Dragonfly Panel

With a mild winter and not much snow, southern Utah called in mid-February, and we answered.

Daisy was there, of course, presiding over the ride. She's actually standing on an "old road" as Steve generously calls it.  The rocks piled up along the sides shows that someone did some "road work" once upon a time.

We found our way deep into the Horseshoe Canyon complex, searching for a pictograph we had heard about but never seen.  A fellow blogger gave us some new information, which made all the difference.  (Thank you, Dennis!)

Here's Janie, looking up at the panel that is well shielded by an overhang.

The figures are small, but exquisitely detailed.

Don't you agree?

As far as we can tell from online research, dragonflies in southwestern pictographs are only found in this panel and in one depiction somewhere in New Mexico.

Another scene in the panel seems to show a spiritual calling of the animals, perhaps for good luck in a hunt.  This same theme is seen in the Great Gallery in Horseshoe Canyon and also in the Harvest Scene in the Maze.

Three granaries are nearby.

And previous visitors have found and left behind a few pot shards and pieces of chert that show signs of being worked.

Upstream is a shaded pool, which might have attracted the Ancients to hang out in the area.

Daisy enjoyed a dip.  She never passes up an opportunity.

As we climbed out of the canyon, 3 wild burros (only the ears are visible on the third one) appeared in our path, demonstrating that we had chosen a trail that the burros considered to be a good one. Thank goodness Coco seems to have come to terms with burros and didn't freak out like he did on our last encounter.

With many miles of hot trail behind us, Daisy and the horses were pleased to find a snow bank.  They didn't need snow cone syrup to enjoy their frozen treat.