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.
Great finds. As a kid we would go camping on National Forest land near Monticello. They had similar kinds of cliff there and my father would point out the granaries and other structures. They always intrigued me especially since I couldn’t figure out how in the world people would get up to them.
The drive out was more productive for Native finds. Those people thought nothing of climbing rocks that appear inaccessible to most of us.
It definitely looks like you could spend a lot more time exploring that area.
Looking forward to our visit to the North Rim!
More explorations will probably have to wait until Fall. See ya’ sometime tomorrow.
Wonderful to see more pics of that lovely area. Too bad the temps heated up so quickly – but it leaves all that much more to see the next time :-))))
Thanks Jodee. It’s such an open area that the summer temps would be unbearable.
Great pictures Gaelyn. Love those petorglyphs. What a great place that has so many. Why people want to add their 2 cents to such antiquities is totally beyond me. Hope you get to go back…….how early would you have to get up to get in a pleasant hike before the heat?
Thanks Sherry. I’d think a sunrise start wouldn’t even allow enough time to get further down the gulch during summer heat.
Enjoyed your second visit almost as much as your first. Would love to hike that area in the Fall of the year.
I probably won’t go back until Fall, if it’s cool enough then.
Some great finds here, bit like looking for bushman paintings. I also do not understand why people have to ruin history by ‘adding’ to this sort of thing. No respect for historic places. Have a good day Diane.
Very much like the bushman paintings. Perhaps more recent.
Oh you must definitely go back; it is amazing to me all those petroglyphs and other evidence of human habitation, just out there with no protection from vandals. Though I don’t know how there could be, if there was it would just bring more people I guess. Anyway. Beautiful country and I’m so glad you were able to go and hope you can go back this fall.
I’ll go back for sure. It is a wilderness area so some protection is there but not by constant patrol and that’s why the easy to get to sites get vandalized.
I would love to explore a spot like this with you. And especially see the rock paintings
Snake Gulch isn’t too far from the North Rim so when you visit it’s doable, if it’s not too hot. Getting up to the high 30C these days at that low elevation. I want to see some of the SA rock paintings.
Thank you! Those are wonderful!! <3 <3 <3 8*)
Vandals wouldn't like My idea of punishment if I caught them in the act!!
Glad you like them. I have never understood vandalism.