IntrepidXJ
ADVENTR
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2012
- Messages
- 3,482
Saturday, February 7, 2015
Yes, I am aware that the title of this trip report doesn't make much sense, but that's OK since I liked the sound of it. Way back in June of 2011 I was hiking with my friend Philippe at the edge of the San Rafael Swell when we discovered a new Barrier Canyon Style pictograph panel that no one seemed to have seen before. When I wrote up the trip report for that day I decided to call it the Unexpected Panel since we were looking for something else and the find was very unexpected. That name seems to have stuck a bit, but I have also seen it referred to as the New Panel. Whatever you want to call it, I have wanted to get back and visit this amazing pictograph panel again, but sadly had not been back since our initial discovery. Diane has also been interested in seeing this panel after seeing my photos of it and I had promised a while ago to take my friend Marty here sometime, so a trip was in the planning for sometime this spring. With the warm temperatures we've been having lately I decided to move the trip up and visit it this weekend. We couldn't have had better weather for this hike. The temperature was in the mid-sixties and there were some nice clouds moving through the sky all day. It sure felt more like March or April than the beginning of February.
Shortly after the sun came up we drove past this tall skinny hoodoo.
Tall Hoodoo by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Just out for a nice morning drive past Temple Mountain.
Morning Drive by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Marty follows in his Liberty.
Marty by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
We reached a pretty good washout in the road with a steep drop-off. I might have been able to get past it (it was worse than it looks in the photo) but we were close to our trailhead so we decided just to park here and start hiking.
Washout by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
A view of the surrounding badlands as we started hiking down the road.
Badlands by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Morning light on a nearby sandstone butte.
Butte by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
After following an old mining road that's been closed for a long time we reached the end where we found these old core samples.
Core Samples by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Hiking down the wash.
Wash by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Diane follows.
Wash Hiking by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Eventually we reached the Unexpected Panel. It was just as amazing as I remembered!
Unexpected Panel by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
This is probably my favorite pictograph of all time.
My Favorite Guy by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Such a unique portion of the panel.
Supplication by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
The lower part of the panel is more washed out than the rest, but still very cool.
Lower Pictographs by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
The upper left-hand part of the panel is being covered with streaks on the sandstone.
Streaks by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Diane explores more of the area to see if we can find anything else.
Exploring by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
On our way back we found another old tobacco case. This one appears to have some old rolling papers still inside.
Case by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Nice spotlighting on Temple Mountain as we drove over to North Temple Wash.
Spotlight by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
The drive through North Temple Wash is always nice where it cuts through the San Rafael Reef.
Canyon Wall by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Down the Wash by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Into the narrows.
Narrows by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Canyon Driving by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Leaving North Temple Wash by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Exiting the slot.
Slot Exit by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Before leaving the area we made sure to stop by the damaged pictographs in South Temple Wash since Diane had never seen them before.
Temple Wash Pictographs by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
We still had some time before sunset on our drive back to Green River, so we made a detour into Black Dragon Canyon to visit the pictographs found there.
Praying Dog by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Chalked by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Since I had never visited the cave near the pictographs before, Diane and I climbed up to check it out. We should have brought our headlamps since we couldn't see much, but we could tell it was deep!
Cave Entrance by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
We were treated to a colorful sunset as we drove back home. It was a great way to end the day.
The Last Shot by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
>> Return to the Unexpected Photo Gallery
>> The Original Trip Report on ADVENTR.CO
Featured image for home page:
Yes, I am aware that the title of this trip report doesn't make much sense, but that's OK since I liked the sound of it. Way back in June of 2011 I was hiking with my friend Philippe at the edge of the San Rafael Swell when we discovered a new Barrier Canyon Style pictograph panel that no one seemed to have seen before. When I wrote up the trip report for that day I decided to call it the Unexpected Panel since we were looking for something else and the find was very unexpected. That name seems to have stuck a bit, but I have also seen it referred to as the New Panel. Whatever you want to call it, I have wanted to get back and visit this amazing pictograph panel again, but sadly had not been back since our initial discovery. Diane has also been interested in seeing this panel after seeing my photos of it and I had promised a while ago to take my friend Marty here sometime, so a trip was in the planning for sometime this spring. With the warm temperatures we've been having lately I decided to move the trip up and visit it this weekend. We couldn't have had better weather for this hike. The temperature was in the mid-sixties and there were some nice clouds moving through the sky all day. It sure felt more like March or April than the beginning of February.
Shortly after the sun came up we drove past this tall skinny hoodoo.
Tall Hoodoo by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Just out for a nice morning drive past Temple Mountain.
Morning Drive by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Marty follows in his Liberty.
Marty by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
We reached a pretty good washout in the road with a steep drop-off. I might have been able to get past it (it was worse than it looks in the photo) but we were close to our trailhead so we decided just to park here and start hiking.
Washout by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
A view of the surrounding badlands as we started hiking down the road.
Badlands by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Morning light on a nearby sandstone butte.
Butte by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
After following an old mining road that's been closed for a long time we reached the end where we found these old core samples.
Core Samples by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Hiking down the wash.
Wash by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Diane follows.
Wash Hiking by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Eventually we reached the Unexpected Panel. It was just as amazing as I remembered!
Unexpected Panel by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
This is probably my favorite pictograph of all time.
My Favorite Guy by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Such a unique portion of the panel.
Supplication by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
The lower part of the panel is more washed out than the rest, but still very cool.
Lower Pictographs by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
The upper left-hand part of the panel is being covered with streaks on the sandstone.
Streaks by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Diane explores more of the area to see if we can find anything else.
Exploring by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
On our way back we found another old tobacco case. This one appears to have some old rolling papers still inside.
Case by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Nice spotlighting on Temple Mountain as we drove over to North Temple Wash.
Spotlight by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
The drive through North Temple Wash is always nice where it cuts through the San Rafael Reef.
Canyon Wall by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Down the Wash by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Into the narrows.
Narrows by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Canyon Driving by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Leaving North Temple Wash by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Exiting the slot.
Slot Exit by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Before leaving the area we made sure to stop by the damaged pictographs in South Temple Wash since Diane had never seen them before.
Temple Wash Pictographs by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
We still had some time before sunset on our drive back to Green River, so we made a detour into Black Dragon Canyon to visit the pictographs found there.
Praying Dog by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Chalked by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Since I had never visited the cave near the pictographs before, Diane and I climbed up to check it out. We should have brought our headlamps since we couldn't see much, but we could tell it was deep!
Cave Entrance by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
We were treated to a colorful sunset as we drove back home. It was a great way to end the day.
The Last Shot by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
>> Return to the Unexpected Photo Gallery
>> The Original Trip Report on ADVENTR.CO
Featured image for home page: