Thursday, January 6, 2022

Handprint Shelter

 I'm kicking off 2022 with one of my favorite hikes in Joshua Tree National Park. In the past, I've referred to it as Handprints Cave, but it's really more of a shelter than a cave, and has been used as a shelter by Native Americans many years ago. My first visit to this amazing spot was in November 2019, and I did it as a solo hike. My second visit was with my friend JP in January of 2020, and we ended up making it a loop hike, thinking it might be easier and more interesting. Well, more interesting, but definitely not easier! At one point in the loop, we hit a boulder-filled canyon that was very difficult to pass. Interestingly, I've looked all over my blog for this post and am unable to find it. I must have never posted, which is too bad, because it was a memorable hike with a lot of great photos.

Roger and I (red backpack), with the "red obelisk" in the background.
 
So this represents my third hike to Handprint Shelter, and Roger and Mitch are joining me on this one (credit goes to Mitch for the above photo). After studying Google Maps for hours, I'm confident we can repeat the loop hike but bypass the "canyon from Hell" section with the huge boulders. I have everything all mapped out on my Garmin, and we just need to turn left at a particular spot rather than continue right. Couldn't be easier, right? What could possibly go wrong?
Dinosaur rock... appears to be sniffing a tree!

I was hoping to find a small pictograph site on the hike in.
Can you see it? It's a faded pictograph in a remote and difficult to reach location, but I'm pleased that I was able to find it.
 
A close-up of the pictograph, with some color enhancement. It's unusual, and I've not seen another like it. 
 
Underneath the pictograph rock is an area that could have been used as a shelter. Very interesting area! But it's time to continue on our hike.
 
Mitch and Roger taking pictures of petroglyph rock. There's reported to be another faded pictograph in this general location, but I was unable to find it.
 
We did find this interesting hollowed-out boulder. I looked inside but didn't see any rock art. To give it a thorough inspection, you would need to remove your pack and crawl in, which I didn't do. Maybe next time.


We spotted these pretty blooms on the hike in. The bees were loving it!
 
We finally make it to Handprint Shelter. This is such an amazing site that even on my third visit I was in awe. Just inside the shelter is a very large boulder with a grinding surface that looks like it's seen a lot of use. On top of the surface is what looks to be an original mano (grinding stone). The stone is large and heavy, and my guess is that it was used to crush large seeds and nuts (there are oak and pinion pine in the area). It's very rare to find a grinding surface with intact mano, so this is really a treat. And I'm pleased to see things are exactly as I left them on my last visit to this site.

All the handprints really make this site special. Looking closely, you can see there are newer handprints over older, more faded, handprints, so very difficult to tell how many total handprints there are at this site. They are all below a zigzag line border, which runs about 12' in length (trust me... I took a tape measure!). It's impossible not to wonder about the significance of the handprints, the zigzag line, and other pictographs at this site. 
 
I won't share all the pictographs at this site, as those have been shared previously. But I will say there are a lot more here than just handprints!
 
Roger and Mitch looking down into the Wonderland of Rocks.

Grumpy rock



Remember earlier when I said "What could possibly go wrong?" I think it was at this point that my confidence in finding the easier way through this rocky maze started to wane. My Garmin was pointing me in the direction of a huge hill of boulders. What looked like an easier route from satellite view on Google Earth was definitely NOT an easier route! So we had no choice, and proceeded up the "canyon from Hell", which is exactly what I was trying to avoid.
 
The struggle begins.

I'm glad Mitch took the time to take a couple photos. I was so absorbed in trying to make it through these boulders without dying that it didn't even cross my mind. We eventually made it through and out the other end, but not without a struggle!
 
After finally getting through "canyon from Hell", we discovered this area full of yellow flowers. Beautiful. The desert is always providing surprises!
 
We finished the hike in semi-darkness after sunset. Here's a photo of Mitch capturing the last light of the day on the rocky peaks of the Wonderland of Rocks. A tough, challenging hike, and one I won't soon forget. Thanks for joining me on this one!
 
Linking with Skywatch Friday.
Stay safe and stay healthy!



42 comments:

  1. ...each time that I view one of your adventures I am constantly amazed. My adventures are mighty tame. Thanks for taking me along.

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  2. Interesting post as usual with great photos. I do remember reading a post - don't know when - where you sent to a destination and tought you would go back another way. It was a tough hike back because of boulders I think. I don't remember names of places so it might have been a different place. I always love to take a hike with you (from my easy car).

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  3. Love every one of these photos, especially the Dinosaur rock (appears to be sniffing a tree!) lol! And Grumpy rock :)

    Nature amazes me!

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  4. I do seem to recall a hard hike, but if you can't find the post, perhaps I'm remembering a different hard hike. I do recall lots of boulders...

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  5. That sounds like a tough hike indeed.

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  6. Your adventures are always so amazing!! I am impressed that you can find pictographs. They look like they would be hard to spot. And your hike through the boulders. Kudos to you and Mitch!!

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  7. Love the Light at the last one. It gilds those rocks nicely.

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  8. This place is really incredible. I cannot get enough of your shots.

    Worth a Thousand Words

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  9. Happy New Year! I will remember that last image for a long time. The lighting is spectacular. Impressive grinding stone. Hands ???? Loved the grumpy rock. Glad you guys made it through hell and back. Always look forward to what you are up to next. I love looking at your adventures.

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  10. Another fabulous post. Love the Red Obelisk. I can relate to looking for a post and not finding it. There are so many hikes that I have not posted - so much material and so little time! The flower photos in this post are so pretty - such a pleasant surprise in the desert! Happy New Year!

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  11. Hello Peter, Happy New Year and happy new hikes! 😄

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  12. Looks amazing.
    Best wishes for 2022. Stay well.

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  13. Grumpy Rock! I have a similar grump-- also near some pictographs in a park on the Columbia River-- on the dry side of the mountains. I really enjoyed this post!!

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  14. Fantastic as always. What a treasure trove the desert is.

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  15. hahaha grumpy rock. I love the rock formations. It is wonderful that this site and handprints are preserved so well. Looks like a beautiful hike.

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  16. Great photos! Amazing rock formations! Love the flowers!

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  17. Thank you for sharing your (sometimes super dangerous . . golly, please be careful) - adventures. Sometimes it feels like I'm home again . . and, today your adventure has warmed my heart.(it's 7 degrees at the moment - will warm to, maybe 20 degrees this afternoon.) Brilliant New Year to You!

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  18. What a special location, I love these rock formations as well as the paintings on the rocks. Thanks for sharing and for the interesting story.

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  19. What a challenge! The various shelters fascinate me, whether or not the walls have images. I got a kick out of "grumpy rock" :)

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  20. Thank you for your comment to me.
    Now I have taken a closer look at your post and am speechless about this hike in this magnificent landscape!
    It must be great to experience something like this.
    Thank you for showing.
    Warm greetings from Germany

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  21. I found this one particularly dangerous.
    You kept me on the edge of my seat. : )

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  22. Hell to heaven in desert photos ~ I commend you ~ Wow! What an amazing feat ~ and divine photos ~ Awesome! Xo


    Wishing you a Happy Day ~

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  23. Great to have people around you on these kinds of trips once in the while.Since it gave you the opportunity to photograph them, it's amazing in which kinds of corners one can find themselves! Love the first image:) A happy New Year of 2022 with many great desert trips to you Peter! Emille

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  24. Your a better man that me going through all those boulders. The grumpy rock reminds me of a Terry Pratchett boo I read with Golems in it.

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  25. What a fantastic hike and great pictures! I've done that same loop a couple times and really enjoyed it. I crawled inside that hollowed out boulder as well as the one across from it with the barbel petroglyphs. Didn't find any rock art inside either one but there was soot on the wall and embers on the floor from ancient campfires. A little ways past the "shark fin" rock that you have pictured there's a rock shelter with three grinding slicks on the left side of the wash - again I couldn't find any rock art, but it makes a nice cool place to rest before the scramble out.

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    1. Thanks! And thanks for the tip on the rock shelter and grinding slicks. I'll check it out next time I pass that way!

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  26. Thank YOU for bringing us along. All great pictures, every one!

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  27. Dearest Peter,
    WOW, how deceiving those Google Earth views can be!
    Glad you made it in one piece and sure glad this was not a hike on your own.
    Incredible photos, as usual and even grumpy rock ranks high.
    Hugs and good luck for this new year of adventure(s).
    Mariette

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  28. Absolutely stunning photography! And a California fuchsia in the wild!

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  29. Thank you for sharing this wonderful place via your beautiful captures and commentary!

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  30. I can see why they call that one dinosaur rock, it does look very much like one that's been frozen in time.

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  31. Another great post with interesting and amazing photos from your hike in the desert. I like the dinosaur and grumpy rock.

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  32. Wow, another great adventure in a not-inviting landscape! To visit your blog is always a joy. My favorite is the grumpy rock...
    Have a good and healthy New Year with new hikes

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  33. stunning hand prints,i wonder how they made the red paint

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  34. wow! This was indeed a strenuous hike through a dangerous boulder area. I imagine it is good that this interesting shelter cave full of hand prints is locate din such a remote pot and therefor safe from vandals. I read recently that vandals destroyed petroglyphs at Big Bend National Park by carving their names over them. So sad.

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  35. Oh my gosh that was a wonderful hike Peter, except for the almost dying part at the end. )) That part had my heart pounding just reading about it. But how I love that handprint cave and the grinding stone (I can never remember the name). What a neat place. Is there a way to tell about when the graphs were made? These ones are so different from anything I've seen (or more to the point that you've showed!

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  36. Amazing! Those sculpted rocks almost look organic!

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