Cochise

THE MOST EPIC, BAD A$$ PICTORIAL EVER !!!

I want to go there NOW !

IntrepidXJ

Thanks everyone.....I have 2 more days to go....still going through all my photos

Weeds

When are you going to start leading tours? I want to come along. Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IntrepidXJ

Day 8: Mule Canyon

Saturday, April 16, 2011

On Saturday we woke up again to yet another cold morning, but thankfully not quite as cold as the previous day. Originally we were planning on staying in our current campsite for the last night, but at the last minute we changed our plans and decided to move to Comb Wash for the last night. We packed up camp and headed over to Comb Wash and then setup camp again. Once camp was set, we headed over to Mule Canyon and were hoping to take a nice leisurely stroll up the canyon for an easy day of exploring……but as I stated before, is seems Jared and I don’t quite know the meaning of an ‘easy day’ because by the time we reached the Jeep again we had hiked over 8.5 miles round trip with a lot of climbing up to ruins along the way.

Of course we visited the House on Fire (Flaming Roof) ruins, and then we continued up the canyon a few more miles searching for other ruins and rock art as we went. I know we missed some of them, probably because we turned around too soon, so I’m sure I’ll be heading back again sometime in the future

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5688758106/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5688758106/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5688500585/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5688500585/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5689080972/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5689080972/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

An overview of the House on Fire ruins.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5688503069/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5688503069/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

The next set of ruins we found up the canyon from House on Fire.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5688503835/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5688503835/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

Jared and the view up Mule Canyon.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5689075762/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5689075762/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

A well-preserved set of ruins further up.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5688504183/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5688504183/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

A closer look at the ruins since we didn’t even try to find a way up to them since there was no obvious route.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5689076164/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5689076164/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

When we reached the spot in the canyon we turned around at, I stopped to rest in the shade of this tree and took this photo as I lay on the cool sandstone.

IntrepidXJ

On our way back down Mule Canyon we stopped and climbed up to one more site we had skipped on the way up. I’m glad we did, since there turned out to be some cool rock art, too.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5688683118/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5688683118/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

The top of the alcove glows bright orange in the background with the large concentric circles in the foreground.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5689078082/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5689078082/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

Here we found another painted wall that used to be in the back of a structure. There are plenty of petroglyphs located above the paint, too.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5689079652/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5689079652/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

We were unable to climb up to these ruins located on a ledge above us.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5689080308/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5689080308/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

Jared checking out a small granary.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5688507761/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5688507761/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

The same granary as above, in the colorful alcove.

There was still plenty of time left in the day when we reached the trailhead again so we headed up the Dog Tanks Road to visit the petroglyphs on Walnut Knob.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5689070718/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5689070718/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

Looking back at Comb Ridge from Walnut Knob where UT-95 cuts through.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5688501287/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5688501287/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

One of the two large panels of petroglyphs found on Walnut Knob.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5688510539/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5688510539/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

A closer look at the panel. Probably a Ute panel since there are horseback riders in the scene.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5689086186/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5689086186/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

Here’s the other larger panel.

IntrepidXJ

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5688502365/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5688502365/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

A closer look.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5689072738/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5689072738/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

Closeup of the shield figure.

Afterwards we headed to Blanding for some dinner at the Homestead Steak House where I had a burger and some of their homemade biscuits. After our meal we headed to the Mule Canyon Towers to await the sunset and the stars that night. Before it got too dark out Jared showed me some petroglyphs he had found the last time he explored this site.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5689085578/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5689085578/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

A small structure found near the Mule Canyon Towers.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5689081938/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5689081938/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

The moon rising over the rim of Mule Canyon as we explore below.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5689069446/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5689069446/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

The ‘Hunt Scene’ petroglyph panel that Jared showed me.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5689082810/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5689082810/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

A closer look at some of the figures in the panel, including a duck-headed man.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5688513085/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5688513085/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

Looks like it was a successful hunt!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5689083244/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5689083244/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

Lower Mule Canyon as the sun sets.

Once it was dark enough we both tried out some night shots.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5685879586/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5685879586/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

When I setup this shot, my original goal was to get some star trails to show up through the window as well as around the tower. Unfortunately, some clouds blew through the shot as I was taking it, so that didn’t work out as I had planned this time. I do like the way the clouds look in this shot, though. The lighting on the tower is from the almost-full moon behind the camera. I didn’t have to add any additional light.

Mule Canyon Tower Timelapse Video: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5688394403/
Follow the link above to a very short time-lapse video I made of the separate shots used to make the photo above. You can see the clouds blowing through the scene and also the moonlight on the tower changing.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5688523793/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5688523793/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

Before we left, Jared had the idea for this shot and took one. I liked the idea and took a quick shot with the Big Dipper above the Mule Canyon Tower.

When we were done, it was back to Comb Ridge for our last night of the trip.

Day 9, the final day, to be continued…

IntrepidXJ

Day 9: Long Fingers Canyon

Sunday, April 17, 2011

The last day of our 9 day trip had finally arrived and I was looking forward to getting home and taking a real shower. We wanted to make this a shorter day so that we wouldn’t be getting home too late. We broke down camp, had a quick breakfast and then we crossed over Comb Ridge and headed south along Butler Wash. Then we hiked into Long Fingers Canyon and explored all of the alcoves, ruins and rock art that we could find. It was a nice and easy hike with a lot to see and explore. It’s amazing how many large alcoves this short canyon contains!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5705132816/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5705132816/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

Hiking along the ‘now closed’ road towards Comb Ridge and Long Fingers Canyon.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5692201876/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5692201876/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

The first large alcove we came to had a set of white handprints on the back wall.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5704566955/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5704566955/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

As we neared the Long Fingers Ruins we passed a number of faint petroglyphs and pictographs. I spotted this faint red anthropomorph high above.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5691634169/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5691634169/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

This is certainly one of the more unique petroglyphs I have come across. I’ve never seen anything like it before. It was hard to get a good shot of it, but I think this one turned out OK.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5705136170/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5705136170/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

Another of the faint petroglyphs on the way to the ruins.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5704568907/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5704568907/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

Here’s another stick figure that has a round middle section….my guess would be representing pregnancy.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5704569607/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5704569607/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

This boulder has a few interesting petroglyphs and a couple of metate grooves.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5704652185/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5704652185/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

Jared exiting the deep alcove below the ruins.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5705232990/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5705232990/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

These spirals appear to have legs and feet with three toes.

IntrepidXJ

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5705206744/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5705206744/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

Here’s another ruin that appears to have had the back wall painted red and black.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5704611095/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5704611095/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

Here’s the set of hand petroglyphs with very long fingers from where the canyon gets it’s name.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5705192006/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5705192006/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

A couple of bird feet or tracks.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5704570507/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5704570507/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

There were plenty of boulders around in the alcoves containing many metate grooves, but this one had more grooves than a lot of the others.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5691632265/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5691632265/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

A few small pictographs in another alcove.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5691632849/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5691632849/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

A closeup of some spiral design handprints.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5691633547/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5691633547/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

This alcove contained a whole bunch of handprints.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5704728935/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5704728935/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

An overview of the canyon and the Long Fingers Ruins…..some above and some below.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5705156724/http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/5705156724/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/, on Flickr

Up by the higher set of ruins are a few green pictographs. I took this photo from below before we exited the canyon.

After we exited the canyon we climbed up comb Ridge to try and access the higher set of ruins, but the route to reach them was a bit too much for us, so we headed back down to the Jeep and called it a day. Jared and I parted ways and a few hours later I was back home and unloading the Jeep.

We hiked a lot of miles….my legs were tired….I spent some time with good friends….we explored many new places….it was a great trip!


The End.

Four Low

Thank you for sharing your adventures and photos- always a pleasure to read...

chazzmania

Those are some awesome photos! makes me really want to get a nicer camera.

What kind of settings did you use to get the pic with the stars??? I love those shots!


You should try to get a starry night sky with the JK in it! Thats my goal when I camp out in the desert next.