Beaver, UT to Little Salt Lake

On November 23 1849 when Alonzo and the Pomeroy group camped on Beaver Creek, about 20 miles northwest of Little Salt Lake, the thermometer showed twenty degrees and it was snowing. They were probably close to present day Minersville.

We left Beaver on Sunday, January 15^th, and not a soul was stirring around town when we headed west on Hwy 21 toward Minersville where we turned south on Hwy 130. It was a cold, clear, beautifully sunny morning.

The Escalante Desert was on our right as we traveled south, and we crossed the Black Mountains on our way to Parowan Gap Road. It would lead us to Little Salt Lake where Alonzo camped on November 29^th. We also hoped to see the Native American petroglyphs located near there.

Alonzo wrote in his journal, “Drove 5 miles. Encamped on a large creek that empties into Little S. Lake within sight of it, on the southern side of the lake. We have now struck the Old Spanish Trail. We shall probably follow this trail 2 or 3 hundred miles.”

When we saw a car pulled off the road ,and a couple nearb,y we slowed down to see if they needed help. Rachelle noticed the man held a large bird. Of course we stopped and got out. What a stroke of luck for us.

Click on photos for a larger image

Martin Tyner and Prairie Falcon

Martin Tyner and his wife Susan had just finished exercising a prairie falcon. Martin, a master falconer, and Susan operate the Southwest Wildlife Foundation (http://www.gowildlife.org/) that rescues injured animals native to the southwest. He told us about the falcon while it greedily devoured its reward, a mouse.

Prairie Falcon

Prairie Falcon with hood

When he heard that we were interested in the petroglyphs, he gave us a guided tour of the site and the history of this place, sacred to the early Anasazi, as well as the meanings of some of the wall writings.

The drawing that looks like a zipper represents the two sides of the canyon, and the rounded bottom is the valley. The hatch marks show the passage of time, and the stalk of corn indicates when it’s time to plant. I wondered if Alonzo would have seen these ancient drawings and what he might have thought about them. If you’d like to know more about the Parowan Valley petroglyphs, you can find information here: http://www.parowangap.org/

Parowan Canyon

Petroglyph of Canyon and Valley below

Petroglyphs

Owl and Phases of the Moon

Then we were treated with a visit to a rare site, the burial cave where shamans lived, trained their apprentices, and were buried. The cave is located under a rock image of Tobat, who was God to the Anasazi. When you entered the cave, you entered the heart of the God.

Tobat

Entrance to the Cave

Martin Tyner Shows the Shamen's Cave

Shamen's Cave

This area was home to dinosaurs millions of years ago. Their footprints can be found in the rocks when they fall from the cliffs and shatter along sediment layers. Martin and Susan shared their knowledge of these marvelous fossils with us as well.

Cliffs Above Dinosaur Tracks

Dinasaur Track

When I said that the Pomeroy group had camped on a creek that emptied into Little Salt Lake, Martin explained that the road is where the creek originally flowed, and he pointed out the area where they would have camped.

We each purchased their book, “Healer of Angels,” that has stories of the many kinds of animals they have rescued. We finally parted from Martin and Susan on our way to Little Salt Lake, but not before a photo.

Martin and Susan Tyner

Little Salt Lake

A serendipitous meeting that morning gave us one of our most memorable experiences of the trail, and we were so appreciative of the time Martin and Susan spent sharing their love of the area and its inhabitants.

Since we had such a full morning, the afternoon, from Little Salt Lake to Mesquite, NV, will be covered in the following segment.