JTNP - Lost Horse Valley Area - Petroglyphs 1

Although this post is about a small and obscure petroglyph site, most of the photos relate to the scenery instead. 

The general area is called Lost Horse Valley. I'll pipe down now, hope you enjoy the rest of the photos.

It's not much of a petroglyph panel, but I love it just the same.

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Stirrup Tank Adjacent Petroglyphs JTNP

Although this isn't a large site, it is noteworthy because of the type of petroglyphs that are there. Plus, it is in an absolutely gorgeous and rugged area. 

From here it looks like a nice and easy hike across this valley. That thought ends in about a hundred yards...

...when you run into this! Climbing down into, and then up out of this is actually the easiest way to go. During major storms, water rushes down these little gullies at amazing speed. Not a place you want to be stuck in.

 Plenty of gorgeous scenery

 This rock is our destination

Although there aren't very many of them remaining, the predominant petroglyphs at this site are the "barbell" looking symbols.  

There are many opinions relating to what exactly the "barbell" symbols represent. My granny told me that it represents a meeting between two people, or two groups of people. If there is a third circle in the middle, it represents a third party acting as an intermediary, or mediator. I believe her...

 It's always nice when mother nature graces us with a few clouds for our photos.

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Arch Rock - Joshua Tree National Park

Arch Rock is located very close to White Tank Campground in JTNP. It is reached by following a very short trail, and is very much worth the effort. The surrounding area is also gorgeous, and includes a couple of natural tanks. (tanks being areas where water naturally gathers).  It's not a huge arch, but there is more than enough room to stand in it and have your photo taken.

Here are a few photos from the area.

 Although they don't look very large in this photo, these rocks are huge.

A rock shelter right in the campground. 

 This one looks like a whale. Maybe Moby Dick...

The boulder in the middle also looks like a whale's head and teeth (in the middle of the photo).

This short hike is great for those who either can't, or won't expend much energy. 

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Skull Rock - Joshua Tree National Park

Skull Rock is another very popular spot in Joshua Tree National Park. It is located just outside of Jumbo Rocks Campground. If you don't feel like hiking to this spot via the Jumbo Rocks Trail, you can drive to it! It is right alongside the main road through the park. As usual, there are also plenty of other great natural sights in the area.

 That is one large forehead on that skull!

 A small arch very close to the skull.

 A few additional photos from the area.

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Indian Rock Shelter - Joshua Tree National Park

If you are doing a car tour of the park, this would be a good stop.
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This site is just off the parking lot for the trail leading up Ryan Mountain. It is a rock shelter that was used for many centuries by Indians traveling along an ancient trail from the Colorado River towards the coast. The site is signed and less than a hundred yards from where you park, just off the main road.

The shelter is behind the bush near the right side of the photo. 

 The opening is on the left. Love that tree! Nature always finds a way.

Inside the shelter is this rock with a mortero and a few cupules. 

 Also a "slick" or "metate" used for grinding food. You can tell by the very smooth surface that it was used for a very long time.

Tay standing inside the shelter. There are/were pictographs also. Unfortunately, they are hidden, or were destroyed by soot and pitch, from centuries of fires. I couldn't find any trace of them. I'm not giving up yet...

 Here are two photos taken in the mid 1970's (not by me). I don't see any sign of them in either photo. Not even with DStretch.

 Can you see anything?

Tay doing what she does best. 

This photo was taken just outside my jeep, that is parked in the Ryan Mountain parking lot. It is very much worth a visit if you are driving through the park.

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Wonderland Ranch House Ruins - Joshua Tree National Park

I apologize for my extended absence. More health issues popped up, that I will explain in my next post. 
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I just realized that although I've been to this spot many times, I've never posted anything about it. The Wonderland Ranch ruins are sometimes referred to as the "Ohlson Ranch." Other than the name, there is very little known about it. It's in a great place and makes me imagine what it would have been like to live there.

Despite the fact that this place is very close to one of the main tourist draws in the park, very few people visit it. 

This ranch house was very isolated "back in the day." The round stone lined pit in the foreground appears to be a water cistern.

My granddaughter Tay (who most of you know by now) standing by the fireplace. Despite being in the desert, it gets VERY cold here. I'm sure people stood right there to keep warm. 

Speaking of cold, that is my bundled up wife, in the lower middle. This photo is from a different visit to the same place. It was about 25 degrees on this day. 

Over the years, visitors have been placing small, found items on this wall.  

Part of a small can dump near the house. There are many more in the area. 

This small stone structure once had what looked like a metal oven, or grill on it. The metal part was on it until several years ago. I looked around for it, but it has vanished. 

At ground level, you can see many Joshua Trees around it.

An old truck near the ranch house. 

Not many exciting things to write about from this spot, but it's still a great part of the local history. More than worth the small effort it takes to get there.


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