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Post by NatureNut on Sept 28, 2010 22:59:14 GMT -5
On the way to Canyonlands, we stopped in Indian Creek Canyon we were delighted to see this. It's called Newspaper Rock, a State Historic Monument. It's a petroglyph panel with symbols from Ancestral Puebloans dating back 2000 years, then cowboys added to it, visitors in the 1950's left their mark also. So it is a smorgasbord of symbols. Archaeologists have attempted to decipher them, and there are several theories. They may be telling a story, been a part of hunting magic, denoting clan territory, an ancient form of graffiti, or just doodling. No one knows for sure. Canyonlands National Park has three sections, the northernmost Island in the Sky has the most paved roads. The southwestern portion, called The Maze, only accessible by 4WD trails, and the southeastern section which we visited, called The Needles. Canyonlands is a fairly new park, established in 1964 and covers 257,000 acres. The striping comes from red and white sandstone. The enormous ancient inland sea (Mancos, from the Pennsylvanian Age) slowly evaporated leaving the salt behind in an area called The Great Salt Basin. Many sediments were deposited in this layer. The Red colored sediment from the mountains of the east interfingered with the white coastal deposits of the west. As the salt diluted with rain, it ran down into cracks in the rock, shifted under the sand stone, crystalizing, forming the arches, spires and fins we now see. There are paved roads, 2WD gravel roads and 4WD roads in the park. We took a 2 WD road and saw those Needles up close. Last but not least... the vid! Thanks for coming with! Jo
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dbrealityrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2010
Posts: 1,084
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Post by dbrealityrocks on Sept 28, 2010 23:08:14 GMT -5
Are you headed for Arches next? If so and you like to hike the hike to double o arch and then the primitive trail is fabulous. The orchard where I work is just east 2 hrs from arches and I love that part of Utah. If you head for Bryce Canyon the drive through Capitol Reef then south at Torres is wonderful. Peekaboo trail at Bryce and Angels landing in Zion are a couple of my favs. Thanks for sharing your trip w/us.
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Post by NatureNut on Sept 28, 2010 23:37:20 GMT -5
DB, we did Bryce last week just after Vegas, (haven't posted the pics yet cause I have to finish the vid) Then we headed east to Green River and south to Mesa Verde and Canyonlands. We headed south to AZ this morning, and are going to see the Petrified Forest tomorrow (I know, we're moving around pretty fast). I wanted to see Capitol Reef something awful, but we decided to save it for the next time we come back. Really wanna slow down and spend some real time here. We did Zion and Arches two years ago and you are so right, they are both incredible. That whole circuit you mentioned is called the Grand Circle.
I love when you guys post your experiences at these parks and the places you loved most, really look forward to it! Jo
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adrian65
Cave Dweller
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,787
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Post by adrian65 on Sept 29, 2010 0:46:04 GMT -5
What marbelous places are you visiting! I like the video so much, the music completes the image so well! Just after that giant shoe, a sort of chair (throne) appears in that distant cliff.
Adrian
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Post by NatureNut on Sept 29, 2010 1:32:29 GMT -5
Adrian, you have good eyes. I was looking for other things in the rocks, but missed that one. Believe it or not, that music was composed for that park. It worked out pretty well. We're already looking forward to when we can go back again and see the northern section, Island in the Sky.
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Post by texaswoodie on Sept 29, 2010 7:04:36 GMT -5
Awesome Jo! I'm wondering if the wheel in the third pic is ancient or if it was added later.
Curt
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Post by beefjello on Sept 29, 2010 8:33:19 GMT -5
Looks like a great place Jo! Christa and I just watched the video and really enjoyed it. I'm noticing 4 - 6 toes on some of those doodled footprints.. interesting Thanks for sharing!
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Post by Bikerrandy on Sept 29, 2010 9:58:36 GMT -5
I'm noticing a deer getting shot in the arss in the third pic. lol ..... Awesome pics & video!
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Post by NatureNut on Sept 29, 2010 11:17:42 GMT -5
I knew you guys would like the petroglyphs as much as I did, here are some more pics for ya. There's one that looks like an alien, I'll have to upload it and post it. Can't do it now, cause we're heading to another park, but I will later.
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Post by tanyafrench on Sept 29, 2010 12:12:47 GMT -5
That is the most scenic area in the country. I have been to Bryce Canyon and that is still my favorite. Grand Canyon is nice but I personally liked Bryce better and this is beautiful. I live in the East where we have big tall trees, that terrain is so stark it just stands out to me. Awesome.
Tanya
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Post by tkrueger3 on Sept 29, 2010 13:11:14 GMT -5
Thanks for the pics and movie, Jo! I like to be reminded every once in a while that those areas have colors other than black, white, and shades of gray. Because I've never been there, except for the Saturday morning cowboys & Indians cereals on our first black & white TV, when I was a young lad. It's hard to mentally add color to those old images without some help - you helped! THANKS!
Tom
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Post by Toad on Sept 29, 2010 22:27:51 GMT -5
The soundtrack on the vid is great. Love the pics.
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Post by jakesrocks on Sept 29, 2010 22:40:18 GMT -5
Man, 6 toed feet ? I'll bet those Indians were eating those south of the border mushrooms. ( For religious reasons of course ). lol
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turnedstone
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since January 2006
Posts: 766
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Post by turnedstone on Sept 30, 2010 6:01:17 GMT -5
Hi Jo what great pics you took. To me from Zion to Moab is the most spectacular scenery in the country bar none. Grand Staircase Escalante is by far my favorite place on the planet lol. They are finding many whole or almost whole Dino's in staircase. Much of it is unexplored as it is one of our newest National Monuments it is a must see if you are within 500 miles lol. Lake Powell is worth a visit to, its a shame they flooded some of the most spectacular canyons when they built the Glen canyon dam but the blue water against the red canyon walls are spectacular as well. True story the guy mostly held responsible for the dam being built there was one of the last people to go Thur the canyons on a float trip he had never been there before he cried and said what have I done. He was I charge of the other area they were thinking of building it which became Dinosaur National Mon. George
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catskillrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,270
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Post by catskillrocks on Sept 30, 2010 19:35:52 GMT -5
Jo, I'm kinda left speechless. What beautiful areas of the country you are exploring, visiting. Thank you for your thinking of those of us who can only dream of being in those places. Your pictures, narrative & videos are top notch, & the music in them is perfect.
Thank you,
Don
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Post by stonesthatrock on Oct 1, 2010 15:40:11 GMT -5
another masterpiece by jo......... you do a wonderful job on taking us along and i love the vid. next time we leave to go north, we just have to go threw there.
mary ann
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