Massacre Canyon Petroglyphs

Got my opportunity to hike back up to the Massacre Canyon petroglyphs and caves.  It’s a fairly steep hike and the trail is now overgrown.  (Apparently the Cub Scout troop no longer has this as a project.  I am going to take my pruner next time and cut back some of the more aggressive desert flora.  The trail is tough enough (lots of loose rock) without having to fight through the thorns.)

I met a couple at the top who were also photographing the caves and petroglyphs.  They warned me that they had encountered a snake.  I was already being careful but that made me MORE careful.  

You can’t see any of these petroglyphs or the cave entrance from the bottom of the ridge and, as you can see, the sign has been blasted to pieces.  Fortunately it appears the petroglyphs haven’t been subjected to the usual vandalism.  The cave I photographed is at about three-quarters of the height of the ridge.  The climb from here gets quite steep and I couldn't see anything worth the risk.  You can tell from the photo above how far up I am from where the rigs were parked.

The next stop on today’s itinerary was a place called Hamburger Hill.  Another park resident, Steve Taylor, was out and joined us there.  Supposedly it got its name from a lady who liked to bring hamburgers and cook out up here.  The view was spectacular. 

Steve, originally from El Paso, has lived here in the park for years and he was in the group who created the grave marker for the Fort Cummings soldier killed by the Apaches (mentioned in an earlier post).  I asked Steve why people leave coins on the marker.  He said it’s a local custom to show respect for the deceased.  I am surprised no one takes the coins.  He said people in this area are respectful.  No one damages the graves they have restored. 

We got onto the subject of snakes.  Steve said one summer he caught 17 snakes in the park around his rig.  He used to kill them but now he just catches them (he has a snake pole) and then releases them out in the desert.    My understanding about rattlesnakes was that they are not aggressive; they will move out of your way if they have time.  Steve said that’s true to a point but the Mojave rattler will chase you.  He said one chased him all over his site before it disappeared into a shrub.  And, of course, the Mojave has to have the worst venom.