Rockin' the Petroglyphs

We had a splendid family outing to Dubois today. After an unexpected meeting and meal with Tim's sister and brother-
in-law who were on their way to Jackson (thanks for holding the baby during breakfast, Polly!), I ventured into the knitting store and came away with three skeins of scrumptious local Lopi yarn.

Then, on a whim, we drove up toward Whiskey Mountain to check out the view. No bighorns up there today (they were down along the highway and the river), but we got out and wandered around the Glacier trailhead for a time, spooking a bunch of mule deer as we went down to take a look at the rushing creek.

Hayden fell asleep as soon as we got back in the car, so Tim and I took turns poking around a boulder patch, looking for
petroglyphs. According to Great Plains archaeologist Larry Loendorf, the incredible specimens in this area (part of the Dinwoody Tradition) are associated with the Mountain Shoshone/Sheepeaters, some of the first people to inhabit the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. My favorite was this groovy one that I thought looked like an owl. Sure enough, when we looked it up at home, we discovered it's thought to be a representation of the Shoshone cannibal owl wokaimumbic. That's right. Cannibal owl. According to Loendorf, "This giant flying creature talks and behaves like a human being, but resembles and looks like an enormous dragonfly. When it flies the earth shakes, and there is noise like thunder." Yikes. Mysterious.

Oh, and can you see that petroglyph-y fleece that Hayden's wearing? Pure coincidence. Very mysterious, indeed.