Some days you just have to go somewhere
Some days you just have to go somewhere
Whenever we get to Utah, it’s to get work done for the art shows. Which is great, but not very adventurous, and I can get a little stir crazy. Sunday, was that day.
So, we all got in the truck and headed south for a day trip. We really didn’t have a destination in mind, but we ended up on the western edge of the San Rafael Swell. We have spent a lot of time in this general area in the past, and we remembered a short hike we did that went to a great petroglyph panel.
And desert, that was the best part.
On the drive down we saw more hawks than I have ever seen. It was like the great hawk show, but the only critters we saw on our hike were lizards.
Classic lizard pose.
The petroglyph panel is not huge, but it has so many petroglyphs and is just amazing.
There are so many stories here, and so many odd creatures that you could spend hours trying to decipher it all.
These look like birds, but they have antennae.
This was obviously a bear, killing an elk though.
But then there is this. See the single line that starts way up at the top, and travels down the whole length? There are circles on it towards the bottom, but then near the top there is an alien looking creature.
(Click to enlarge)
And what are the odd creatures to the left of that line?
Sadly, the big chunk that is gone from the main panel was removed by vandals. And there are several places were people scratched in their names, or some other stupid thing. It’s really too bad that people have no respect for this ancient art.
This panel is right next to the main one, but on a different type of stone. More odd creatures, and the circles look like a counter of some kind. Nobody really knows what the symbols all mean. Some are obviously just animals, and maybe a record of hunting. But the petroglyphs that look like aliens are the ones that always make me think, and they are all over in the ancient art of the southwest.
These are along the trail.
I was really glad we ended up here, and I got a tiny desert fix.
We drove back a different way, and went up and over a high elevation pass that still had lots of snow on the ground. So we had deserts, and mountains all in one day.
Do you ever just have to…Drive?
Oh yes, I need to get away, often. But look where YOU get to go! This place has a sacred feel to it, and it’s a shame that vandals pay no mind to their conscience or the holiness of the human spirit, etched in antiquity. You have such wondrous places to share, Mary.
These places do have a special feel, and I have always enjoyed finding them, and spending time there.
It’s so cool and amazing all those rocks still have the pictures and symbols on them. I wonder how old they are?
Most of the petroglyphs in Utah are from the Freemont Indians, and they estimate them to be about 2000 years old. So not super ancient, but old enough.
Hello, I would like to hike this trail and see the petroglyphs. Those pictures tell a story. Love the lizards and your cute dogs. Sounds the hawks are migrating, it is cool seeing the kettles of Hawks. People are so stupid, carving their names in these rocks, they make me so mad! Enjoy your day and the week ahead.
People anger me a lot, with their disregard for these sites. Finding petroglyphs has been a thing with me for a long time. Always so interesting.
I savoured your look at ancient art and lizards and rocks and blue sky this morning! Very affirming. And beautiful. Thanks Mary.
Some days I feel the urge to drive, but it’s mostly on a beautiful spring day, and Springsteen has to be playing. :-)
Love the Petroglyphs, it really does make you wonder.
I used to love driving – when I was much younger – but these days, other drivers (at least in South Carolina) scare the sh*t out of me. Especially the ones with their eyes on their damn phone “keyboards” instead of on the road ahead and the other vehicles around them! The ones who do it while transporting infants, toddlers, and other children REALLY tick me off.
Anyway, I love the petroglyphs! They are always interesting! Thank you for sharing them with us! It’s truly a disgrace that some people have NO respect for nature and history (of any kind)! I’d almost like to give them a taste of their own medicine; but I’ll leave the vengeance to the universe an whatever god we believe in.
We all need some adventures now and then, don’t we. And what better place than the desert. Those petroglyphs are amazing. I have seen some myself in and around Utah and Nevada, but this panel you show here is extraordinary.
Those petroglyphs are so fascinating! We used to love to get in the car and just drive, but these days we’re pretty happy sticking to home.
Those petroglyphs are incredible! The aliens always make me think too!
I never just have to drive but I frequently “just have to ride” my bike!
Thank you for the tour, Mary. so sad to see part of the panel was removed by vandals…
Oh yes, i have to drive and get out and wander, just like you did.
Thank you sharing these, they are wonderful to see.