Valles Canyon

The road into Valles Canyon

Jimmy, Becca and I hiked into Valles Canyon this morning, and we spent much of the day trekking through a rugged dry creek bed searching for petroglyphs--Native American rock art.  Turns out it was fairly easy to find, and it was remarkable.  A few symbols were easy to identify, like those for rattlesnakes, but others were quite baffling.  Some were ancient, and others more recent.  I read yesterday that much of the rock art dates back to the year 0; more vivid examples are 150 to 200 years old.  We had a wonderful long day exploring a fascinating place in southern New Mexico.

Rock ruins

Jimmy on the rocky path into the canyon

Rugged hiking in a dry stream bed

Our first sighting of magnificent rock art

Jimmy suggested this might be a Pronghorn Antelope and its prints (right)

Bighorn Sheep?

Portrait of a Collared Lizard?

Jimmy photographing petroglyphs

Rattlesnake symbols and a human form

You be the judge

Frontal view of a Bighorn Sheep?

This almost looks like a Gila Monster that ate a duck

Bird with a big eye?

Rugged canyon walls

Rocky going

A much-needed break in the shade

The figure at right looks like an Apache Crown dancer symbol

Canyon greenery

Becca keeping a watchful eye on her buddy, Jimmy

Shade break

Where the water has flowed for centuries

Prickly Pear Cactus sporting new pads

A perspective on how large these boulders are

A hueco (Indian well) where Native Americans ground mesquite beans

Man catching a snake?

Apache Plume

The way out

Out of the canyon

Bovine curiosity

Tiny bee enjoying the nectar

The true meaning of "peak"