Petroglyphs

Writing-on-Stone

/ bigdiff / 1 Comment

While hiking the Hoodoo Trail, I turned to a view point above the Milk River on top of the steep cliffs above. I stopped suddenly when I heard native singing, resonating beautifully between the sandstone crevices. Not wanting to disturb the prayers, I stood silently, entranced. Eventually I retreated and continued out to the Battle Scene rock art depiction, one of the highlights of this World Heritage Site in Alberta Canada.

Later I took the guided tour of the restricted area where Blair showed and explained the rock art in this spiritual place of the Blackfoot Tribe. The tour started at 5 pm, perhaps to take advantage of the light as well as coolness. While I disagree with those who look for extraterrestrial interpretations of some of the unusual petroglyphs and pictographs, the details and 2500 years represented here are intriguing and fascinating. Still, for me, I will never forget the living voice I heard echoing among the hoodoos.

El Morro National Monument

/ bigdiff / 2 Comments

This rock is interesting. Rock climbers would enjoy the many tall vertical crevices. There’s a spring with a pool in an alcove at the base. At the top, there’s a ruin with a good view of the surrounding valley. And all along the base there are carvings made centuries ago by travelers, from those who didn’t have a formal written language, to Spanish speakers who named this place ‘El Morro’ meaning ‘the hill’, to other pioneers.

This park unit has nine free campsites in a pleasant loop with toilets, tables and water (except during the winter). Since New Mexico offers many electric sites at their reasonably priced state campgrounds where I can charge my EV overnight, I generally try to stay there. Sometimes I stay at a private RV campground, and sometimes I stay at a hotel, especially when I really need a shower. The Tesla easily powers my 12v camping fridge. The least common denominator everywhere is a toilet and a trashcan. The model 3 is small, but I manage to sleep in it. Without a big rig to pull, I can easily park anywhere, and I don’t have to burn a gallon of fossil fuel every 10 miles.