Searching for Petroglyphs

Seemingly, the perfect day for heading out this morning to nearby Petroglyph National Monument -- winds had finally died down and were predicted to be only 10 mph or less for most of the day.  I figured that the morning sunlight should illuminate the black volcanic rocks and make it easier to see any of the Petroglyphs I might happen upon (even if it was a bit chillier than other days -- only 31 degrees at daybreak).  Most of the canyon walls face to the east too and toward the rising sun.

After a hardy two egg breakfast sandwith, OJ and half of a banana, I headed to the exit (#154A) just 5 miles east on I-40.  The Visitor Center was only 4 or 5 miles north on Unser and there I picked up more than a half dozen trail maps from the helpful Park Service Ranger at the desk -- even one brochure for Chaco Canyon (at the top of my list to see).

Since I had my sights on that $5 buffet for the early afternoon, I decided to head for the trail farthest to the north in Piedras Marcadas Canyon where the half mile trail should take me to five notable Petroglyphs  (ones pictured in the brochure).  The drive there was only some 5.25 miles or so and the little parking lot at the head of the trail seemed to be at the back of shopping center and next to a nice hillside community of pretty homes.

The trail was mostly sand and easy to moderate in difficulty -- just right for this old man and my one bottle of water.  The day had really been perfect weatherwise and I only wish I could have found all five of the ones in the brochure but, it seems I spotted more than they had indicated -- probably too many for them to put in the brochure (some may be pranksters work too).

Nonetheless, I saw lots of what looked like real Petroglyphs and headed back down the trail to my Jeep and decided I should go to another set of trails out near my RV campground -- the Volcanoes.  Only about 3 or 4 miles north on the road I exit of I-40 for my campground.