Saturday, January 7, 2023

The 70th Birthday Adventure – November 2022 - Part Six – Gold Butte

 

please remember you can click on a photo to see a larger version & highlighted text are links to additional information

Please click here for – Part Five

 

 

Going to the Circus

 

It was now Sunday and the beginning of the Thanksgiving week. Julie and I had visited the Circus Panel ten years ago and that time we approached from the south. This time we were excited about making the cross-country hike into it from the north and experiencing new country.

 

 

 


 

 

Although not far in miles, the hike would take time because there was so much to see and investigate along our route.

 

 

 


 

 

 


 

 

 


 

 

 


 

 

 

We found several small petroglyph panels along with one shelter site with pictographs.

 

 

 


 

 

 


 

 

 

 








 

Of course, I was, once again, drawn to the rock itself.

 

 

 


 

 

 


 

 

After a few miles, we entered terrain that was familiar to the Lady and I because of our past visit.

 

 

 


 

 

 


 

 

We checked out every location that we felt could hold rock art.

 

 

 


 

 

 


 

 

 


 

 

 


 

 

We enjoyed our lunches along a cliff face with eroded alcoves. It was a delightful place to pose for photos.

 

 

 


 

 

 


 

 

 


 

 

 


 

 

We spent quite a bit of time taking in the long Circus Panel with all its depictions of wildlife.

 

 

 


 

 

 


 

 

 


 

 

 


 

 

 


 

 

I especially enjoyed this depiction of waterfowl flying in their typical V formation.

 

 

 


 

 

Steve spotted the high panel with spectacularly clear petroglyphs.

 

 

 


 

 

 


 

 

Please notice the flaked off rock directly below the panel. This will be a visual reference point in following photos.

 

You guessed it, Steve wanted to climb to get a closer look.

 

 

 


 

 

 


 

 

This photo gives a better perspective of the exposure.

 

 

 


 

 

Deb climbed up and joined Steve. The Lady and I explored up another gully.

 

 

 


 

 

 


 

 

 


 

 

Steve & Deb reported on additional petroglyph panels up on face after they down climbed. That was more than enough to entice the Lady and I to make the climb.

 

 

 


 

 

 


 

 

The slabs of broken rock along the cliff face added to the beauty and also the challenge of working out a route.

 

 

 


 

 

Here is another perspective of the ledge Steve sat on in the photo above.

 

 

 


 

 

 


 

 

A telephoto shot of the main panel and please note that visual reference point I mentioned.

 

 

 


 

 

Back off the zoom lens and the exposure comes to life.

 

 

 


 

 

This terrain turned all of us into very happy scramblers. We were kids again and our fun meters were pegged.

 

 

 


 

 

We saw so much more on our hike back to our camp, convinced that we had only scratched the surface on what might be “around the next corner.” We had a couple hours of daylight remaining and we, once again, decided to pack up and drive a few miles to get closer to our next main objective in our visit to Gold Butte.

 

The story continues. Please click here for - Part Seven

 

 

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