The dead and the living, dawn or dusk, on the domes and spires of all the west is ineffably beautiful. Its dry desert country crowds the libraries of heart and mind with volumes of inescapable yearning. The flaming glory of the sun scorches the path. So that touring, not too much unlike the dealing of cards, boot by boot plays wild into the landscapes new and fresh, left untouched by the societies of man.
Listen to “Ecstasy of Gold” by Ennion Morricone from the movie “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly” while you read this post for an enhanced experience. I know, kind of corny.
Thar’s drawings in them thar hills. Of which, I stumbled across quite by accident! Y’all will get some clues as to where, but in respect to those who came before us and the sensitive nature of the petroglyphs, I would rather leave this to be somewhat of a challenge to locate. To the observant, however, the map and pictures would surely not lead them astray. The footsteps mark the path, the wagon the parking area and the small bit of road at the bottom of the map is paved and within Valley of Fire State Park. The topography on the map is accurate and the “spiral” marks the approximate location of the petroglyphs. Should you find yourself in the region, this remarkably well preserved and little known parcel of the past would make a distinctive foray. It is roughly 3 miles round trip if you head straight for the petroglyphs and is not on any marked trail.
For your travels, here are some codes of the west…
If you pass someone on the trail, don’t look back at them. It implies you don’t trust them.
Never order anything weaker than whiskey.
It’s alright to cuss, but only around men, horses and cows.
Always drink your whiskey with your gun hand, to show your friendly intentions.
Never try on another man’s hat
An unofficial designation “Courtyard of the Ancients” was nominated by me personally, as I could find no other for this fascinating locale. It is an open fairly flat patch of desert, perhaps 2 to 3 acres in size, surrounded by stately walls of sandstone. Once inside it is hard not to sense that this was a unique and meaningful place for the native peoples that inhabited this area in the distant past.
Should you enter the courtyard from the Southeast, look to the walls on the right or east side of the courtyard. A small petroglyph man is carved into the rock marking the point at which you should climb to the ledge. This is quite obviously an instruction, which is the first petroglyph I have found that has a very direct and evident meaning. The climb up to the ledge is an easy class 4 of about 30 feet. Up there, one can see how the artist or journalist of the ancients would gaze out over their people and chisel in the stories of the hunt, where to find water or testaments to their Gods.
Over the expanse of effortless centuries, the immensity of storms bound with thunder and filled with rain tear apart the ground, providing a sequel of sorts to each of its predecessor. It is hard in this country to gather raindrops into streams, much less streams into rivers. Most go unnoticed, torn from the land and pulled down into the realm of the roots.
Vast, extent and ornate are the layers of sky, horizon and earth. This park out yonder, in its wild extravagance, exceeds all of the cathedrals of man. The fable of cowboy and injun echo among the rock and ruin. Old wood, patient carvings and used up camps still permeate the west. Holding testament to the proud, the bold and the foolish who set boot or moccasin on the soil of legends.
Having inhaled in the redolent of creosote on so many occasions, I am reminded of a multitude of adventures when among it. In turbid skies, so it seems, does the essence of the desert rise and waft through the air. Ever waiting, ever still until the after effects of far away places bring in the blessed moisture. Standing here on the final leg of the journey, I can wait until the last second as the storm barrels and rolls its way across the region. Drenching the parched landscape, reinventing the desert into a respite of life and good fortune.
End Desert Begin City…
.
Really enjoyed your post, great photos!
Thank you!
Gorgeous photos. I think my favorite is the one of the rock pinnacle in the courtyard @ 3.8 miles with the rainstorm behind. Makes me want to visit the desert…
Thanks! That’s my favorite as well. The lighting was perfect and only lasted a moment.
My favourite too, great shot! Who knew desolate and beautiful could be the same thing?
What a stunning place. I would love to travel there. thanks for showing this great series!
It is truly a gift to be able to relay special moments through pictures and words and allow those that read and see them feel as if they have experienced it along side you…
Being of the corny clan myself, I played the music as instructed, and loved it. It doesn’t hurt that I am a fan of Ennion Morricone (have you heard the soundtrack to The Mission – or better yet, watched the movie?)
Your photos and narrative are amazing, and I see I’m not the only one who feels the tug of wanting to visit the beautiful places you document. That shot at mile 3.8 is beyond compare – absolutely beautiful! Thank you for sharing.
Very cool, I haven’t seen The Mission or heard the soundtrack, but I’m on it. Looks like it’s on itunes and I’ve got a $10 gift card. Perfect.
Thanks so much for the very positive comment. Makes me feel that what I am doing is worth my time!
Very much worth your time 🙂 Heads up on The Mission, in many ways it is kind of a tough movie, but it heartbreakingly beautiful.
I’m now officially homesick. I love Valley of Fire and haven’t been there for years. Great pictures! I love how you caught the storm (I miss the Southern Nevada storms–they are awesome…and the sagebrush scented rain here in Idaho doesn’t smell near as good and refreshing as it does down south where it is tinged with the creosote.)
Recently, I’ve been interested in making the southwest one of my future vacation hiking expeditions, etc. Will be visiting Las Vegas this spring with my family (went about 4 years ago coincidentally during the spring and was very surprised at much I enjoyed the weather). Anyhow your pictures are great and reiterated how glad I am to be going there again : )
Thank you 🙂
Absolutely awesome….what talent!
Matt, wonderful trip to the desert again!!! We can almost smell the air as the rain drops. Beautiful visuals, and loved the music!
Thanks!
I love that your post has a soundtrack — what a fabulous idea!
And your pix are spectacular. Seriously spectacular… I live in northern Nevada, which is a combination of alpine and dessert…so I love the character inherent to desolation. Beautiful countryside we have in these parts…
Thank you! Yes indeed, I really like how open and free northern Nevada is. The Ruby mountains are awesome.
These photos are truly stunning. Really loved your post!
Hugs,
Kathy
Thanks! 🙂
Amazing photographs! And your dog is beautiful. 🙂
Thank you, my dog says thanks as well 🙂
What a beautiful hike! Thanks for takings us along. The petroglyphs made even more special; always love exploring those.
Thank you for reading. I agree, petroglyphs can really draw you into the landscape and help you look at the area in a different light.
So far this is the most interesting and unique blog I have visited in WordPress. Nice photos! Thank you for sharing.
Wow, thanks for the amazing comment! I really appreciate it.
I love that you were there when it was cloudy. Desert clouds are awesome.
I haven’t been to Red Rocks in a while…but you have inspired me to go there this weekend.
Then I have done my job 🙂
Beautiful photos – thanks for sharing! Congrats on being FP!
Thank ya!
Awesome photos and landscape. I think my favorite was at 3.8 mile.
Mine too 🙂
Spectacular photographs! Thanks for sharing such great stories!
Thanks for reading, much appreciated!
Good photos. You obviously appreciate the westerns with Clint Eastwood.
Here is a story you may want to read:
“High Plains Drifter (short story)”
http://tim-shey.blogspot.com/2010/07/high-plains-drifter.html
Will do, thanks!
pictures are awesome!
Thank very much!
Your photos bring back fond memories of my own trips to the Valley Of Fire. I loved my time in Nevada 🙂
i love the one that says sky,horizon and the earth..what is that thing in the sky?
Not sure, I think it is just an artifact. I like it too though.
Amazing photos. But the best is of that dog. He looks so wise. :))
Thank you, he is a she though 🙂
Great photos and the choice of music to accompany reading was fun. Really helped with the sense of adventure.
Thanks, appreciate the read.
Wait! I missed the music! 😦 How did you make that happen?
It is underneath the second paragraph. It is just an embedded youtube video, well just the song really. Just hit the play button and it will play while you read the page.
There is a YouTube video at the top of the post that is music from The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Adds a fun dimension to the post.
Such rich description you have offered the reader. I particularly like the photographs of the ledge in the courtyard of the ancients. Joy to read and really interesting .. thanks. Pam
Very nice comment, thank you!
This looks like an amazing hike! 🙂 I love the American landscape; such beautiful creation all around us. Thank you, for sharing. 🙂
It was and it is, thanks for reading 🙂
Wonderful post. And I so appreciate your leaving the exact location of the “courtyard” somewhat of a mystery. And by the way, even though you can’t see me, I’m drinking my whiskey with my gun hand!
Thanks for the kind words. That makes two of us and today my glass is half full 🙂
beautiful pictures. i love the sky, horizon and earth photo, it speaks..
Thanks a lot 🙂
All your photos are great, as much as your narrative. Thank you!
I appreciate it, thanks 🙂
Tower Full and Storm Mirror are really strong images. Great Post.
Congrats on being FP’d
SueAnn
I love the pictures of the ancient carvings. I just took an anthropology class and we learned one of the theories is that those sorts of carvings/paintings might have been used to teach the children about the customs.
Very interesting. That actually makes a lot of sense. I’ve never considered that before.
Fabulous variety of beautiful photos! These really capture our American desert so perfectly. I love your Courtyard of the Ancients designation – and I suspect you wooden structure was a bridge over water, when there was water there.
Thanks for a charming trip – and congratulations on being Freshly Pressed!
Much obliged, thanks for the warm words!
LOVE the photo at 3.8 miles of the wall. Incredible! I’m just an aspiring hobbyist who wishes I could get out more. Thanks for the inspiration!
Got very lucky with the light on that photo for sure. I wish you luck on getting out 🙂 and thanks for reading!
Beautiful photographs! The glyphs are amazing.
Thank you much! 🙂
Amazing and beautiful
The music is a nice touch. I love your photos of the desert. They reminded me of the Valley of the Sun.
Gorgeous images. Wow, I really want to go there now. . . . Thanks for tantalizing me.
You’ve captured some really nice images. Good work!
Awesome photos! Great post! Love reading about this kind of thing.
Very cool pictures and commentary. Have you ever been to Canyon of the Ancients in CO/Utah by any chance? We might be going through there this summer. Last time through Nevada we camped at Angel Lake State Park and were amazed to find snow up there in July (with Wells sitting below us in the 90s).
Thanks, no I haven’t but I know of it. I hope you make it, it looks very interesting. Last year we had snow all year by a place called Big Falls in the Spring Mountains. Never in my 20 years around Las Vegas have I ever seen that and it’s only a 30 minute drive from my house!
Do you plan to do a similar photo essay on Mt. Charleston? During the 9 months I lived in Las Vegas, that area provided my best link to sanity. I am a native (northern) Nevadan, and though I had heard of the Spring Mts., was pleasantly surprised to find such a little island of wonderfulness on the outskirts of the Giant Neon Looneybin.
Definitely, in fact I was planning on getting up there in the next couple weeks. We have had a couple late storms, having one now actually. I have a pretty good set of fall foliage pics from last fall on flickr if you want to check it out. http://www.flickr.com/photos/desertecho/sets/72157627988674351/
I love the sunlight on the orange with the dark clouds in the background!
3.5 miles, you’re dog’s a great photographer too!
Haha, she thanks you!
Mile 2.5 is my favourite, very beautiful. I would love to blow that picture up and hang it on my wall.
Photos look great! I plan to visit the area this summer.
what beautiful photographs…and what a pleasure it must have been to enjoy the stormy weather as well…the sky, though not blue, is still just as majestic. nice post!
End City it was so sweet of your “stubborn dog” to pause for such a nice photo. Great pictures. Congrats for getting blogged.
Very much so, thanks!
Congrats for getting Freshly Pressed not “Blogged. Lol.
Haha 🙂
You were very lucky to get these pictures, they really make me want to venture into the desert.
it’s so beautiful.
Excellent photos! Continue taking such photos 😀
Hey Matt, just wanted to add my voice to the general chorus of approval, thanks and acclaim- such great photographs, you’ve caught the landscape and quality of light beautifully, and the soundtrack is such a cool idea! In fact I’m sure you’ll inspire loads more people to do the same thing and embed music, because it really works well). The pictures of the glyphs are fantastic. As a sort of side benefit for me personally they reminded me of wonderful rock drawings in the Kalahari/Namib area in Africa I was lucky enough to see 5/6 years back. In fact you’ve given me such a burst of wonder and inspiration I am going to try and find them now! So for that, and in general , thank you very much. Please keep up the great work.
PS: very cool dog also!
Well thank you! 🙂 Wasn’t sure if the music would be too corny or not, but it seems to have added a unique element. Really, the main reason for this blog is to inspire a few people, myself included. Thanks for the positive feed back, good luck in your travels.
Great images and congrats on being freshly pressed.
I usually say ‘beautiful photographs’, but this is a beautiful post. Loved the way you wrote, its like poetry. And of-course beautiful photographs.
🙂 Thanks!
Stunning shots and narration of!! And for the record, the song playing in the background did go quite well. 🙂 Congrats on being freshly pressed!
I was hoping so, thanks!
I especially like the picture of the burst of rain.
I did too, did you enlarge it? The glimmer on the plants and ground, as well as the streaks of rain really were an unexpected surprise.
Awesome shots! Love the petroglyphs, got to check out a few when I was in Moab
great work.. and dog
Beautiful! I’ve been to Colorado and New Mexico, but not Nevada next. Excellent shots!
Great photos, great looking dog, enjoyed the post…
Andy O.
Wow, you are quite the writer. Beautiful photographs too. I love that you suggested to listen to the music. Nice touch. I like how you included the codes for the west–drink whiskey with your gun hand, never try on another mans hat, etc..
Thank you for the very nice comment 🙂
Stunning photographs! Enhanced by the music too. I made a copy of “Tower Full” for my desktop. The colors are so vibrant and crisp. I like it!!!
Thanks! Very cool that you like enough to put it on your desktop, that is a first for any of my photos as far as I know 🙂
I have a larger image, if you would like it email me at matt.de@hotmail.com.
I’m from downunder, but the photos reminded me of watching Westerns when I was a kid. It is just the stuff I remember; hot, rocky and dusty with a spot for an ambush. The Tower Full photo is dramatic (great lighting with right exposure); In the photo, Sky Horizon Earth, is the bright area in the sky a cloud or flare on the lens? It looks good either way. Bruce
Thanks for the read. I believe the bright area is a flare of some sorts. It did turn out pretty cool though.
Lovely landscapes.
Wow! An incredible view of some amazing red rocks and nice hieroglyphs. A nice chronological, pictorial depiction of a hike and the shot of the red rock and grey clouds at 3.8 miles is quite stunning in the light you captured.
I liked your photos and your dog… Such a cutie 🙂 Congrats on the freshly pressed!
Uh…. I’d just like to point out that you failed to post the bad and the ugly along with the good as promised on your title….
(wink)
Haha, you caught me
Love the pictures. The Sky Horizon Earth picture is my favorite. Thanks for sharing.
Congrats on the Fresh Post! Looks like a very unspoiled spot. We just shot a video in the canyons of S.E. Colorado..lots of Rock Art but also alot of graffiti. Were did the indians get water?
Thank you! There are pockets of water called tanks within Valley of Fire that the native peoples utilized. Although I’m sure the water was not very clean. There are springs to be found in the surrounding landscapes as well. Before the Hoover Dam backed up the Colorado River, I would guess they used that as well, which is not very far away.
great photographs!
Wow! Water wow! Picture’s are awesome!
Awesome Collection of pics…
Nice clicks. Thanks for sharing.
I drove through it VoF (check my blog) last year but missed the petroglyphs. nice pics!
I will, thanks!
GREAT PICTURES YOU CAN EASILY IMAGINE YOURSELF THERE!!!
Beautiful photographs… I’m curious the artisians were able to reach the heights to draw Big Horn on the rocks… Thanks for shaving!
You write like a poet — your words go beautifully with your photos. What a gorgeous dog you have, looks like a great walking companion. Congrats on being FP’d.
Thanks for the kind words 🙂
Love your photos!
> 4.5 miles. Old wooden structure of unknown use.
> The Retiring Sort says: March 23, 2012 at 11:09 pm
> I suspect you wooden structure was a bridge
I agree. It does not look as a bridge now because ground around moved due to erosion.
There was a lot of mining around the area in the past. I don’t think it was a bridge over water from a creek or anything, as there is no running water to be found anywhere.
Great photos! I’ve never been to AZ, but these certainly make me what to make the trip. Congratz on the Fresh Press as well.
Awesome photos! It’s wonderful to see all the creative photographers with different styles of photographing. Thank you for sharing! Congratulations on being FP, 🙂
Thank you very much! I am very new to this whole thing. I only wish I found it sooner. The people and artistic expression in this community is very enriching. 🙂
Yes, it is very enriching to the soul. It’s never too late, it was just meant to be at that time. Everything is in the divine timing. 😉
Nice photos! I love Valley of Fire and as a rock art nerd, love to see the petroglyphs there. Look forward to following/reading more of your blog!
Thanks for the read and following my blog!
Some nice images. I like to do landscapes myself.
great stuff ,stunning , is it alright with you if i paint one of the image ?
You bet, I’d like to see it!
Wohoo thanks! will update you soon! 😀
http://iamzal.wordpress.com/?p=494&preview=true
Done! I hope you like it !
That is so cool! I want to add it to the post right below the photo if that’s ok with you?
Thanks 🙂
for sureeee go ahead! 😀
It’s crazy how beautiful dried mud can be.
Reblogged this on My World-Droplet of Ideas.
Cool Pictures!
I love the west… Great pictures… Thanks
So well done! I’m somewhat at a loss for words! I was entranced by the images I got to see through the lens of your camera! What an awesome adventure you just took me on! Thank You!
Thanks for the read and the very kind words. I really appreciate it!
Shut the front door. You just posted pictures of the desert viewed to the soundtrack of perhaps the most iconic gritty desert movie of my childhood. If this communication were in person, I would be frantically shaking your hand. Well done.
Ha! Thanks 🙂
Love the title analogy! Great write-up!
Great stuff. As a potential hiker… I like reading stuff from others.
Belissimas imagens. Parabéns!
Muito obrigado!
I think you meant to say the good the good and great! Really beautiful photos! I think you made Nevada look as beautiful as i have ever seen! bravo!
Very appreciated, thank you!
This is really a good work. I appreciate your efforts behind that. Have a great day!
I appreciate the read and compliments, you too!
Thank you.
It would be amazing if I can go to that place. Good shots.
Wow! I love your blog. You have caused at least one person (likely many) to want to drive great distance to hike here.
Love the photos.
Pretty cool photos!
HJ
Reblogged this on Eva Tenter.
The mile 3.8 picture is awesome!
Cool! But you DO know that Good, Bad & Ugly was filmed in Spain don’t you? In fact, right near where I live! http://wp.me/p29ILL-ex
Come over for a visit, I’d love to welcome you to my beautiful part of the world 🙂
Of course! 🙂 That’s cool you live there. I’d love to come see it one day!