I am going to be on Montgomery lake around June 17. Does anyone want to meet for a try at the Montgomery Creek pictographs?

I'd love to, especially since I'll be in the park during that time, but we'll be a few miles northeast of there. I didn't realize there were pictos in that area when we paddled through there in 2010. Hmmm...

On another note, maybe pictos should be enjoyed in quiet solitude instead of with a group. Just my two cents...

quote Jackfish: "I'd love to, especially since I'll be in the park during that time, but we'll be a few miles northeast of there."

There isn't much northeast of Montgomery, unless you're planning on camping at the pictographs. Where are you staying?

In Kevin Callan's Guide Book; "Quetico & Beyond", he describes his attempt to locate the Montgomery Creek pictographs on page #135.

Apparently Kevin, and his traveling partner Andy Baxter, were unable to find the pictographs. As they found out later, they did not proceed far enough to the pictograph location on Montgomery Creek.

That said, Kevin does describe the pictograph on Montgomery Lake itself. Per Kevin's description of the pictograph located directly below their campsite, ("the painting, which is of a male stick-figure with an erect penis, was discovered in 1984 by David Ingebrigsten.)"

After reading Kevin's description, all I could think was, come on, really? I had never heard anything about this pictograph on Montgomery Lake before and I've never heard of a pictograph that was potentially pornographic in nature.

I'm a big fan of Kevin Callan, but I thought that maybe one of Kevin's infamous "bush martinis" had influenced his description of this rarely mentioned pictograph. But after paddling through Montgomery Lake last year, and then viewing the pictograph for myself, it really can't be defined any other way. Weird!

Sorry, but I don't have any pictures of my own of this rare, strange pictograph. The day I was traveling through the area, I was accompanied by a steady drizzle. So not wanting to trash my camera, and for other reasons described below, I decided to forgo any photos ops. I did post a Link below of this topic after I "Googled" Montgomery Lake pictograph. (If you scroll down the thread accessed by the Link, hexnymph has a picture of the aforementioned pictograph.)

Pictographs in the Kawnipi Lake-Montgomery Lake region

Although I've photographed pictographs on Agnes Lake, Crooked Lake, Hegman Lake, and other locations in the past, I've been reluctant to photograph any pictographs in recent years. I recently learned that the Aboriginal people do not approve of photographing pictographs and consider it bad luck to do so.

Call me weird, but being superstitious, and to respect to the beliefs of the Aboriginal people, I no longer photograph these depictions of the life of the ancient, indigenous people of Quetico-Superior.

Hans Solo

Montgomery Lake Picto

My guess is that the individual that inscribed this rock was not adverse to reproduction.....

You can recognize the spot by looking for the tree that is leaning against the rock. It has been there for several years and was there last summer.

quote bstrege: "

quote Jackfish: "I'd love to, especially since I'll be in the park during that time, but we'll be a few miles northeast of there."

There isn't much northeast of Montgomery, unless you're planning on camping at the pictographs. Where are you staying? "

My bad. I meant a few miles northWEST of there. Entering at Beaverhouse.

The above picture was taken after getting there from the North. We bushwhacked from a little lake south west of Buckingham. So there is a place north east where you could camp and do a day trip to the pictoes.

Jean Sawdo discovered the pictographs on Montgomery Creek.
She told me the story about it, while I was having dinner at her house, near Atikokan, in 1995.
She & her late husband Phil, used to trap in Quetico.
I was trapping up that way, & we were dropping off pelts for her to do the fine skinning & stretching of our pelts.
A fine & gracious woman!

quote HansSolo: "


That said, Kevin does describe the pictograph on Montgomery Lake itself. Per Kevin's description of the pictograph located directly below their campsite, ("the painting, which is of a male stick-figure with an erect penis, was discovered in 1984 by David Ingebrigsten.)"

After reading Kevin's description, all I could think was, come on, really? I had never heard anything about this pictograph on Montgomery Lake before and I've never heard of a pictograph that was potentially pornographic in nature.


Hans Solo"

The Montgomery Creek picto was discovered in 1984, but the site on the lake was discovered decades earlier. I was there last year with my 15 year-old son, and we both agreed that the picto was of a man with an erection. Had a good laugh.

It looks like Kevin may need to amend his guide book about the discovery dates of the aforementioned pictographs in the next revision.

I found it hard to believe that the pictograph on Montgomery Lake was not discovered until 1984, per Kevin's book. It's not as though it's hidden or off the beaten path. In fact, it's on a large slab of of rock below a campsite and in the vicinity of some unique rock formations.

Hans Solo

So, I take it no one is interested in meeting for a hike to the pictos?

I will be in Kawnipi by the 16th but I can not commit to a meeting. I am taking a trip with my old pal Scott and fishing is the focus. We will be camped in Mackenzie bay near the main lake. He is reluctantly agreeing to a bushwhack through Gamp lake later in the trip so I do not want to push my luck. Put me down as a unsure maybe.
Jon

When I saw the pictograph on Montgomery Lake proper in 2009, my first impression was that it was a hoax. I, too, thought it was a man with an erect penis. I took pictures and submitted them to Quetico Park headquarters asking them for an expert opinion. It was not until the following year that I received a reply. They sent in a team of experts to examine the pictograph. Their conclusion was that it was not a hoax but indeed is an original and the figure is of an animal or a humanoid figure either with a mask and headdress on or with a bird-like head on an upright body with a tail extending to the rear.

Here is what the expert, Bob Evans, had to say:

"I think more likely, the extending structure below is a tail, and that would be consistent with the beak-like structure protruding from the back of the head. The wide neck, I think, is more consistent with a representation of hair from the back of the head, or some sort of headdress."

I was surprised.
GeorgeM

Every man knows that that figure represents a man chasing his wife. Only question is, will he catch her.

quote Thwarted: "Every man knows that that figure represents a man chasing his wife. Only question is, will he catch her."

LOL Imagine the fun my 16-year old son and I had interpreting that picto!

While it certainly is interesting to visualize this figure as a human with erect penis, I personally think this is an unlikely representation. While showing an erect penis in pictographs is fairly common and probably represents concepts related to fertility, there are a number of reasons that make me think this is a tail.
In the pictographs of humans, humanoids, and non-fantasy animals, the painters in this area are remarkable accurate in anatomic detail and proportion except for the size of genitalia and the size of antlers, which are often exaggerated. The body proportions of this figure do not represent human body proportions.
Additionally if you consider this a penis then the head, if pointing forward (to the right) has to have a very flat face and some type of projection from the back of the head. While this could be a headdress, I am not aware of depictions of headdresses that are thin and projecting directly backwards, horizontal, to the ground. If it is non-human, and the projection is a snout, as in a dog, or fox then the head would have to be rotated 180 degrees from the front of the body, not a likely scenario, at least in non-fantasy organisms.
I think it is a tail, and that the projection to the left of the head is a snout of some type. This would make the back of the head, to the right, fairly normal looking. Very similar figures can be found in Southwest USA pictograph fields, in South American fields, and in very old Egyptian fields. While this may not enter the conversation, very similar spiritual figures are found cross culture in many diverse geographic areas, and over huge amounts of time.
The unfortunate part of this is that only the artist knows for sure and we do not have access to him or her.
All of this is just my opinion, and not any better than anyone else's.
My apologies, GeorgeM for the slow reply you got in the past. By the time your request filtered through to me many months had passed. As you can see, my opinion has changed some from my original reply to you. I try to learn more as I study more.
Hopefully we will all continue to respectfully view and study the pictographs in an attempt to better understand the people who paddled these waters long before us. Jon Nelson, once a ranger in Quetico, spent quite some time with the Elders of the First Nation. Jon passed on to me that in his discussions, one elder referred to these images as prayers. We must respect them as such.
Smooth paddling and fair winds.
BE

Assuming that human nature has remained fairly constant, at least at its core, for a very long time, I have to think that the artists who made the numerous pictographs (and occasional petroglyphs) on the Canadian Shield in centuries past would be flattered, proud, or amused that people would still be viewing and interpreting their work so long into their future.

Apart from the images of objects easily recognized by modern viewers, I have to wonder if it will ever be possible to know or interpret many other objects, because the mind-scape and spirituality of native peoples in centuries past is probably unknowable.

I always ponder the creator of pictographs, as well as the work itself, knowing they travelled the same portages and waterways that I do, but had regional geographical knowledge that no modern person could have.

quote HansSolo: "
It looks like Kevin may need to amend his guide book about the discovery dates of the aforementioned pictographs in the next revision.

I found it hard to believe that the pictograph on Montgomery Lake was not discovered until 1984, per Kevin's book. It's not as though it's hidden or off the beaten path. In fact, it's on a large slab of of rock below a campsite and in the vicinity of some unique rock formations.

Hans Solo"

I have not read his book, but it's the ones up the creek, that were discovered (or re-discovered) in the 1980's.

Great photo ! Can you tell me what direction the photographer was facing when the photo was taken ? I have tried several times to find them. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

This is a point from my tracks to the pictoes. It should be within 50 ft of the pictos. N48.49488 W91.29666 or N48.49538 W91.29597 You would be facing North west while viewing the pictoes. There are also pictures on Montgomery lake at the campsite with the high point. To find these look for the tallest island with a campsite.
Sorry about the slow response been on a a trip.
MagicPaddler