Return Visit to Water Dagger Petroglyph Area

I made this hike back in late January 2020. It's just too dang hot to hike right now, so I'm looking back in my files for hikes that I haven't shared. Let me set the stage for this hike.

My friend Mark and I were looking for an excuse to hike together again. I mentioned I had recently discovered a Native American site that, in my opinion, is the largest and most significant in the NE Joshua Tree area. It's got it all... pictographs, petroglyphs, a large grinding site with mano, pottery sherds, bedrock mortars, even a water source. If you want more detail, click here. My specific goals for this hike: [1] Try to get into the area via a new route (from the west) and [2] Check on water levels at the water holes I had found. I told Mark that if we go here, he is sworn to secrecy regarding the location. He said "yes" and "yes", so off we went!

These rocks appear to be sniffing at the clouds!

Early in our hike, we discover this beautiful little arch. Lets go take a closer look.

Hey Mark!

View through the backside of the arch, looking NE.

As we continue down the wash, the rocks on either side of us get interesting. Does anyone remember the movie "Tremors", with the giant worm-like monsters hungry for human flesh??

We come across this little baby arch. Look closely and you might be able to see Mark's hat as he peaks out from behind the crack in the rocks.

The thing about these small arches is they photograph well. You might mistake this for a big arch because there is no frame of reference.

Not sure what this is, but I see an ear, an eye, and a nose that looks like it's being used as a kick stand!

As I was planning out this hike route on Google Earth, I remember thinking this section looked kind of sketchy. It was in the shadows so I couldn't make out much detail. I was hoping it wouldn't be full of rocks, making it impassable. One of my biggest fears of hiking off-trail like this is getting blocked and having to turn around. As it turned out, it was passable, but with difficulty. By the time we came out the other end, my clothes (and skin) were full of stickers and thorns. I remember concentrating hard on just getting through, and I didn't even think about taking pictures. I also remember thinking "let's never go this way again!" But not so with Mark. We got to a spot that he seemed very interested in, and I couldn't understand why. I found a shady spot and let him do whatever he was doing. I needed the rest anyway!

Photo by Mark Robben (https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10220862535887476&set=pcb.10220862708171783)

Mark later shared this photo with me and said this would make a great location for a night sky shot of the Milky Way. Really Mark? I figured he had been out in the sun a little too long. Didn't look like anything special to me. Plus, are you kidding me? Hiking to this remote location in pitch black middle of the night? Impossible! You would get hopelessly lost, or worse!!

Well, hang on to your hats. Here's the shot he took at this exact location a few months later.

Photo by Mark Robben (https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10220862535887476&set=pcb.10220862708171783)

 WOW!!!!! Did I mention Mark is an astrophotographer? I see a lot of Joshua Tree night sky photos, but Mark's are consistently the best!
OK, continuing on our hike...

Bedrock mortar

A narrow space that leads to the water source

Large rake and cowboy hat pictographs are faint but visible.

Water source (east side) is a deep water seep under a large boulder.

Water source (west side) is deep hole in the bedrock.

It was about a month ago when I discovered this mini water canyon with the two water sources, and I'm happy to see water is still available.

On our hike back to the car, we pass by the dancing rocks.

Echinocactus polycephalus

A quick photo of "rip curl" rock as the sun sets and the light turns golden!

Somewhere straight ahead awaits our car!

Linking with Skywatch Friday.

Thanks for stopping by.

Stay safe & stay healthy!!