"Bloody Hands" Pictograph Boulder

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"Bloody Hands" Pictograph Boulder

How to turn a short hike in J Tree into a day-long event? Hike in the Spring when the wildflowers are blooming. You'll see a spot of color off in the distance and just have to check it out. Try to get a picture of every lizard you see, they are very fast. As are the rabbits. Name the rocks as you hike through the formations. Rest in the shade of a Pinyon pine while eating crackers. Be on the lookout for abandoned cars. Inspect that old pile of mine tailings. Scramble to the top of that rock pile. And that one over there. Try to spot a bighorn sheep.

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Ryan Ranch Native American Habitation Site

/ Ryan Ranch Native American Habitation Sites/
Ryan Ranch Native American Habitation Site

Next time you're out hiking around Ryan Ranch, checkout some of those boulder piles on each side of the trail. I did recently and was excited to find at least two Native American habitation sites. 

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Geology Tour Road, Revisited

/ Geology Tour Road, Revisited/
Geology Tour Road, Revisited

I recently found an old, 1975 edition of the Geology and Man Motor Nature Trail Guide on my bookshelf. I must have bought it back it back in the day, probably on a trip to the Monument with my brother and parents. I can remember traveling along the bumpy road, stopping at the points indicated while someone read the description of what we were looking at. Those were fun trips and as I haven’t done that since, I thought it was time to revisit the Geology Tour Road to see what I could find.

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Barker Dam Nature Trail

/ Barker Dam Nature Trail/
Barker Dam Nature Trail

 

It had been over ten years since I last saw any water in Barker Dam, so when I heard reports that the recent monsoons had filled the dam up, I knew I wanted to get out and take a look. Then Murbachi emailed me some photos he took on 9/11/2013 and I knew the reports were true. Hoping there would still be enough water in the dam to provide some nice photos, and in spite of the weather forecast predicting temps in the mid-90s, I set out for the park.

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