The area was typical of the high plains of Montana: dusty and rocky with lots of scrub vegetation. The panoramic views provided a nice backdrop to imagine the Indians of yesteryear riding across the prairie on horseback. An occasional wispy white cloud drifted lazily overhead but the sky was mostly unmarred and the most spectacular shade of blue. Looking out for miles and miles in any direction gives one the feeling they can almost see into both the past and the future. The innumerable sage and short evergreen shrubs provided an aromatic sensory experience. Small purple and yellow wildflowers dotted our way as we walked along. Despite our diligent avoidance, the prickly pear cactus and cheat grass annoyingly invaded our footware and socks as we tromped our way up the trail.
We headed towards the little valley that supposedly has the largest collection of Native American rock art on the continent with some dating back to over 1,000 years. The area is also known as the "Valley of the Shields or the "Valley of the Chiefs." Several years ago, a controversy erupted when Phil Anschutz, a billionaire businessman, wanted to drill for oil on the land. Through the coordinated efforts of several tribes and non-profit organizations, this sacred area has been spared that fate.
We did not find all of the pictographs but did find several. While they are still quite visible, they will eventually erode through the effects of time and elements. We wondered why they chose the canvases they did. Each sandstone surface appeared to be carefully prepared before the paint was applied. The sandstone texture was different beneath the art; it was if the surface had been sanded and smoothed.
The art we saw depicted shields with heads and sometimes tails and the photos do not do justice.
We took our time searching the area for more art. We crawled over bolders and squeezed between massive sheets of rock while always being alert for rattlesnakes. The wildlife actually seemed rather sparse; a bunny here, a hawk there, and a few snake skins. There was lots of scat so we knew larger animals were in the area. Skeletal remains in various conditions were common. One small scull appeared to be completely intact and we guessed it to be of a rabbit. This was a day of wonder and awe and gave us all an appreciation of all things great and small. With childlike curiosity we took turns examining the little scull and opened and closed its jaw trying to align the tiny teeth. What happened to the poor little thing?
No one in our party was in any hurry to leave this special place and we looked for every excuse to delay our departure. We found massive bolders to sit on while we dined on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and plums freshly picked from someone's garden. Together we marvelled at the natural beauty of the area and grew closer as friends through this shared experience.
