Wonderland of Rocks - 1.18.2019
We started this hike from the very popular Barker Dam Trailhead... you can see people on the left heading straight for the dam... but we will hike a quarter-mile to the NE and go into the Wonderland of Rocks near the Wonderland Ranch.
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Hiking along the southern border of the Wonderland of Rocks... heading for the Wonderland Ranch.
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One of the three 'Red Ladies' in the park... here holding a child's hand.
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This is the normal parking area for the Wonderland Ranch... but recent heavy rain in the park caused all dirt roads to be closed until they have time to dry out.
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The Wonderland Ranch... aka the Bagley homestead... we will enter the wonderland from near here.
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Exploring an Anasazi kitchen area... oven, shelfs and places to grind food.
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Continuing up the south entrance of the Wonderland of Rocks... the shark rock is in the distance.
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Passing by the two Astro Dome rocks.
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We have passed the Astro Domes and hiking deeper into the Wonderland of Rocks.
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Locals refer to it as Camel Rock.
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Passing by Freak Brothers Dome.
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Petroglyphs at the Schoolhouse Rock.
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Continuing deeper into the Wonderland of Rocks... the Red Obelisk Amphitheater on the left and Freak Brothers Dome on the right.
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Time to get off of the desert floor and roam on the boulders.
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Denali Girl and dksman scrambling on the rocks.
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Star Dancer leads us higher up in the rocks.
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Denali Girl scrambling in the rocks.
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Nearing my high point... the wonderland is looking good.
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Here comes the rest of the gang.
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A pano shot from my high point.
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Another pano shot from my high point in the Wonderland of Rocks.
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Still another pano shot from my high point in the Wonderland of Rocks.
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Leaving our lunch spot and heading back down to the desert floor.
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Almost back down to the desert floor.
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Still some work to do to get back down on the desert floor.
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Seriously... almost back down on the desert floor.
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Another rock exploration... heading up toward the 'Observatory'.
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Getting closer to the 'Observatory'.
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dksman has almost reached the 'Observatory'.
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I'm getting closer to the 'Observatory'... here watching dksman relaxing in it.
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Denali Girl got this shot of dksman and me up at the 'Observatory'.
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Looking through the roof of the 'Observatory'.
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Heading back down the wonderland toward our car.
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Instead of going all the way back to our car via the wonderland, we will scramble through a pass that will eventually take us to Barker Lake.
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Working our way toward Barker Lake.
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Not every step is above the rocks.
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Following a wash that will take us to Barker Lake.
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Love the rock here.
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Nice rock... on our way to Barker Lake.
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Here comes dksman.
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Continuing our way to Barker Lake.
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Looking back at the pass we came over on the right.
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We have reached Barker Lake... we will work our way around the east shore and pick up the Barker Dam Trail to get back to the car.
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We will need to do a little rock scrambling to get around the east shoreline.
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The recent heavy rain raised the level of the lake... forcing us up onto the rocks.
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Star Dancer and Denali Girl enjoy the view of Barker Lake.
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A pano shot... Barker Lake and Barker Dam on the left... we came here via the gap on the far right.
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We have connected with the Barker Dam Trail... the car is not far off.
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Almost back to the car... Ryan Mountain in the distance.
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Parking lot in view... with Ryan Mountain beyond... our trip was 5.4 miles, gaining 620 feet of elevation.
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