On Pinwheels And Roundheads

We've been here a bit before but not quite like this. A conversation with a newbie astronomer  for the park service in Hovenweep this month prompted this post. He had not seen many petroglyphs and was unaware of these. I attempted to explain what is below in the pictures. I must be a terrible communicator or something as I could not get this across.

He said to me that pinwheels are very common in nature. One of the few things I was any good at in school was biology and pinwheels did not ring a bell. Go search yourself and there's not much there and certainly nothing that would have been seen in my opinion anyway a 1000 years or so ago when these these drawings were done in this part of the country.

Remember about clicking on the pictures twice to make them bigger each time for a real good look.





Here is another at the same place (McKee Springs) in Dinosaur National Monument. A bit different  but a pinwheel none the less. The was a huge exhibit of petroglph pictures at the Anasazi Heritage Center including the figures above but not this one. No picture in that exhibit included another pinwheel and they were from all over. 

What these do resemble very closely are these.



Just to the west lies the McConkie Ranch where the roundheads are found. Nowhere in that picture exhibit was there a roundhead anywhere close to these and there are three examples here one of which is very dramatic in my humble opinion which since no one knows for sure has as much merit as the big boys and more than some astronomers. A couple different vantage points for these.




This is the third.


It is these that I think are telling.




Exactly 23 miles.


To me this means whoever made the pinwheels saw that design some how in the heavens and drew what he saw. They looked through a telescope/got a ride or maybe it was a hologram but they drew what they saw for sure.

The same with the two roundheads with the one slit. These people in this case again drew what they saw. The fact these places are so close together is interesting as well. I have not seen roundheads like these anywhere else and if any one has please tell me about them.

Toga Toga Toga

History doesn't tell us who uttered those words made famous many years later but started here on the Green River. The locals saw boats approaching and they looked like they were in trouble.


They were surrounded by sharks and with the help of the locals made it to shore and safety. It was then those words were heard an lo and behold the visitor and his entourage was John Wesley Powell.


The music began in earnest.


All wore smiles.


The bubbly flowed like the Green River itself.


The dancing girls danced harder and there were more smiles.
 

Legend along the river has it that later on in the evening this fellow and his buddy's showed up and gave the parties a light show in the sky that capped the end of a fine party along the river those so many years ago.


Disclaimer: The only thing that's true is that there is a Green River. Powell did come through here. The pictures and art shown are very close to the river. The rest is pretty much pure rubbish.

Art On A Ledge Too

This was fun to find. I think this video does better than the pictures as the ledge is too narrow to get very far away. There were one set of old foot prints. No many are going to make the effort to get to these and others that I came across let alone look for and find out of the way presents left from the past.

Ones That Got Away For Now

When out hiking it's important to be looking around as in this case where binocs showed


these creatures not seen from a distance. Click on it and look below the red dots.


There was no doubt an attempt was going to be made to get to them. They are along the red line. Got up there and tried from the left and then the right but no banana. Ended up going way around on the right and coming down on the green line.


While traversing in front and below got a bit of a glimpse of a couple of them. Again they are by the red dots.
 

Of course there is a way to get there some better than others. With a keen eye you can find them as in the case here.

Around the corner above and down an easy ledge and back along the green line.


I did not see these on the way down but on the way back. Pretty cool and they look like shark fins to me.


I got down to here and was watching my footing when I stopped and looked up and saw two of the most pristine figures ever. They were just off my left shoulder. All the others were farther along.


I could not go further as it appeared to be fairly treacherous and a misstep would mean you're not maybe going to die but you're not getting anywhere without help and there is no help for miles.


Looking at the pictures as here I see a bad choice was made on where to try and get down to the ledge. It looks like one can get down where the green line points easier. These things will be had and I want to see the rest of these creatures badly. I may very well go back again on Friday and look for more as well. The weather is still crappy here. Have a good one and thanks for stopping.

Lori Darlin

While hiking In Natural Bridges National Monument met Lori on the trail to Sipapu Bridge. It was a very pleasant surprise  and in a short time talked about a number of things. It was so much fun but she could not continue to the Horse Collar Ruins.

Just recently watched Lonesome Dove and Gus is a favorite character and because of the way he speaks to Lori why Lori Darlin these pictures are for you with a thank you for taking the time to chat and I hope you get to see these.

Most taken here were not very good and in fact the whole trip this past week the pictures and video we did leave a lot to be desired and below are a few of the better ones from this hike.

I know the ones I took with your camera were terrible and I didn't do much better with mine. Conditions in the canyon was just hard and did not figure that out until returning home late this afternoon.

There will be some type of short film but it will take a while to piece it together as again not too good of job. But there are a number of pictures that will be worth looking at for later.

This debris was 10-12 feet high on this tree. A deluge of  .18" of rain causes a gully washer in these areas.

You can click on these twice to make them bigger.

This ruin is called the Horse Collar Ruin for the obvious reason.

Somewhere in the neighborhood of 700-1000 years old and possibly more.

These were 75' give or take from the bottom of the wash.

And one from on top of the mesa above Valley of the Gods.

End of July 2010 Colorado& Utah

It was a great weekend for camping and a bit of exploring. The weather couldn't have been much better. Here are some of the things seen.

Remember you can click  on these twice to make them huge.

I like this picture. There was a 360 view from here and I came back and stayed a second night. It's a bit trashed out and I can live with that.

Incredible evening and the stars were amazing as well.

You may have seen this before. Pintado Canyon. Carrot men 12 miles south of Rangely.

A horned toad. Drove right over him. Did know what it was and went back. He was good size. There will be a video up sometime at OTC and here as well.

In the town of Dinosaur. Where's Mama antelope?

I took a bunch of these and happy I came away with the few half decent ones that I did. Really different and I am tempted to go back to try again because these were so interesting and didn't do well at all.

This is not Mama.

Prairie dogs are no where close to being extinct

Taken at the cemetery in Meeker,CO.

This just happens to be the size gun my Dad used during WWII. 105MM  This is in the cemetary in Meeker as well.