Return to Snake Gulch, no problem, it’s a beautiful drive.
I met Bill at the trailhead but we didn’t start hiking until 11am, a little late for this open low elevation June desert.
Saw a few flowers like globe mallow, cholla buds, sego lily, prickly poppy.
I’m guessing about 1 1/2 mile hike to the first alcove of petroglyphs in this open canyon with no shade. We crossed the dry wash to soon at what I thought looked like a trail and ended up almost bushwhacking on a slight path, could have been an animal trail, through beautiful yet nasty grasses that stick to your socks.
I see a hunting story in this panel of petroglyphs.
Some of these look like they may have been “embellished” long after the original work. Why do people do this?
Continued about 1/2 mile to another small alcove with nice rock couches but barely any pictographs. Had lunch here then decided to turn back as it was getting warm and Bill had to get home to pack for a trip the next day.
We just didn’t go far enough. Late start, warm day saved from being overly hot by a nice breeze. Later a friend showed me photos of more elaborate pictographs of almost human-size further down the trail. Maybe another time.
I camped at the trailhead thinking I’d get out to try moon and star shots but ended up reading until about 9 and went to bed tired, a good tired.
The next morning I drove very slowly out FR423 looking closely at the rock walls. Used binoculars and saw several possibilities. Looks like a granary or food storage area.
I sure could live here for the beautiful surroundings. When Native Americans were here over 1000 years ago there could have been more rain. But it’s a dry country now.
This deep alcove caught my eye yet with a spillway below it I didn’t figure there would be any signs of human. Then I zoomed way in, and was surprised to see petroglyphs on the well stained recessed wall.
The broken down blocks on a rocky ledge looked like a patio fence. Then looking closer it seemed like a shallow cave with black sooted ceiling. Or maybe it’s my imagination.
There is so much more to see here that several return trips are in order but that may have to wait until fall when the temperatures are cooler.