PDA

View Full Version : Trip Report "Through the Mist ", Utah rock art over Thanksgiving (Pt.2)



Swimswithtrout
12-06-2013, 08:31 PM
Let's try this again ( I couldn't seem to get my images to load last night)

Driving south towards Moab, I was amazed by the amount of snow on the ground; 6-8" at least. The secondary roads were still snow covered or barely tracked out by the ATV crowd,definitely impassable in our little Elantra so I was going to have to change my plans for tomorrow. We got a room at our favorite motel and had dinner at the Moab Brewery.

The next morning was completely overcast with low clouds and fog, so I decided to just drive out to a few of the paved drive up sites.

71001

After a few hours, the sun started breaking through.

71002

71003 (http://imageshack.us/a/img824/333/1s5s.jpg)

71004 (http://imageshack.us/a/img593/2751/qh5j.jpg)

71005 (http://imageshack.us/a/img5/4963/qp9p.jpg)

Swimswithtrout
12-07-2013, 02:27 PM
I love the detail in this one. The top row of figures is only ~1" tall and the lower are ~ 2" tall 71006 (http://imageshack.us/a/img28/9756/lvkx.jpg)

71007 (http://imageshack.us/a/img404/5286/orzq.jpg)

71008 (http://imageshack.us/a/img855/5843/isdj.jpg)

Swimswithtrout
12-07-2013, 02:35 PM
The sun seemed to be out for good so we decided to try a short hike. The S facing slope was completely dry.

71009 (http://imageshack.us/a/img9/5339/jnhp.jpg)


71010 (http://imageshack.us/a/img440/4716/wt81.jpg)


71011 (http://imageshack.us/a/img22/1742/09ht.jpg)


71012 (http://imageshack.us/a/img46/5973/v5kd.jpg)


71013 (http://imageshack.us/a/img202/5215/0my7.jpg)

Swimswithtrout
12-07-2013, 02:44 PM
I'm not sure what all of these figures represent. Are they bison or sheep with down-curved horns ? I like the one hunter in the sheep skin complete with horns.

71014 (http://imageshack.us/a/img198/4383/sq3x.jpg)


Faint figure near the "cut-outs"
71015 (http://imageshack.us/a/img31/6180/eatw.jpg)


The sun seemed out for good so we headed back down to the car with hopes of being able to visit one of my main goals near Moab.
71016 (http://imageshack.us/a/img9/1415/ekmh.jpg)

Swimswithtrout
12-07-2013, 03:11 PM
We drove back to the north, and immediately started to see the snow depth increase as we drove up out of the Colorado River valley. Arriving at the trailhead parking, I was greeted by 4-6" of snow still blanketing everything, but without another track in sight aside from a coyote and a few rabbits.

71017 (http://imageshack.us/a/img849/8862/68f2.jpg)


71018 (http://imageshack.us/a/img547/4167/ml4f.jpg)


71019 (http://imageshack.us/a/img812/8375/fa49.jpg)



I walked the face of the alcove several times in an effort to find the "Intestine Man" panel and had almost given up, when I noticed it directly above me. I'd been looking for something life-sized or larger and looked right past the small panel. What it lacks in shear size, it more than makes up for in the incredible detail.

71020 (http://imageshack.us/a/img845/4378/3gkl.jpg)


Central figures detail.

71021 (http://imageshack.us/a/img23/2733/5byo.jpg)


and a very faint panel ~ 30' right of the main panel.

71022

Swimswithtrout
12-07-2013, 03:35 PM
Leaving the parking lot, I crossed the road and set off up the canyon breaking track in ~6" of snow. Rounding the first corner, I spotted a a small panel of petroglyphs.

71024 (http://imageshack.us/a/img856/4343/60e9.jpg)


and this curious figure.

71025


The 4WD road was partially snow covered, but the sand drained well and I made very good time up to the next panel.

71026 (http://imageshack.us/a/img11/4508/nj2u.jpg)


Leaving the road, I hiked the short distance up into the N facing alcove that held a good 8" of snow and made the scramble across the ledge, over to the panel "interesting".

71027

71028 (http://imageshack.us/a/img811/6803/3iyl.jpg)

Swimswithtrout
12-07-2013, 03:56 PM
It was getting late, and I had really wanted to get to Arches NP for some sunset photos, but there was another panel that I just couldn't leave without visiting. Let's just say that 8" of snow on steep sandstone, running water, and lots of loose sand washed down made the approach verge on up-roped technical climbing, but I managed to make it to the base of the final panel for the day.

71031 (http://imageshack.us/a/img15/1599/76w2.jpg)

71030 (http://imageshack.us/a/img834/5518/ei5h.jpg)


Leaving the panel, I tried to find an "easier" way down, but was stymied at every turn, so I retraced my tracks as best as I could, with the meltwater starting to freeze everywhere.

I did make it down in one piece, but I can definitely say, that it took more than one beer at "The Brewery" , afterwards, to ease the "Pucker Factor".

peterb
12-08-2013, 07:52 AM
What a productive day! Thanks for sharing.

DesertDuke
02-01-2014, 02:44 PM
SWT these are great. Thanks. A great TR