Before getting into the Yuma photos, I just have to share the sunset from my last night in Deming, NM. (Most people seem to like the sunrises/sunsets.) This was one of those really good ones that produced color in almost every direction.
Now, on to Yuma. As I was passing through Gila Bend along Interstate 8, I saw a sign for Painted Rock. I had read of this place where lots of petroglyphs can be seen, so I turned off and drove the spur road eleven miles to the site. BLM has done a good job of developing this particular site, even putting in a formal campground. (In most cases, people camp wherever they can find space on BLM land.)
The formation containing the many petroglyphs was created by multiple lava flows covering a granite outcropping with basalt as much as 45 feet thick. This occurred several million years ago, so the basalt has suffered weathering since then, and the result is numerous basalt boulders covered with "desert varnish", a perfect surface for creating petroglyphs. Unfortunately, some of the older ones have been damaged by weather and by people passing by. This formation was in a natural trail for traders, early settlers, armies, etc. Some of them you'll see added their own "rock art". There are many, many petroglyphs, but I won't bore you with that many photos. Hopefully, just enough to give you a feel for the site.
As I mentioned, this area was a natural trail between mountain ranges. From 1858 until 1861, it was on the route of the Overland Mail Company and became known as the Butterfield Trail. You can see the entire trail in the next photo. Forts were often built along this trail to protect settlers from Indian attacks.
The route had earlier been used by the Mormon Battalion in 1846. To wage war against Mexico, the U.S. Army recruited 500 Mormons in Iowa and came west to fight. The Mormons were willing to enlist for a year to escape the persecution they were experiencing in Iowa, and they would be much closer to the Mormon community being started in Salt Lake City. It was a win-win for both parties.
As a side note, I learned that Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau, son of Sacajawea (the young Indian who guided for Lewis and Clark), was a scout for the Mormon Battalion under General Kearney. Coincidentally, the famous Indian fighter, Kit Carson, also scouted for General Kearney in the war with Mexico.
Back on I 8 in Gila Bend, I saw what must be thousands of acres of desert farmland, green as can be. Some of it was definitely alfalfa, and I believe most of it was going to be hay of one type or another. Many canals fed by the Gila River are responsible for turning the desert green.
Next, I saw a huge solar panel farm measuring 2 miles by 1.3 miles. The $2 billion project was developed in recent years by a company called Solana, based in Spain. I read that they were given a loan guarantee of $1.5 billion, probably by the state or Federal government. The panels are not the typical photovoltaic design, but are designed to heat water to drive turbines. The plant has the potential for producing 900 megawatts annually, but hasn't yet achieved that level due to several problems. Transformer fires have kept part of the farm off-line for months at a time.
The city of Yuma uses water from the Colorado River for both drinking and irrigation. I was surprised to see large tracts of farm land within the city limits. From what I could see, vegetables were the main crop in these farms. Yuma has also developed some nice wetland parks along the Colorado. I visited one of them and came away impressed by their efforts. The park has a duck pond, many miles of hiking/running/biking trails, some elaborate playgrounds and various gardens. I enjoyed my time in the park and even got a few bird photos.
The park even has a statue in honor of the Mormon Battalion. Engraved on the monument is the story of a young man who left his wife and two sons in Iowa and marched 2000 miles to San Diego for the war. When his enlistment was up after one year, he walked to Salt Lake City to learn his family was still in Iowa. Leaving his provisions for the needy in Salt Lake City, he started back to Iowa but was unable to buy provisions at the forts as he had expected. He bought a pound of dry crackers but had to live off the land otherwise. In the space of a year, he walked more than 4000 miles. Later, he and his family walked to Salt Lake City together.
Now, I have to say that Yuma also has good sunrises and sunsets. One recent morning I witnessed a spectacular sunrise while illegally entering the Barry Goldwater Marine testing range. It was worth the risk.
Two WOW's . . amazing the petroglyphs . . I'm used to seeing them on walls . . the second picture . . it that all old ones or a combination of old and new . . and the Yumi sunrise . . I have seen so few sunrises in my travels . .
ReplyDeleteThanks, Judy. Most of them are old, a few are obviously newer, but it's hard to be sure about others. That sunrise was fun. I was there with a man from Germany who doesn't speak English, but we were able to communicate our sheer pleasure.
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