White Tank Mountain Regional Park

White Tank Mountains Sheer Beauty

April 18, 2011 By Administrator

The more time I spend in this mountain range near my home, the more impressed with the variety of rock formations, landscapes, wildlife, and sheer beauty. Last week I visited twice. This picture was taken as I approached the waterfall area.
waterfallarea-1

I also got my first photos of a chuckwalla.
chuckwallamyfirst-2

Although the day was clear (it’s much more fun to have a few clouds in the sky for interest), I enjoyed shooting some glorious saguaros.
saguaro41511-1

And oh, the petroglyphs along the Waterfall Trail. I will write more about them soon. Such a variety.
petro-41511-3

What an area for people of all ages. Rich in history, nature, and such fresh, clean air.

Arizona Petroglyphs

February 19, 2011 By Administrator

This past week my brother and I drove a little west to the White Tank Mountain Regional Park to hike the Waterfall Canyon Trail. As I mentioned in my last blog post, I didn’t make it all the way.

However, I was in for a pleasant surprise: Petroglyph Plaza. There are ever so many rocks of varying sizes that have petroglyphs. Two Petroglyph styles have been recorded at the park.: Archiac Style and Hohokam Style (also called Gila Style). The Hohokam apparently abandoned the White Tank Mountains about 1100 A.D.

These delightful images depict such things as game hunting, history, marking the landscape, sky watching, and spiritual life. If you live in the Valley, or plan to visit, you might want to consider taking this hike.

Below are two graphics. The first is an original shot of a rock covered with petroglyphs. The second is the same photo, except redigitized by me. I always “see” more than the camera! I look forward to another visit soon and especially to the Black Rock Trail.

P.S. There is a nearby horseback riding stable and a brand new county library and nature center. The White Tanks are close to many other places: Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium, Luke AFB, Sun City, Peoria, and Litchfield Park.