Grand Gulch, hiking around Polly's Island

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Polly's Island is a huge "island" in the Grand Gulch canyons caused by an old oxbox or rincon. It is over a mile hike around it. We had hoped to try to climb to the top of Polly's Island, but we saw no way up for two people without climbing equipment (which is forbidden).

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60 hands panel

There isn't an official name for this rock art panel, but it reportly has more than 60 handprints. Prints are in many colors of pigment, including green (which is uncommon for rock art). Some prints are obviously from the smaller hands of children, which is unusual in Ancestral Puebloan rock art.
60 hands panel looking up
Vicki at 60 hands panel 60 hands panel 60 hand panel 60 hands panel
60 hands panel 60 hands panel


Polly's Island Ruin

This ruin was built behind an old rock slide which created a natural outer wall to the small alcove. It dwelling had only a few rooms.We saw lots of pottery shards in the area, several sharpening grooves of various tools, and pieces of worked flint in the area. The fruit of the prickly pear cactus seemed to be near peak ripeness. It was a staple of Ancestral Puebloan diet. A Navajo guide on our last trip said one can take the the spines off by putting the fruit on a stick and rubbing in grass.

Polly's Island Ruin
Polly's Island ruin
Plastered wall
Polly's Island Ruin
Vicki at Polly's Island Ruin
Hand pictographs at Polly's Island Ruin Hand pictographs at Polly's Island ruin
Worked flint View from Polly's Island RuinVicki by sharpening grooves
Sharpening grooves Sharpening grooves Pottery shard Pottery shards Prickly pear cactus

(Go to Vicki and Sheila's August/September 2005 Vacation main page)