204; LalitaMalik@aol.com  Please note:  Prices and trip arrangements are subject to change due to circumstances beyond ADK's control. All registration fees are non-refundable. Details including cancellation policy will be supplied to all those requesting trip information. MEMBERSHIP IN THE ADIRONDACK MOUNTAIN CLUB IS REQUIRED FOR PARTICIPATION  MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION