2001 to 2005: 2002-03 . . . Episode 9 - The Desert is more than Sand and Creosote Bushes - The Painted Canyon

The Avi is the Avi is the Avi is the Avi . . . they are expanding . . . the RV lot has moved but some of the same people are there that were there last winter. The Casino hasn't changed and they still have a great buffet and the 99 cent ham and egg breakfast plus $1.10 for coffee. There was lots of movement in and out as people stopped there on their way up north. We met again with people we met at Benson, our friends from Yuma and our neighbours from Quartzsite but the most incredible experience was exploring the Painted Canyon.

The desert can feel so desolate and barren. In some areas all you see is sand, the creosote bushes dotting the terrain and the occasional Prickly Pear cactus. During the winter, even the creosote (greasewood) looks lifeless and there are few signs of any wildlife. As spring comes on, the creosote starts to show life . . . the small leaves, the buds and then the delicate yellow flowers.

As you gain elevation, different growth emerges . . . there is the mesquite shrubs and then different varieties of cacti, the Joshua Trees and wildlife that is less nocturnal and therefore seen more often.

Our visit to the Painted Canyon in the Dead Mountains gave us the opportunity to experience a different perspective of the desert and surrounding areas. We were fortunate enough to be invited to join John (a fellow who is interested in ancient sites and photography) to visit some ancient sites and see if the wild flowers were in bloom.

The Painted Canyon is in California in the Dead Mountains, one mountain range beyond the Reservation at Fort Mojave, NV. We drove as far as we could and then hiked in the rest of the way.

I realized how terribly delicate the desert is.

The flowers are so minute, fragile and delicate but the colours can be so vibrant. Yellow seems to be predominant colour for the flowers but there are brilliant purples and blues. What more can I say, we'll let the pictures do the talking.

We also encountered some interesting wildlife . . . the active beehive (which John said he had never seen in the desert before) and some very lazy lizards that camouflage themselves so well in their surroundings.

Ancient Sites and Petroglyphs

In all our travels through the Indian lands in northern Arizona and New Mexico, we were never able to see the Rock Art that we saw with John in the Painted Canyon. Of course, we were never able to be with anyone who was as knowledgeable and passionate as John is. He is not only interested in the Rock Art, he is a photographer and an explorer . . . especially around the Fort Mojave area.

As we travelled into the canyon, we saw, literally, hundreds of petroglyphs, many of them in panels where a group of travellers would (maybe) leave messages for others travelling this way. There is such wide controversy over the purpose and meaning of the petroglyphs . . . some say they tell those to follow what lies ahead, others say they tell of what happened there, still others speculate they carry a spiritual meaning, and maybe they just tell stories. Regardless, considering they are reputed to be thousands of years old, it is inspiring to see them, touch them and speculate on what they are trying to say. Apparently, the ancestry stems from Hohokam peoples but in the books I have had a chance to read, there is very little written about this part of the South West. My challenge this summer is to learn more and try to understand them better.