"Through the Mist ", Utah rock art over Thanksgiving (Pt.2)

[Swimswithtrout]

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.



After a few hours, the sun started breaking through.

[Swimswithtrout]

I love the detail in this one. The top row of figures is only ~1" tall and the lower are ~ 2" tall

[Swimswithtrout]

The sun seemed to be out for good so we decided to try a short hike. The S facing slope was completely dry.

[Swimswithtrout]

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.




Faint figure near the "cut-outs"



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.

[Swimswithtrout]

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.











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.




Central figures detail.




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

[Swimswithtrout]

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.




and this curious figure.




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




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".

[Swimswithtrout]

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.






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]

What a productive day! Thanks for sharing.

[DesertDuke]

SWT these are great. Thanks. A great TR