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Amasa Back
Saturday, March 3, 2012
The Original Trip Report on ADVENTR.CO
After spending the last two weeks in the Chicago area, and not having been to Moab in almost a month (February is one of my favorite times to hike around Moab since the weather is usually nice and there aren't any crowds yet), it was time for me to get back out into the desert for a long hike alone. I left home in the morning without any particular destination in mind, but by the time I reached Moab I had decided to hike out onto Amasa Back following the Cliffhanger Jeep Trail. This is actually one of the few Jeep trails around Moab that I have not driven before, so it was nice to finally be able to check it out.
A short way into the hike I found a small and faded petroglyph panel.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7184/6...01aae110_z.jpg
Cliffhanger Petroglyphs by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Before continuing to Amasa Back I decided to stop an revisit the amazing Owl Petroglyph Panel nearby.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7054/6...9c8937de_z.jpg
Owl Panel by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
I also searched the area to find these very interesting petroglyphs that I had missed before.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7049/6...683a2991_z.jpg
Lines & Sheep by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
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Lines by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
This lone figure was carved in the sandstone high above what may have been a structure at one time.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7207/6...70a9c022_z.jpg
The Watchman by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Hiking out to Amasa Back. Jackson Hole is at the bottom of the drop-off to the left.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7048/6...33c60158_z.jpg
Amasa Back by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
I found a few pictographs along the way including this red shield figure. If you look very closely to the right of the pictographs, you can see there are a few faint petroglyphs here, too.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7202/6...21b08d1b_z.jpg
Amasa Warrior by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
There were great views of the La Sal Mountains and Behind the Rocks areas from up here.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7209/6...22dcc83d_z.jpg
Fins & Mountains by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
The turnaround point of my hike was at the Piggyback Panel. This is a very large petroglyph of a bighorn sheep with two smaller sheep on it's back.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7183/6...fdd3dded_z.jpg
Piggyback Panel by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
A closer look at the petroglyphs.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7205/6...21a9cef0_z.jpg
Piggyback Sheep by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
On my way back to the Jeep I even managed to find a large boulder that had a few dinosaur tracks on it. There are three tracks in this photo, but two of them are pretty hard to make out. Can you find them all?
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7046/6...b41122e2_z.jpg
Three Dinosaur Tracks by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
A view of an eye-shaped alcove from within Kane Creek Canyon.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7178/6...d50f9854_z.jpg
Eye Alcove by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Before leaving Kane Creek Canyon, I made a quick stop at the famous Birthing Rock petroglyphs.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7047/6...86cc148b_z.jpg
Feet by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
The Birthing Scene.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7047/6...fc003efd_z.jpg
Birthing Scene by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Just a photo of my Jeep in Kane Creek Canyon.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7180/6...4b98774e_z.jpg
ADVENTR Jeep by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
I stopped and took photos of a few of the numerous petroglyph panels found along Kane Creek Road on my way back into town.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7206/6...a10b6d21_z.jpg
Tracks Panel by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7182/6...47464f3d_z.jpg
River Rocks Panel by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7046/6...382efc0f_z.jpg
Medallion Panel Scene by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
When I made it back into town, I grabbed a quick dinner and then stopped by the grand opening of The Edge Gallery to say hi to Bret and check out his new gallery. He's done a great job with it, so next time you are in Moab make sure to stop by!
On my way home I was driving by the Fisher Towers as the sun was setting again, so I stopped along the Colorado River for a few photos.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7196/6...360af04e_z.jpg
Sunlit Towers by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7070/6...b04751e9_z.jpg
Red Rock Reflection by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
It was great to get back out in the desert on a beautiful day for a long hike alone. It's exactly what I needed!
>> Amasa Back Photo Gallery
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Very nice. Love the last Fisher Tower shot and the behind the rocks/la sal shot. Reminds me of the view from Poison Spider but looking down from higher up.
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All good stuff, but love the last two! :2thumbs:
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Great pictures, Randy !
Philippe