What may have been ancient vandalism, or tagging to me is something more spiritual. Today I set out with Renee, Cory, and Jackson to find the pictographs of Cave Valley in Zion National Park. To arrive at Cave Valley turn up the Kolob Reservoir road in Virgin, Utah. Drive roughly 1/2 hour up the road. You will enter Zion National Park (you can tell because the road is red) eventually you will stop ascending the mountain and it will level off in one of the most beautiful areas of the park. To find the cave art, park your car after the cattle guard, and simply walk towards Zion's red cliffs following the footprints in the sand. The cave is not hard to find, but isn't easy either. Once you arrive at the cliffs go towards the side facing across the valley.
Finding the petroglyphs and pictographs is half the fun and it is a true treat finding these former sacred places from civilizations of the past. When I do encounter paintings I always wonder, what were they trying to say? Was there some sacred meaning, or was it simply a way to record what they were doing there? Needless to say the experience is one everyone should experience. We also used the experience to teach young Jackson about the importance of treating such finds with respect so others can enjoy them for years to come.
After finding the ruins I sent Renee, Cory and Jackson to another cave, while I hiked up the slickrock exploring the back country away from any trail and possibly away from where any other person had been in years.
Like many things in this world, what is difficult and dangerous to find is often worth it and the views of Zion National Park and what I believe to be West Temple definately were. I could have stayed up here all day but due to the late hour I, and the setting sun, decided to climb back down the slickrock mountain.
"I had some terrific experiences in the wilderness-overpowering, overwhelming. But then I am always being overwhelmed. I require it to sustain life."-Everett Ruess
3 comments:
I feel so ashamed. I live in this beautiful state and but I haven't truly lived it. I haven't been to and experienced nearly as many beautiful attractions as I want to.
"I want to be able to look at and into a juniper tree, a piece of quartz, a vulture, a spider, and see it as it is in itself, devoid of all humanly ascribed qualities, anti-Kantian, even the categories of scientific description. To meet God or Medusa face to face, even if it means risking everything human in myself."
There is another cave right after the house on the hill (the one cody did the gate for) on the left side of the road that has petroglyphs as well. Pull off the road on the road that takes off to the right shortly after that house(just to park),or you could park down the street more on the left, and start walking across the road left(same side of road as house). Keep walking until you see cave. Many people don't know about this one. Its an actual cave to that goes in a bit, Kip and I held some native traditions while in there once. keep your eyes on the ground to, lots of snakes and rocks shaped like Christmas trees(wink,wink).
More information on this area can be found @ http://southwestbackcountry.wordpress.com/
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