Dry Fork

[IntrepidXJ]

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Finally! I have wanted to get up to Dry Fork and check out the petroglyphs and pictographs on the McConkie Ranch for a while, so on Saturday Amanda and I headed up there for the day.

Here

[zzyzx]

Great pictures on a historic Trail.:2thumbs:
Thanks for sharing.

[Iceaxe]

I believe you have a rock art addiction. :lol8:

Looking forward to more pictures. :2thumbs:

[IntrepidXJ]

I believe you have a rock art addiction. :lol8:


I think so, too...but I guess it's better than many other things I could be addicted to :)

[accadacca]

Those are really cool. I like Y-Man. :popcorn:

[IntrepidXJ]

Round 2 of photos.....

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5096/5525551741_2b8a6e6b76.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5525551741/)
Above & Below (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5525551741/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

A close up of some shield-like petroglyphs along the Three Kings Trail. If you look on the sandstone below, you can find many more petroglyphs pecked into the darker stone.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5177/5527157689_ed11ab1682.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5527157689/)
Couple Through the Boulders (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5527157689/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

A couple of petroglyphs I’ve called ‘The Couple’ coming into view through the boulders.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5258/5526146110_b561984fba.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5526146110/)
In Between (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5526146110/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

This anthropomorph along the Three Kings Trail is pecked into a dark colored sandstone which seems to be squeezed between a lighter sandstone and lichen covered stone.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5292/5525552869_147d02e5a9.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5525552869/)
Trophy Head (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5525552869/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

A very stylized and lifesized petroglyph of an anthropomorph holding a trophy head with weeping eyes along the Main Trail.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5291/5525553309_294b199625.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5525553309/)
Big-Foot (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5525553309/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

Certainly one of the larger and most unique pictoglyphs along the Main Trail The very large feet really stick out the most, but so do the red and white horns sticking out from his head. Not to mention the trophy head to his right. Very interesting figure.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5256/5527139711_49acd960cb.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5527139711/)
High Petroglyphs (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5527139711/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

An interesting petroglyph panel located high in a cliff above the Three Kings Trail.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5132/5527731772_ff12bdbb49.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5527731772/)
Broken Head Hunter (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5527731772/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

One of the many life-sized anthropomorphs along the Main Trail holding what appears to be a trophy head with weeping eyes. Based on the cracks through this panel, it may be lost when the stone finally gives way. The head could be lost a second time…

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5052/5527141025_88fa876de5.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5527141025/)
Elaborate (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5527141025/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

Two elaborately decorated petroglyphs along the Main Trail.

Still plenty more photos to go, so stay tuned for more!

[ststephen]

Great stuff! Keep 'em coming...

[oldno7]

Nice Job Randy

[IntrepidXJ]

Nice Job Randy

Thank you

[IntrepidXJ]

More photos for your enjoyment!

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5180/5528621955_780169d356.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5528621955/)
Hula Hoop Man (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5528621955/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

I had visited this petroglyph panel earlier in the day when it was overcast and had taken a few photos, however once the clouds started to clear and the sun was shining again I revisited it to take a few more photos. I

[IntrepidXJ]

Some more....

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5216/5532013216_373219f808.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5532013216/)
Head-Hunters (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5532013216/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

A panel with a few life-sized anthropomorphs and a trophy head with weeping eyes.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5251/5532746895_ce0e52d4ff.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5532746895/)
The Balloon (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5532746895/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

A small petroglyph panel with a shield figure and concentric circle designs.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5259/5532001602_c263c96e6e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5532001602/)
Between the Cracks (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5532001602/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

Two small anthropomorphs along the Main Trail.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5178/5531418081_32cbab2256.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5531418081/)
Find Them All (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5531418081/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

There are a number of petroglyph panels visible in this photo if you look closely. The most prominent one is a shield-like figure with wavy arms and hands.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5020/5531418431_341a020a06.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5531418431/)
Square Head (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5531418431/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

More life-sized petroglyphs. The one on the right has a square head.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5253/5531417779_8c95f2c812.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5531417779/)
Gears (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5531417779/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

A couple concentric circles along the Three Kings Trail.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5051/5532746169_355208f41c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5532746169/)
Layers (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5532746169/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

Geometric designs and other petroglyphs sandwiched between layers of stone.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5019/5533329916_d8befd7108.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5533329916/)
Man-in-Circle (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5533329916/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

A small anthropomorph surround by a large circle.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5215/5532757221_df53f6a482.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5532757221/)
Waving Hands Panel (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5532757221/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

A petroglyph panel along the Three Kings Trail with some smaller figures. The largest figure in the middle appears to be waving both of his hands.

There’s a few more to go…..stay tuned…..

[IntrepidXJ]

Well, here’s the last set of photos I’m going to post from our trip...

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5139/5534078535_5a4be1ee15.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5534078535/)
Sun Carrier (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5534078535/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

A closer look at The Sun Carrier, also known as the Three Kings. One of the most impressive panels we came across. You can’t get too close to it, but luckily I had my 100-400mm lens with me. Click on the image and look at it in a larger size to see more of the detail.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5052/5534073937_3bd0bdfa5d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5534073937/)
Fading Partners Overview (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5534073937/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

An overview of the ‘Fading Partners’ on what turned out to be a pretty nice day.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5220/5534655954_65462c2b07.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5534655954/)
Knife in Hand (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5534655954/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

Looking up at this large anthropomorph that appears to be holding a knife.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5134/5535972662_5176c0cd62.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5535972662/)
Trophy Head 2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5535972662/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

A close-up of another figure holding a trophy head. This one looks a bit meaner than the others.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5100/5535395287_dc6119a522.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5535395287/)
The Line-Up (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5535395287/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

A straight-on view of this large pictoglyph panel along the Main Trail.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5133/5535395897_8177434a1c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5535395897/)
Small Shield Figure (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5535395897/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

Just a small shield figure petroglyph.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5055/5534074499_c900a22232.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5534074499/)
Lichen Man (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5534074499/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

Another view of this medium-sized figure that is next to a colorful display of lichen.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5258/5535429803_0917b43e98.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5535429803/)
The Couple 2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5535429803/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

I liked the setting of this set of petroglyphs, so I took a few different photos. This is a nice overview.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5296/5534074945_9a43d390f6.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5534074945/)
Head Hunter Panel (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5534074945/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

Another of my favorite panels that I took a few different photos of. Look closely and you can even find the Red Spiral pictoglyph I posted earlier.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5220/5535394167_a26ff53887.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5535394167/)
Trail End (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5535394167/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr

The end of the Main Trail. I thought this photo might be a fitting end to my sets of photos from the trip. Hope you enjoyed :)

[zzyzx]

... great stuff... love it:2thumbs:

[canyonphile]

Wow, what a great set of photos, Randy! Thanks so much for posting them.

Is there a fee to hike on the McConkie Ranch trails to see these? I see it's pretty far from where we are here in Durango, but clearly worth a trip. They are some of the most spectacular examples of rock art I've seen, and I would love to see them in person.

[IntrepidXJ]

No, there is not a fee. They do have a donation box, though....in case you want to donate a few bucks....

[bowjunkie]

nice photos Randy thanks !!!

[ststephen]

Stunning place. I have a trip in Dinosaur this summer so hopefully I can visit this as well. Thanks.

[accadacca]

Bumped for awesomeness. :cool2: