A trip to Council Rocks - a photo-essay

Yesterday, two local artist friends and I took a day trip out to the Dragoon Mtns.  Mike is a photographer/web designer and Liz is an encaustic painter and photographer.  Destination was the area known as Council Rocks - a historical site known to be a meeting place for Apache tribe members Cochise and Geronimo.  The rock facades also have rock art believed to be 1000 years old and created by the prehistoric peoples living in the area - the Mogollon. 

The weather report was a bit sketchy, with a 30% chance of rain predicted for late afternoon/evening.  During our trip, the fair-weather cumulus transitioned into rainclouds that luckily bypassed us as far as precipitation went.  They did, however, enhance the landscape photos we took. 

Below is a selection of some of my favorites from the trip.  I ended up heading out later that evening to shoot some sunset photos, and I'll be posting that series perhaps tomorrow.  Winter is taking its time departing, but it's providing some beautiful skies in the meantime!

A look to the past

Important communication symbols or just ancient graffiti?  No one knows for sure, but these enigmatic designs continue to enchant and fascinate those who see them.

Close-up of pictograph panel

Two figures - human, perhaps? - are shown in detail.

Council Rocks

The actual Council Rocks are between the large balanced rock to the left and the large boulder to the right.  A path leads to the pictograph panels, which are on the second large rock to the left.  The meeting room area is formed by the large group of boulders to the right.

Sky reflections

This small pool of rainwater adjacent to a huge boulder reflects both the nearby grasses and the clouds from above.

Geological and botanical still life

A variety of contrasting shapes, colors and testures add interest to this landscape/still life image

Easter Island meets the Dragoons

This balanced slab of rock has recognizable facial features sitting atop this weathered granite monolith.  Oddly, I didn't even notice the face until I looked at the photograph later.

Sheep's Head rock and rainclouds

The dark stormclouds add a sense of drama to the sunlit face of this portion of the mountains.  Scrub oak and desert grasses make up the foreground.

I will probably post the rest of the photos I took to a picasa gallery of the Dragoons at some point; new photos will be visible in the picasa feed at the bottom of the blog page when they're up.