Rock Stacks I
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Distance from Beatty: 37 miles
ROCK STACKS.
Just one more weird, beautiful, unique feature on the vast, multifaceted Death Valley landscape. Who knows who builds them or why; I only know that I love them and that it's almost impossible for me to pass one without adding a rock.
Over the years I've developed a personal code of ethics about adding to a rock stack:
• First, do no harm. Make sure the rock that's added doesn't destabilize or destroy what's already there.
• Second, choose the rock carefully. Rock stacks are works of art, both visually and structurally. Always try to add a rock that's particularly beautiful or unusual and that complements the style of the existing stack.
• Third, consider the next person. Always choose a rock that's flatish on top so the next person who wants to add to the stack will be able to.
The rock stack in the picture was crowned with a pointed rock on top, so it would have been fairly difficult to add a rock. Not impossible, but difficult. Otoh, this particular stack was pretty awesome just as it was, so I left it alone.
My ROCK STACK COLLECTION
Distance from Beatty: 37 milesROCK STACKS.
Just one more weird, beautiful, unique feature on the vast, multifaceted Death Valley landscape. Who knows who builds them or why; I only know that I love them and that it's almost impossible for me to pass one without adding a rock.
Over the years I've developed a personal code of ethics about adding to a rock stack:
• First, do no harm. Make sure the rock that's added doesn't destabilize or destroy what's already there.
• Second, choose the rock carefully. Rock stacks are works of art, both visually and structurally. Always try to add a rock that's particularly beautiful or unusual and that complements the style of the existing stack.
• Third, consider the next person. Always choose a rock that's flatish on top so the next person who wants to add to the stack will be able to.
The rock stack in the picture was crowned with a pointed rock on top, so it would have been fairly difficult to add a rock. Not impossible, but difficult. Otoh, this particular stack was pretty awesome just as it was, so I left it alone.
My ROCK STACK COLLECTION
posted by K Hubert at 9:20 AM
3 Comments:
If you look carefully on the high points in the landscape and around springs you might find some real Native American rock piles. Also, in the photo of a person (you?) sitting on a rock, you are surrounded by interesting broken rock debris. There is a world of stone tools at your feet.
Thanks for your comments. Just curious.. have you actually spent much time hiking around Death Valley?
Re the pic of me sitting on "a rock." The debris at my feet is nothing but gravelly wash debris. No artifact in that location would last longer than the next heavy rain.
The rock I'm sitting on is what's really interesting. It's ancient ripple marks!
Better Pics of the Ripple Marks & Area
I revisited the place last fall and was sad to see that water erosion had greatly undermined that rock. Only a few more floods and it'll be gone.
I've hiked all around the area, up and down the hills and have never seen another piece of rock like it. Very special.
Just a quick comment on rock stacks. I have heard in the southwest they are used to mark for safe places for immigrants to travel. I have even encountered some of these rock stacks in St Louis,MO.
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