We were headed to North Hegman Lake to see several pictographs. Long ago, someone painted several symbols on the granite cliff face. A person standing with outstretched arms, a moose, and another animal are clearly visible. There are other marks near this main set of images. The artist used a special pigment that bonded to the rock.
I have visited the North Hegman Lake pictographs many times, but I am always struck by how sharp they are. The red is so vibrant, I can imagine the artist snowshoeing down the lake hours before we arrived. What was their life like? Why were they moved to paint the rocks?
I imagine North Hegman Lake has remained largely the same since people left these markings on the cliff face long ago. The beauty of the Wilderness is that hundreds of years from now people will continue to paddle, ski, and snowshoe to the north end of this lake to stare up at the rocks with the same sense of wonder that Amy and I felt today.
It is critical that we defend the Wilderness from the sulfide-ore copper mines being proposed along the edge of the Wilderness, along with other threats. The Wilderness can’t walk through the halls of Congress or speak for itself. It needs all of us to stand up, be a voice for the Wilderness, and help defend this national treasure.
Please sign the petition by following the link in our bio, share our 365 day Wilderness journey with your friends, and learn more about how you can help @savetheBWCA.
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