Snake Gulch

In 1881 the Orderville United Order, a cooperative company north of Kanab, operated an alfalfa farm near the head of Snake Gulch.  There are many relics from that era, some obvious and others subtle: remains of an old stone home, a corral, and a faint inscription made in grease or tar dating 1889.

Further down-canyon is a more ancient mystery.  Hundreds of ghost-like figures are painted on the walls.  Additionally, dozens of big-horned sheep and stick-figures of men are pecked into the rock.  Who were these people, when did they live here and why did they leave?

Most of the figures are of a divine nature and are painted in red, yellow or both.  They feature ceremonial dress, many of them similar.  Who were they trying to portray in their paintings?  What were their ceremonial dances and songs?

Archeologists surmise that these images were painted by people of the Basketmaker culture between the years 1,500 BC and AD 500.  Perhaps they were Anasazi.  There are a handful of crumbled granaries throughout the canyon.  Was there only one group that lived here, or were there several over the years?  How long did they live here?

Some of the pictographs are conspicuously high on the canyon walls, much higher than arm can reach.  How did they paint them?  What did they use to create their paint?  Did they use ladders to reach those great heights, or was there once a ledge?

The only serpent we saw on our 12-mile hike was a black king snake with white rings.  We passed a small group of cowboys on horses and who had seen two rattlers.  We were always on our toes.  Between the tall green grass and spirits of the dead looming the canyon, you can never be too careful in a place called Snake Gulch. ♠