TRAIL SKETCHES

Back on the Trail with a Tusayan Rock Art hike

2011-06-07T13:28:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been a while but I recently returned to Grand Canyon and spent some time on the South Rim. As always a beautiful, gorgeous place that humbles me spiritually and physically! Probably one of the hardest places to hike, the canyon fools you with its wide, well-maintained trails and access to water on the Bright Angel Trail.

I did a short hike down to the Coconino Saddle on the Grandview Trail and it about kicked my butt. If you want to measure your trail fitness, just do a short hike in the canyon and see how sore you are the next day! I thought I was in good shape, but thighs and calves were sore for about 3 days after that hike! Didn't help that I went with a bunch of youngsters who were all in phenomenal shape. They were very patient and considerate of this old gal's slow pace. We shared a beer and a laugh back at the rim (thanks Erin, Eric and Tara!) and met a cool hippie guy named Charles on the way back up, who offered to sell me his very cool Toyota camper and asked to be adopted. :-P We gave him directions to the El Tovar and hopefully he found a nice, rich tourist lady to take him in! ;D

But I digress...

Later on that week I finally got to do the Tusayan rock art hike I've been dreaming about ever since getting the inside scoop from a Ranger at Grand Canyon while I was a volunteer there. The site is located very near the park entrance, but due to the sensitive nature of the pictographs and the fact that it is NOT in the park and therefore protected, I won't reveal the location or describe how to get there. I will say it is an easy hike into a really gorgeous little wash and offers close up views of some A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. rock art.

The first image that catches your eye is this gorgeous Elk figure. It's really big, about 2 feet across, and bi-colored.

Here is a multi-figure deer pictograph. I love the way it is layered with figures overlapping one another. Gives a real sense of a "herd".

Here's a faint one, but you can make out another elk figure. Not sure what the image to the left is?

Here's an interesting one...you can obviously see the human figure to the left, but what the heck is that big blob on the right? If you look closely you can see "phantom" figures inside the red outlines. Interesting...

Multiple figures left to right... your guess is as good as mine but I think the right one is a bighorn sheep.

This one looks like a blob at first, but then you can make out layered sideways figures of bighorn sheep. No, this picture is not turned sideways, that's how they were oriented on the rock face. Cool, huh?

Under the overhang, some big chunks of rock had fallen. Not sure how or why, but these impressions look to have been made from grinding. They were smooth, almost polished surfaces. I thought the obvious human hand involved in forming these was very exciting! Evidence of the artist's process...

These circular marks remind me of the footprint of a big cat, but I'm no expert. We saw some mountain lion tracks and scat up there in the sand btw...!

Lightning or snake image...with some other small markings and indistinct images around it.

Here's a very cool "sun" figure with some center markings. Unfortunately, some idiot has defaced it with bullet holes. Now you understand why I won't reveal the location. It's infuriating that someone has so little respect for these archaeological sites that they would do this and ruin something that's been around way before we got here. This figure was large - about 2 feet in diameter.

And here it is 'in situ'. You can see how the overhang protects the images from the weather. Unfortunately it doesn't protect from stupid idiots with guns.

These images were scattered over 2 sites at this location. An obvious social trail led to the first site with the big bi-colored elk, deer and bighorn sheep figures. The snake/lightning and other figures were located at a second site down the wash. I wouldn't have found it without help from my partner, Gary. When I asked him how he found the 2nd site he said "I just looked for a good spot to find cover if it were raining". Smart guy -knows how to get in out of the rain... o.O

So there you have it...there are a couple more images on my facebook page, but they weren't very clear so I didn't include them. If you want to see them, just click here to go to the album on Facebook.

I did a couple quick sketches of the rock art, but didn't have the time to sit down and do a really nice drawing of anything. Here they are:

Next week I'll be at the North Rim and then back to Sedona where I hope to do lots more sketching from the trail. :)

Happy Journeys!

-Liz

Missing the trail...

2011-02-28T23:11:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I've done any hiking or camping! I miss it very much. I remember when I was in my 20's, I totally turned my back on outdoor activities like that - which is pretty weird considering it's such a part of who I am now. I guess we all go through times in our life when we search for who we are and what we enjoy...

At any rate, I do get outdoors every day, it's just that right now, I'm in the city! Los Angeles is wonderful and Marina del Rey even better. I get the big city and the beach at my doorstep. There are a LOT of people here!!! So when I go on my runs, in my mind I'm thinking back to my Denver Half-Marathon training and running on the back trails at Grand Canyon National Park. Dirt roads, Mule Deer, Elk, the occasional Mountain Lion - and human. ;) Now that was a cool place to run - and hike, and backpack, and - everything!

Yesterday (Sunday) I went for an extended run to the end of the harbor here in MdR. I took some photos! It's not a drawing or a sketch, but I hope you'll forgive me for that!

Can you see the "Standing Stones"?

From the breakwater back toward the bridge to Playa del Rey

Wishing I had a sailboat....

Looking toward Marina del Rey

Sailing - takes me away... (singing) Regatta Season is here!

Can you see the standing stones now?

Now this is what I call "Earth Art"

Welcome to my world - where a trail is a state of mind! :D Happy Journeys!!

- Liz

ALDHA West Meeting 9/24-26/2010

2010-10-04T15:30:00.000-07:00

I attended the annual meeting of ALDHA-West the last weekend of September with "Meadow Ed" Faubert and my partner, Gary Kirk. ALDHA is an association of long-distance hikers. Several there recieved their "triple crown" awards, meaning they had thru-hiked the 3 major US trails - the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), the Continental Divide Trail (CDT), and the Appalachian Trail (AT). The PCT is 2,650 miles, the CDT is 2,588 miles, and the AT is 2,168 miles long. All together that adds up to 7,406 miles!

Long distance hikers are a peculiar breed, but the folks I met at ALDHA-West were very cool, and very friendly and eager to share tales of the trail, fun and not-so-fun experiences, and their best advice on what, why, when, where, and how to accomplish your hiking goals.

I got to sketch a few of them over the weekend. They're not great sketches, but they were fun to do at least, and these folks have certainly inspired me to consider becoming a thru-hiker someday myself!

All images were sketched on location with either a marker or black ball point pen.

It's fun to do faces, but I have to admit I'm not so great at capturing the likenesses. But, practice makes perfect! So, hats off to all you distance hikers out there. I cut my teeth at Grand Canyon, but you all inspire me to take on some much longer hikes in the near future!

Thanks, and Enjoy! --L

What Works, So Far...

2009-10-25T11:28:00.000-07:00

Some more images from the trail. A beautiful little sunflower that apparently was really tasty to some bug. The leaves had nice little lacy holes chewed in them!

And I omitted the second drawing from the previous post so I thought I'd add it here. This plant grew right next to my porch in Southern Indiana. Don't know what it was but it bloomed beautiful crimson flowers and had a gorgeous green/burgundy variegated leaf. It was really tall, too. Grew about 6+ feet high.

Okay, so when I started this post I promised I would let you know what is working and what isn't on the trail.

I probably lug way too many supplies with me.

For shorter hikes I carry a "High Sierra" hydration pack like this 'Splash' model--it's got 2 large zippered compartments (one of which holds my 2 liter water bladder) and a smaller squarish one on the front which forms an adjustable quick-clip compartment behind it. That's where I store my sketchbook. I take a 5X7 bristol paper sketchbook, spiral bound, which fits nicely into a large ziploc type freezer bag. This goes in the outside pocket of my pack. I also take a rather large plastic divided bin (ArtBin Solutions) filled to capacity with permanent markers, an ebony pencil, a sharpener, and a kneadable eraser. I like to take a small pair of field binoculars, and always some snacks! This makes my pack a little heavy, but since I'm a total klutz with watercolors, the markers are my next best tool. Eventually I'll be able to eliminate all the colors I never use, but for now I prefer the option of having a rainbow at my disposal!

For overnight hikes I have a Granite Gear Vapor Ki. It's a really light pack, so I have to be careful how much I pack since it's got about a 30# max capacity. I dump the plastic bin and shove my markers into a heavy duty ziploc baggie. Since space is a premium, I try to pack smart and put the least used items on the bottom and work my way up. At the top I try to keep my markers and I strap my sketchbook on the outside (still in the baggie, of course!). This has worked pretty well so far. I think the extra weight is worth it.

My winter project will be a home-made pochade box. I am hoping to be able to design and build one to fit into my backpack. My goal is to be able to paint anywhere. I still have to consider space and I may eventually have to purchase a bigger, more durable pack for the longer hikes. Remember that I have to carry everything with me at least to the campsite! So it's all got to fit into the pack along with water, clothing, food, shelter and sleeping bag!!

So that's the dilemma of the artist as backpacker.

Enjoy! -L

Botanical Sketches

2009-08-08T12:28:00.000-07:00

I recently completed a volunteer term at Grand Canyon N.P. working for the science & resource management dept. I worked in the nursery/greenhouse, mostly watering and caring for the salvaged plants and helping with propagation. Whenever the park has a construction project, to their credit, they try to save as many plants as possible beforehand. The nursery is where the plants go to live while they're building whatever it is. Currently, the park is building new parking lots at the Visitor Center in hopes of eliminating all the roadside parking that occurs at the ever-popular Mather Point overlook. It will be so wonderful to be able to enter the park (eventually) and not have to contend with hundreds of cars and pedestrians along the side of the road there!

In the nursery/greenhouse I really learned a lot and it was wonderful being outside with the plants! I also worked with several of the seasonal employees there. Emily, Em, and Ash were so knowledgeable, bright and hard working. It is cool to see young people who are so smart and willing to work hard while also having fun! I miss them already and I've only been gone a couple of days. Thanks for a great summer, guys!

As a naturalist, I was hoping to do more sketches while I was there, and I still intend to take some of my time off to hoof it down to the bottom of the hill with my sketchbook, pens & pencils to capture some of those happy plants. So in honor of my "Reveg" stint, I'm posting these sketches I did in the past. The top two are plants you'll find right now in Grand Canyon - Cliff Rose and Scarlet Penstemon. The bottom one is a gorgeous something or other that used to grow right off my front porch in southern Indiana. I have no idea what it is, but it had gorgeous red flowers and a wonderful variegated leaf. It grew really tall...like 5 feet and the hummingbirds just loved it!

North Rim Grand Canyon

2009-02-01T09:49:00.000-08:00

Grand Canyon is probably the most gorgeous place I've ever been but there's another side to it that a lot of people never get to see! While the South Rim gets nearly 5 million visitors a year, the NORTH RIM gets only about 500,000. It is also about 1,000 feet higher in elevation, so the climate is much more alpine than its southern cousin.

I spent about 3 weeks this past summer on the north rim, staffing the Grand Canyon Wolf Recovery Project table. I just LOVE it over there. It's about a 5 hour drive north from Flagstaff, OR you can do a through-hike "rim to rim" from Bright Angel Trail, across the river and up North Kaibab.

This sketch was done from the porch of the North Rim Lodge. A grand old dame of a hotel with two huge stone terraces where you can sit and enjoy a flawless view of the canyon from the "other side", or you can sit inside the sun room on the comfy chairs and couches provided just for that! Don't forget to attend a condor talk in the auditorium, and you absolutely MUST have breakfast at the lodge! The views are incredible!

Because the North Rim is higher in elevation, it gets LOTS of snow this time of year. The road closes with the first big snow or on Dec. 1st, whichever comes first. The closest you can get is Jacob Lake right now, unless you want to ski in or hike thru! Either way, it's definitely worth the trip!

BackpackGearTest.org

2008-12-23T21:42:00.000-08:00

I'm on my way to being a "gear tester" for BackpackGearTest.org. I discovered this site by accident while cruising the web and looking for gear reviews. Click on the link at the bottom of my blog page to see their site. It's a place for folks like us...outdoorspeople...to get honest reviews of all kinds of gear. I've posted one "owners review" on Cabela's 7 pocket hiker shorts. Click here to read my review. Anyone can join, although they have lots of rules. But I'm hoping to get my 2nd review posted soon, and then I'm eligible to get free gear to test! (I sure could use a good pair of hiking poles - hint, hint)

This is a sketch I did of O'Neill Butte from Cedar Ridge on South Kaibab Trail at the canyon.

My next hiking adventure is planned for New Years Day. I'll be hiking down to the bottom of the canyon. Got a 4 day hike planned, so I'm hoping to get lots of sketching done down there. I'll post them when I get back 'up top'. We've had lots of snow here lately, so I'll let you know how my "YakTrax" work on a snowy trail, and hopefully how the champagne tastes after a great day hiking in Grand Canyon.

Itinerary is as follows:
Jan 1 - South Kaibab trail to Bright Angel Campground
Dinner at Phantom Ranch
Jan 2 - Bright Angel Campground
Jan 3 - Breakfast at Phantom, then hike out Bright Angel Trail to Indian Garden
Camp at Indian Garden Campground
Jan 4 - Hike out Bright Angel Trail to the rim

This will be my first time all the way down to the bottom, so wish me luck! I'm not too worried as we're spreading it out pretty good, and I did the Indian Garden to the rim in a little over 4 hours last time.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year. See you on the trail!

Pictographs and Petroglyphs

2008-11-26T14:00:00.000-08:00

I learned the difference between a pictograph and a petroglyph at Canyon Tsegi. A pictograph is drawn or painted on top of the rock, a petroglyph is carved or etched into the rock. There is a great book called A Field Guide to Rock Art Symbols of the Greater Southwest by Alex Patterson. It has lots of photos and drawings of different symbols, grouped by type and tells what they represent.
My guide at Canyon Tsegi, a young Navajo guy named Rolando, was really knowlegeable about where to find some of the many drawings there, and even let me sketch them. We talked about his culture and he even coached me in my pronunciation of the few Navajo words I know. We rode around for a couple of hours and had a great time. He was friendly and had a great creative, quick sense of humor. He talked about his people and how hard it is there on the reservation to support himself and his young family. He also talked about the loss of the Navajo culture among the youth, especially the language. I encouraged him to teach his baby daughter his language despite her mother's objection. It was a real treat to be able to speak so openly and honestly with him!

So here is a sketch of a female figure from one of the sites at Canyon Tsegi.

Canyon Tsegi (de Chelly)

2008-11-17T17:28:00.000-08:00

This is the place where I will post my sketches. I'm an avid outdoors person and an artist. My favorite thing to do is get outdoors and when I'm there, I love to draw! So I schlep my sketchbook and art supplies with me whenever I go 'walkabout'.

In this blog I plan to approach hiking and backpacking from an artist's point of view. I'll let you know what I bring with me, what works, what doesn't, and whether it's worth it to lug the extra weight around in the long run.

I'll also post my photos when I can, but mainly I'll feature my sketchbook.

I'm looking for feed back from other artists and hikers, and would love to generate fresh ideas for making it easier for us art buffs to 'get out there' and draw in nature!

So, with that I'll post some artwork I did and let you decide.

This picture came from a trip to Canyon de Chelly (Tsegi). It's a sketch of the "White House" ruin. This is the only unescorted trail you can hike in Canyon Tsegi. All other access has to be with a Navajo guide. The canyon is absolutely gorgeous and well worth the price of a horseback ride. It's a sacred place to the Navajo, and has been continuously inhabited by them for hundreds of years. Go there to see Spider Rock, and lots of other sacred places. It's worth the trip.

See you on the trail!

Liz