I’ve been anticipating the Solstice this year so that I could visit the Solstice Snake (aka Solar Snake or Hyper Viper) and watch the arrowhead appear on the snakes head. For about 2 minutes on the solstice a dagger of light shaped like an arrowhead appears on the head of this very large and well executed petroglyph of a snake. It was an amazing experience!
I received word from my friend Philippe this weekend that the Robidoux Panel in the Book Cliffs was broken when he visited it at the beginning of his Southwest trip recently, so I just had to go see it for myself. On my way home from Moab this afternoon, I made the short detour and found that part of the panel had indeed broken off and fallen to the ground.
Below is a (not so good) photo of the same panel when I visited it on December 18, 2010 and it was all in one piece then.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
On my way home from the Comb Ridge area I decided to make an unplanned stop and hike up Stearns Wash in search of some petroglyphs. I had read that there were petroglyphs somewhere along Stearns Wash but I had no idea where. I figured I would just hike up the wash and would hopefully find them. Luckily, early in my hike I picked out a spot ahead of me that I thought looked like it might be a good place to search. Once I found the way there I was pleasantly surprised to find that I had chosen well 🙂
There were a bunch of petroglyphs located at this site, many of them bighorn sheep, but most of them were pretty faint and didn’t photograph too well. Here’s some of the better photos I was able to take at this site.
This was the first set of petroglyphs I came across that let me know I was at the right place.
An outline of a pretty large anthropomorphic figure.
One of the ‘more visible’ sheep petroglyphs at the site.
Not quite sure what is going on in this panel…..very unusual.
A line of bighorn sheep.
Another outline of an anthropomorph with a large bighorn sheep.
The biggest bighorn petroglyph I found.
Just a little nearby scenery….still plenty of dust in the air from all the wind.
After exploring the area I headed back to my Jeep and then back home.
Check out my other posts in the Moab Area Rock Art Series:
Moab Area Rock Art I | Colorado River Gorge / Golf Course / Kane Creek
Moab Area Rock Art II | Kane Creek Canyon & Potash Road
Moab Area Rock Art III | Mill Creek Canyon / Kane Creek / Bartlett Panel
Moab Area Rock Art IV | The Secret Grotto & More
Moab Area Rock Art V | Hidden Valley & Behind the Rocks
Moab Area Rock Art VI | Yellow Comet Alcove
Moab Area Rock Art VII | Solstice Snake
Moab Area Rock Art VIII | Dark Angel Petroglyphs
Moab Area Rock Art IX | Mill Creek Canyon
Moab Area Rock Art X | Stearns Wash
Memorial Day Weekend, Sunday, May 29, 2011
After a very windy night, I was up early and on my way south down the Comb Wash Road. I crossed through the Comb on US 163 and drove to the trailhead for Lower Butler Wash. I descended down the old wagon road on foot and made my way towards the San Juan River through the thick vegetation. Once I neared the river, I started to come across some rock art.
At the first large alcove I explored I found this unique petroglyph. I’m not sure what it might represent….any ideas?
This ‘lizard-like’ stick figure was nearby, too.
Once I reached the mouth of Butler Wash along the San Juan River I came across a bunch of petroglyphs. Many of them were hard to see like this panel, though.
A rider and bighorn above the San Juan River.
Here’s one of the larger basketmaker-style anthropomorphs. Even though it’s still hard to make out, it’s a pretty cool petroglyph and it appears there is a smaller figure on it’s shoulder.
Here’s a couple of riders that are standing up on the backs of the animals.
Just a triangle-shaped anthropomorph with a small head.
Another very abstract figure that has a stick-figure person within.
While I was searching the area for rock art the wind had really started to pickup….I especially noticed it as I hiked out of the canyon on the old wagon road. Once back at the Jeep I crossed the highway again so that I could visit the Wolfman Panel since it has been a few years since I was here last.
Looking up at a portion of the Wolfman Panel
Memorial Day Weekend, Saturday, May 28, 2011
Amanda and I have a little tradition of heading down to Comb Ridge and Cedar Mesa for the Memorial Day weekend. In the past she has had no trouble getting the weekend off from work, but unfortunately she was unable to get it off again this year. I had invited a friend or two to join me, but neither of them were able to make it down this weekend. That meant I would be heading down by myself.
After driving down through Moab, Monticello and Blanding , I setup my camp in Comb Wash and got ready to start my first hike into Lower Fish Creek Canyon.
After finding my way into the canyon from the new trailhead (the BLM has closed a few roads in the area recently), I soon stopped at the first set of ruins I came across. There are a few faint reverse handprints on the ceiling above the ruin.
A closer look at the first set of ruins.
After hiking just a little further up-canyon I came across the set of ruins I was most looking forward to visiting on this hike.
Here’s a close look that the very well-preserved reverse handprints above the ruin. Very cool!
I normally don’t take photos of potsherds anymore, unless they are very unique, but something about this pile interested me enough to stop and take a photo…
Here’s a snake pictograph with what appears to be a square head, or maybe just a square in front of the snake….
Still further up the canyon I found a small granary hidden in an alcove a little above the canyon. Not much left but this wall with the opening.