Canyonlands National Park | Wandering through Time and Place

Tag: Canyonlands National Park
- Out of 20,000 Photos… Newspaper Rock— a petroglyph wonderland!
  
  Posted at 5:00 am by Curt Mekemson
  
  Apr 29th
  
  Newspaper Rock. I am standing beside the National Historic Site to provide perspective. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson.)
  
  It’s Wednesday, so that means a quick photographic essay, selected from my 20,000 pictures. It would be ever so easy to spend a day selecting photos, which would seriously detract from my objective of freeing up time. So I decided to do random. I closed my eyes and scrolled down iPhoto. When I hit enter, I opened my eyes, and there was Newspaper Rock, staring at me.
  
  Over 2000 years of Native American petroglyphs are found on Newspaper Rock.
  
  Newspaper Rock sits on the edge of Canyonlands National Park up in the northeastern corner of Utah. It contains all of the news that’s fit to print, or at least all the news from the perspective of local Native Americans who have chipped away at the rock for over 2,000-years. Who knows what it all means. As the information sign says, “We do not know if the figures represent story telling, doodling, hunting magic, clan symbols, ancient graffiti or something else.” That means the figures are open to interpretation, right? So interpret, I will.
  
  Food has been sighted. What’s on today’s menu?
  
  Two flying squirrels were seen leaping between Ponderosa Pines.
  
  A large buffalo is down at the wallow.
  
  Three elk are up on the ridge.
  
  A Big Horned Sheep with scrawny front legs is feeding up on the mountain.
  
  And Big Bird is down at the pond. (Nothing scrawny about her legs.)
  
  Stay out of the canyon. The tracks of Momma Bear and her cub have been sighted.
  
  Hop on your horse and grab your bow and arrows. It’s time to get dinner.
  
  Ready for the hunt.
  
  Whoops.
  
  Having been warned, Walks on Feet hiked into the canyon anyway. Now he is being stalked by Momma Bear. The trail ends here.
  
  Success! Always Gets His Buck shoots an elk in the butt.
  
  It’s time for a feast. All the cool guys will be there.
  
  Scorpion Hat shakes a leg and Sheep joins in.
  
  Ladder Man shouts “Woo hoo!”
  
  And Horny Fellow practices a flying leap.
  
  For after dinner entertainment, Stands On Horse will perform his amazing tricks.
  
  And Antenna Guy will display his recently captured flying saucer. That’s it for today. NEXT BLOG: I start my essay series. First up: Looking for God in All the Wrong Places.
  
  Posted in On the Road US | Tagged Canyonlands National Park, Newspaper Rock National Historic Site, petroglyphs, photography, travel
- Newspaper Rock: 2000 Years of Indian Rock Art… All the News that’s Fit to Peck
  
  Posted at 12:09 pm by Curt Mekemson
  
  Jul 27th
  
  Newspaper Rock is filled with Indian rock-art that has been created over a period of 2000 years. This is my version of the headlines.
  
  Sometime around when the historic Jesus was pounding the pavement of Jerusalem seeking recruits, Native Americans began pecking away at Newspaper Rock, creating petroglyphs. What they were trying to say is still something of a question mark. Guesses range from the mundane to the mysterious.
  
  For example, was the guy shooting the buck in the rear a mystical symbol to give the hunter luck, or was it a recording of the event. “Shot big buck. Everyone is invited over for venison stew.”
  
  Some images appear quite clear in intent. This Native American in sitting on a horse and using his bow and arrow to shoot a big buck. Hollywood would call it an action shot.
  
  Like modern graffiti, some rock-art was likely meant to say, “I was here” or “This is the territory of clan such and such…” a no trespassing and no hunting sign. Enter at your own risk.
  
  One interesting question is whether there was any purposeful art in rock-art? Did the creator peck away for the sheer joy of pecking away and creating a masterpiece?
  
  In Navajo the rock is called Tse’ Hane or “rock that tells story.”
  
  We can’t be sure when the individual petroglyphs were made. As I’ve noted before, Indian rock-art is very hard to date. The relative thickness of the rock varnish, the use of bow and arrows, the availability of horses, and the petroglyphs’ resemblance to other rock-art being created in the same era are all used as clues.
  
  The National Historic Marker at the site notes that Archaic, Basket Maker, Fremont, Pueblo and Navajo cultures added their stories to the rock. In more modern times, pioneers even became involved.
  
  Unfortunately, the tradition continues today. All too often people can’t resist adding their own names, marring and destroying the original petroglyphs at various sites. Think of spray-painting your name on the stained glass windows of the Cathedral Notre-Dame in Paris for comparison.
  
  What’s fascinating about Newspaper Rock is the sheer number of petroglyphs included and the time frame over which they were created. I am also impressed with the variety of animals represented. For example, I can’t recall seeing flying squirrels or rabbit tracks in other rock-art sites Peggy and I have visited.
  
  Newspaper Rock is located on Utah’s highway 211 which serves as the south entrance to Canyonlands National Park and is south of Moab. The following photos are a few examples of what you can expect to see. I take total responsibility for the interpretations.
  
  A flying squirrel sails across the sky at Newspaper Rock.
  
  Big foot, bear foot, bird foot and a screaming ladder.
  
  What little kids expect to find hiding under their bed at night.
  
  A bow-legged trick rider? Yeehaw!
  
  This represents the richness of wildlife found on Newspaper Rock. I see deer, a buffalo, big horn sheep, a bear and a lizard. I don’t have a clue what the long creature on the left with the strange legs is. Any guesses?
  
  I’ve included this photo to illustrate how crowded the petroglyphs are on Newspaper Rock. Note the rabbit tracks working their way upward on the upper-right center.
  
  Buffaloed?
  
  Bear with me. (grin)
  
  A picture of the complete Newspaper Rock site. The fence has been added to discourage people from defacing the petroglyphs.
  
  My favorite photo. I like the contrast between the orange sandstone and dark rock varnish.
  
  Posted in National Parks, On the Road US | Tagged Canyonlands National Park, Indian rock-art, Newspaper Rock, petroglyphs
- Where the Colorado and Green Rivers Meet… Canyonlands National Park
  
  Posted at 9:41 am by Curt Mekemson
  
  Jul 25th
  
  A gargoyle-type rock perches above the Colorado River in Canyonlands National Park.
  
  I have a weakness for gargoyles. Their grotesque features appeal to my sense of humor. Or is that warped sense of humor? Whether I am touring a medieval cathedral or visiting Gotham City, they leap out and capture my imagination. Thus I was delighted when I came across a gargoyle-type rock hanging out above Canyonlands National Park.
  
  Canyonlands is where the Green and Colorado Rivers meet. The down-cutting erosive power of these two rivers combined with the uplift of the Colorado Plateau and six million years of time are responsible for the breathtaking multitude of canyons and rock formations found in the Park.
  
  A trip out the park road to Island in the Sky provides views of both basins and other prominent park features. A detour to Dead Horse Point State Park off of the main road shows the Colorado River doubling back and almost meeting itself in a major meander known as the Gooseneck.
  
  The Colorado River winds around and almost meets itself at Gooseneck. This photo is taken from Dead Horse State Park and is looking down into Canyonlands.
  
  Flowers, twisted juniper trees, wildlife and distant mountains add to the scenery.
  
  Both Canyonlands and Arches National Park are easy day trips out of Moab in southeastern Utah. Sego Canyon with its fascinating examples of Indian rock art that I blogged about recently is also within easy driving distance.
  
  One of the Southwest’s best known Indian rock art sites, Newspaper Rock, is located on the southern road into Canyonlands National Park. I will feature the site in my next blog.
  
  Finger like canyons working downward to the Colorado River gradually cut away at the harder rock of White Mesa. This picture is taken from Grand View Point at the end of Island in the Sky Mesa. The maze-like canyons that disappear into the distance provide multiple reasons for the Parks name.
  
  Flowers, like this Indian Paintbrush, add a dash of color to Canyonlands.
  
  Junipers, even young ones, tend to look old, but this guy has obviously been around for a while.
  
  Raven has a special place in Native American lore. His tricky ways, croaky voice, and ability to survive in extreme conditions give him a special position in the bird kingdom.
  
  Spring is sprung but this young buck is still wearing his winter coat. While it may not be the height of fashion, it’s warm.
  
  Distant snow-covered mountains, multi-colored rock cliffs, deep canyons and picturesque trees are all part of the Canyonlands National Park scenery.
  
  Stark tree.
  
  It is easy to lose yourself in the vast open spaces of the Southwest. My wife Peggy and Cloud prove the point.
  
  The semi-arid climate, erosive forces of nature, and geology of Canyonlands National Park and the Southwest combine to create unique natural sculptures.
  
  If my memory serves me correctly, these two sculptures are called the Beehives.
  
  This massive monument of sandstone greets visitors at the north entrance to Canyonlands National Park.
  
  Posted in National Parks | Tagged Arches National Park, Canyonlands, Canyonlands National Park, Colorado River, Dead Horse Point State Park Utah, gargoyle, Gooseneck at Canyonlands, Green and Colorado River meet, Green River, Island in the Sky at Canyonlands, Moab Utah, Sego Canyon
- Bush Devil Ate Sam
  The Bush Devil Ate Sam is an important record and a serious story, yet told easily, and with delightful humor. This is one of the most satisfying books I have ever read, because it entertained me thoroughly AND made me feel better informed. —Hilary Custance Green: British Author... Click on the image to learn more about my book, the Bush Devil Ate Sam, and find out where it can be ordered.
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