Harper Corner Drive I drive the Harper Corner road a lot during the summer months for work on the Green River. I highly recommend this drive and would suggest taking the drive very early in the day or early evening. Drive a little slower and watch for wildlife. You will see sage grouse, elk, mule deer and a lot more. Plus the sunrise or sunset will be spectacular. There area some great pull out locations along the way with excellent views of the Yampa River Canyon and Lodore Canyon. Both are incredible river trips, Dinosaur River Expeditions is the areas specialist in the river trips in Dinosaur National Monument it is worth checking them out for a great vacation their website is www.dinoadv.com
Thanks for the information! I just got a baby Sulcata and I found your site. Thank you so much for the useful information, it did help with some questions I had in regards to him. Thanks again
Was in the Buffington Pockets area for most of the day yesterday, 03-22-12. To Bill Kettler 03-23-2012
I was in the Buffington Pockets area for most of the day yesterday, 03-22-12. I began from Bittersprings Road and traveled N E toward Buffington Pockets, a 20 mile trek according to that big old sign. I never did get to the petroglyphs area nor did I find any springs along the Bitter Spring Trail toward Buffington Pockets. My 08 Hummer & I will return again soon to take the northernmost forks in the roads. It is impossible to know which fork in the roads to take.
Yesterday’s trek took me more than 25 miles from any paved road, but I never found the area that you have so eloquently photographed.
Thank you Bill, for sharing this great adventure. I’m an old guy now, and my off-road photographic trips keep me motivated.
Mike Goodold & too
I have a Sulcata. Had him 6 years now. This is some great information on your blog. I had no idea they used their gular horn's in battle! Very interesting.
Thanks for sharing!
The Facts
HOW WAS SHAMANS’ PANEL DISCOVERED?
(Source: Gordon Smith’s website)
The panel was discovered in 1986 by Gordon Smith, a Grand Canyon mule wrangler and guide, in Tuckup Canyon, a side canyon north of the main gorge.
Gordon photographed the panel and sent pictures to Dick Marks, the then acting Park Service superintendent. A few weeks later Gordon received a return letter questioning the provenance of the photographs and suggesting they were taken from an aboriginal site in Australia.
Gordon then met with archeologist Jan Balsom and an assistant, showed them up to 100 different sites on top of the rim, and hiked them into the Panel. Four months later, he took Polly Schasma, a rock art specialist, and other park service personnel to the site at the behest of the Park Service. Using mules to pack in supplies, they stayed a week.
April 1989 Arizona Highways magazine stated that this may be the most remarkable Rock Art panel discovered on the North American continent, and in fact the oldest prehistoric evidence of man in the Grand Canyon. They also stated that the paintings were made before the Giza pyramids were built.
The Reason I made the web site Gordons Panel was the fact that the NPS tried to debunk me bringing this site out in the open in 86, I was told I would get the credit if I took them there, and they tried later to debunk what I found, Polly had no right to name this site, that burnt me,what people dont know is that there was also a documentry shot at the site and I have copys of that film, I was interviewed and the facts are in the interview on film, so these people trying to debunk who found this site best be very carefull, becausde I may see them in Court, Kind Regards Gordon Smith
The Debunking by NPS
HOW WAS SHAMANS’ PANEL DISCOVERED?
(Source: Gordon Smith’s website)
The panel was discovered in 1986 by Gordon Smith, a Grand Canyon mule wrangler and guide, in Tuckup Canyon, a side canyon north of the main gorge.
Gordon photographed the panel and sent pictures to Dick Marks, the then acting Park Service superintendent. A few weeks later Gordon received a return letter questioning the provenance of the photographs and suggesting they were taken from an aboriginal site in Australia.
Gordon then met with archeologist Jan Balsom and an assistant, showed them up to 100 different sites on top of the rim, and hiked them into the Panel. Four months later, he took Polly Schasma, a rock art specialist, and other park service personnel to the site at the behest of the Park Service. Using mules to pack in supplies, they stayed a week.
April 1989 Arizona Highways magazine stated that this may be the most remarkable Rock Art panel discovered on the North American continent, and in fact the oldest prehistoric evidence of man in the Grand Canyon. They also stated that the paintings were made before the Giza pyramids were built.
Ghost Bill, From Gordons panel to the South about 3 miles, there is cotton wood spring, with big cotton wood trees and water, acient mines, copper, 100 yrd about from the mines to the west are over hangs with painted ghosts on ceilings,not to spook you but if you camp there at night you will have a ghost visitor that throws rocks, very spooky indeed, have had to bail out of tents in the night for cover, this thing will also follow you in the day, dont take my word for it, at the trail head at Tuck up walk to the south just enough to look below the rim, the trees you see is cotton wood, I have in the past went straight to the east instead of down the trail, out to the Island and then went off the cliff in some breaks and then directly to the mines and then climbed straight up to the trail head, it can be done with lots of nerve, I did it before I got old, Kind Regards Gordon Smith, Of Gordons Panel.
Ghost Bill, From Gordons panel to the South about 3 miles, there is cotton wood spring, with big cotton wood trees and water, acient mines, copper, 100 yrd about from the mines to the west are over hangs with painted ghosts on ceilings,not to spook you but if you camp there at night you will have a ghost visitor that throws rocks, very spooky indeed, have had to bail out of tents in the night for cover, this thing will also follow you in the day, dont take my word for it, at the trail head at Tuck up walk to the south just enough to look below the rim, the trees you see is cotton wood, I have in the past went straight to the east instead of down the trail, out to the Island and then went off the cliff in some breaks and then directly to the mines and then climbed straight up to the trail head, it can be done with lots of nerve, I did it before I got old, Kind Regards Gordon Smith, Of Gordons Panel.
Grand Canyon Question Hi Bill,
Came across your website on the Shaman's Panel. Fantastic photos. I used to live out in Cortez, CO and spent my free time exploring as many pictographs and petroglyphs as I could find.
I've known about the Shaman's Panel for a long time but haven't gone because I drive a Honda Civic.
Well, I really want to see these works. I'm headed out from Oregon and am planning on renting a truck from St. George and driving down early May. That said, I cannot find directions to the trailhead. I've found some vague references but I'm worried about spending the $200 plus to rent the vehicle and not being able to find the trailhead.
Could I give you a call and speak with you or would you be willing to share some road directions with me?
I would really, really appreciate any help here.
Hoping all is well!
Nathan Anderson
503-890-8747
wow Love the photos, theyre amazing and have such a feel to them, so much history left in those rooms and so much of the unknown I have such goose bumps....
Residing in the southwest I have been fortunate enough to be able to take the time and explore areas out my back door that other families have saved years for just to be able to afford the opportunity. I have been raised with an appreciation of the outdoors and have always taken the time to understand and explore the world around me. Since my early years I have had the opportunity to share the experiences of National Parks, Wilderness Areas, State Parks and other areas of historical interest. I have had the opportunity to explore the archaeological ruins of the Native American cultures that ... full info
Tyler Callantine
non-member comment
Harper Corner Drive
I drive the Harper Corner road a lot during the summer months for work on the Green River. I highly recommend this drive and would suggest taking the drive very early in the day or early evening. Drive a little slower and watch for wildlife. You will see sage grouse, elk, mule deer and a lot more. Plus the sunrise or sunset will be spectacular. There area some great pull out locations along the way with excellent views of the Yampa River Canyon and Lodore Canyon. Both are incredible river trips, Dinosaur River Expeditions is the areas specialist in the river trips in Dinosaur National Monument it is worth checking them out for a great vacation their website is www.dinoadv.com