Thursday, April 17, 2025

Petroglyph Sneak Preview

 This location has been on my "to do" list for years, but I never took the time to check it out because it's so remote and far removed from my usual destinations. So when my friend JP and I were talking about possible hiking spots, and I mentioned I've (still!) never visited, he said that's it, gotta go!! JP knows the area well and acted as both guide and hiking companion on this adventure (if you read this JP, THANKS!). I won't mention or otherwise give away the location for obvious reasons.
 
Before getting to our primary hiking destination, JP stopped to show me some glyphs on some boulders at the mouth of a wash. 
 
A closer view.
 
MJD was here in more recent times (Jan (?) of '31).
 
Interesting mix of old and new(er).
 

The petroglyphs in this area are so clear!
 
I'm not used to seeing glyphs carved into stone right on the ground like this!
 
There are a couple small mines in the area, and the initials carved in the rock were probably made by miners back in the day. It's a fascinating area, and easily deserving of it's own destination, but we didn't have time to explore and moved on quickly to our primary destination. I was to later find out that this was just a small taste of the main event (to be shared next week). Call it a sneak preview!
 
To avoid petroglyph overload, I'm going to fast forward to the end of the day. We still have about an hour of daylight left, and there is supposed to be an old mine in the area, so we go looking for it.
We are exporing one wash over from "petroglyph wash" and it's an interesting area. No human footprints and it appears to get few visitors. 
 
A curious old circular tree trunk or branch, and some rusty metal tell us that something was here.
 
Lumber and pieces of brick confirm it.
 

Miner's cabin remains?
 
Old tent site?
 
This low rock wall looks man made.
 
 
?
 
As we explore the hillside, we look down on the wash we had been climbing up earlier. It's in the center of the photo, and it's full of boulders. No wonder my legs are so tired!
 
Somewhere up in these boulder-covered hills is a mine, and perhaps a couple of mines, but we're just not seeing them. It's steep and my legs are tired, so I'm content avoiding the steep boulders (where the mines are likely hiding) and continue exploring the less steep areas.
 
 
Strange place for an old bedspring!
 

Old tent site with some poles still in place.
 
As the sun sinks low on the horizon, it's time to make the hike back to the car.
Thanks for joining me on this adventure! 
We didn't find the mine(s), but we found lots of other cool stuff including some amazing petroglyphs. I know this is an area I will be returning to at some point, so it's not goodbye, rather it's happy trails until we meet again!
 
Linking with Skywatch Friday.

43 comments:

  1. Always good to see petrogylphs ~ Happy Trails to you ~

    Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
    A ShutterBug Explores ~ clm
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  2. Good that you checked it out. I've never seen glyphs but there are plenty of old unused and used mines here where I live.

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  3. ...ancient graffiti? In the Adirondacks, there is a carry it in, carry it out policy. It was need there!. Thanks for showing me around.

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  4. An interesting outing with some great finds in the petroglyphs and other more modern "trash". Seeing some petroglyphs so close to the ground must tell us something about how the terrain has changed over the centuries. Seeing the more modern things makes you wonder what they were doing there back when.

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  5. Old intermingling with the relatively new made for an interesting adventure I thoroughly enjoyed right from my chair. :)

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  6. When you say, Happy Trails, do you have Roy and Dale playing in your head? I do.

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  7. A wonderful day of exploring and discovering for you, leaving me totally impressed by your photography recording this adventure. The desert light and formations captured stunningly.

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  8. You some intriguing sites. Strange how bedsprings appear. I've seen them out in the middle of nowhere in a forest with no other things human related around.
    I'm wondering if that guy MJD who went by the rock in 1931 was a surveyor. That symbol under the initials looks vaguely like a surveying type thing.
    Another excellent adventure from you

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    1. Hadn't thought of that. The aqueduct in this area was built way back in the early 1900's, so the date would be about right.

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  9. More beautiful desert photos. Petroglyphs are always an added bonus.

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  10. What an amazing adventure! The desert landscapes in your photos showcase such incredible natural rock formations—so much variation and beauty.

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  11. What were the miners looking for in the mines? And what tool was used to scratch the images into the rocks? Perhaps those glyphs were not always so close to the ground? Lots of questions because this is such an alien landscape for me.

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    1. Excellent questions! The mine in this area was reported to be a small gold mine. Not sure if they had much success. I'm guessing a sharp, hard stone was used to make petroglyphs, but I've never seen pictures of what such a stone would look like.

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  12. The area is fascinating. Through your photos, the desert always draws me in but I wouldn't be able to walk there as you do. Thank you for taking me along!

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  13. All beautiful and fascinating captures!

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  14. Interesting location. I take it your primary destination yielded quite the number of petroglyphs.

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  15. Looks like a tough place to live and try to mine.

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  16. Wonderful place, Fantastic series of photos. Always loved your post.

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  17. What an awesome adventure with those fascinating finds!

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  18. Finding old stuff like that always amazes me at how quickly nature reclaims what is hers but also reminds me how long some of the stuff we leave behind remain.

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  19. Great shots! Don't you love the mystery of these places. Who lived here? Who traveled through? So very interesting.

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  20. Remarkable finds that raise as many questions as they answer, it seems to me.

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  21. A wonderful and truly fascinating post. I love ❤️ all the photos as well. Thank you so much for sharing.

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  22. Petroglyph overload? No, there is no such thing. I found the juxtaposition of the petroglyphs and the modern graffiti (1931? 1831?) both interesting and a little sad. The mystery finds are mysteries to me too, alas. Another fascinating post and I hope there is a sequel.

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  23. Querido amigo, bellísimas fotografías, me encantó visitarte.

    Oooo......♥Hola♥
    (....).... Oooo....♥querido amigo♥
    .\..(......(....)...que el amor
    ..\_)..... )../....llene tu vida y tu corazón
    .......... (_/.....paso a desearte, un...
    oooO
    (....).... Oooo....Feliz Día
    .\..(......(....)...Que esta Semana Santa nos inspire a vivir
    ..\_)..... )../....con bondad, compasión y perdón hacia los demás.
    .......... (_/..... Dejando mi huella..

    ¡¡¡FELICES PASCUAS!!!
    Abrazos y te dejo un besito
    *♥♫♥**♥♫♥**♥♫♥*--*♥♫♥**♥*

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  24. Awesome glyphs. It's great you have a few friends that enjoy the hiking and exploring as much as you do! Happy Easter.

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  25. I couldn't tell you how I love these hikes with you. So strange and beautiful. With you eyes and wonderful explorations, I've the opportunity to know a little bit about a wonderful place on earth that I will never see in my life. Thanks a lot Peter.

    Happy Easter for you and yours.

    sincerely, isabella

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  26. These are great photos. Wonderful :-D

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  27. Human legacy of different times fully adapted to the landscape. Beautiful.

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  28. Finding those old artifacts is crazy cool from the miners ... I suspect. I'd probably stand there and make up stories about what happened and why it happened back then. Did they camp there long? How long did they stay? Obviously long enough to bring things in. How did they survive.

    And those petroglyphs are amazing. Can't wait to see more of them!

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    1. I'm guessing they pretty much lived at these mines as they worked them. This site has a few cabin and tent site remains. I can't imagine how they got their food and other supplies to such a remote location. I'm guessing a can of beans most every night for dinner!

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  29. An exploring paradise with lots to find and look at, I doubt may people have seen it and the miners having gone

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  30. Judging from all the remains you found, you were close to where the mine is located. The miners left their marks on the rocks.

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  31. An amazing adventure with some interesting finds. Thanks for sharing.

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  32. Stunning scenery and some interesting finds!

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  33. Love these photos. I was reflecting the other day how old, abandoned houses somehow call to me. What stories do they have to tell? What love and life and ultimately struggle do they represent? Now I've added the remains of a miner's cabin to my mental album.

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  34. Fascinating photos!
    And what an awesome adventure! The petroglyphs are so cool, and the old miner’s cabin was a neat find. Even if you didn’t find the mine this time, I bet there’s more to explore next time! Can’t wait to see more! Happy trails!

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  35. Signs of another "ancient" civilization.

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  36. Love 'em all. Even a broken jug top. /wish I could have been there as I always do...

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