2 months of canyons and buttes and arches was pretty close to my limit too.
But I had been there before and really wanted to share it with Carol. So we headed up the Interstate one morning.
It's a long drive off the Interstate through boring hilly desert and sagebrush. Then, you come over the crest of a hill and
The first overlook was called "The Beehives"
for obvious reasons.
Following our usual plan, we drove East through the park to the East entrance. Then we came back stopping at viewpoints.
Elephant Rock. This one was a little hard for my imagination because I was looking for just a head, not an entire elephant. But there it is.
The CCC built cabins here for people who were traveling through the Valley.
There was information about the people, but no explanation as to WHY anyone would travel through this desolate place.
Seven Sisters came next.
While at Elephant Rock we met a trio of people from New Orleans. Then we saw them again at Seven Sisters and talked more. Toni and Rene' Maggio and Rene's brother, Bruce Yokum. Even though they live north of New Orleans, they always travel during hurricane season. We shared tips about Las Vegas, New Orleans and photography. He's a bit more serious about it than we are. Check it out at www.studiomaggio360.com
Some other interesting formations near Seven Sisters
His mother always told him that his face was going to freeze like that.
A bit of trivia. Paramount filmed the death of James T. Kirk in "Star Trek Generations" right here in Valley of Fire.
Why do I mention this?
Wait for it.
I didn't see how anything could top that but we came to Petroglyph Canyon. I think I've mentioned earlier that many of the rock formations we've seen have a black coating on them. Geologists call it "varnish". It weathers in interesting ways and I kept telling Carol I saw petroglyphs everywhere.
But HERE they really were everywhere.
Scientists struggle to date their origin but there are clues. No horses means pre 1500's.
No bows and arrows in hunting scenes means one to several thousand years old.
The next section involved hikes of an hour or more. But this sign was at the trail head.
So we drove to the next area.
Rainbow Vista. THIS is what the Valley is known for. Not just the reds and whites we'd seen almost everywhere, but purple and blue and yellow and orange. The sun was too high to really capture it but even so it's beautiful.
Atlatl Rock.
Here we climbed a staircase to a platform that allowed really "up close and personal" views of the petroglyphs.
"Atlatl" is a stick used to throw small spears. It was in use for thousands of years before the bow and arrow. Since it is pictured here, scientists believe these petroglyphs are definitely several thousand years old and may be 10,000 years old.
And Carol found another chipmunk.
WHOOPS. It's our first Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel.
One more arch and we headed back to Las Vegas.
With the grays and browns.
Another incredible day including making new friends.
God is Good.
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