Photographic meanderings

Sunlight illuminates a drift of smoke in the Chaw-se gun’ge, the Miwok ceremonial roundhouse. Chaw-se, Indian grinding rock, Jackson, CA.

Not all churches have stain glass windows. Some have to make due with smoke and sunlight.

Chaw-se hun’ge, the ceremonial roundhouse at Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park.

Here we observe the behavior of the North American Photographer in their natural habitat. In this case, these two fine male specimens are engaged in subtle territorial defense posturing. Note that their definitive possessions are outside the reach of the opposite photographer. However, it is not unusual for photographers to approach, either boldly or shyly and request viewing privileges of "the gear".

While "the gear" is important, what these two males are truly defending is their respective "spots", each one thinking he has the better "spot" for using "the gear".

It is not unusual for groups of photographers to congregate, each one vying for the right "spot". This researcher has yet to see any actual violence as a result of disputes, but heard a female of the species voice her claim to two encroaching males on either side of her on this particular morning.

Another all night drive put us in place for this incredible sunrise at Zabriskie Point on Saturday. Be sure to stop by my Flickr stream to see the latest shots.

Well, I missed it. I wish I could have been at Tunnel View today to photograph the historic moment, but I wasn’t. They cut three large ponderosa pines down that have been blocking the view for many years.

All that is left are the stumps, and for now, the lingering scent of pine sap.

Those old behemoths were handsome in their own way, yes, but my gods, the view now is stunning. I made a point of taking a picture from each block along the low wall.

According to one bystander there tonight, an “environmentalist was p*ssed off* about the felling of the trees.

There is now much more elbow room at the wall.

Thanks to Dan Mitchell for providing me with enough information to hunt down this image. It’s a postcard for sale on eBay! Also, you can find it at www.matchsets.com once the sale has ended. Thanks to Tony for allowing me to use this image.

It seems Mushroom rock has taken some abuse over the years.

Further, Dan provided me with a link to a book in the public domain that’s been digitized by Google; Here is a link to the PDF: “Illustrated Sketches of Death Valley and Other Borax Deserts of the Pacific Coast” by John R. Spears

Cardcow.com

It has alternately been called “The Devil’s Throne” on this image on the Pomona Library website

The rock was still whole as late as 1952, as seen in this image in the Indiana University Archives

According to Walter of Adventureroad.com,

“Mushroom Rock originally got its start as molten lava welled up along the fault that borders Death Valley. This then cooled and hardened. As time passed wind, water, and chemicals beat the surface of the rock to create its present shape. Wind-blown sand was the most important tool. Heavy particles are not lifted far above the surface, but their striking forces are greater and have formed the stem. For hard rocks like basalt, this may take thousands of years; a wooden telephone pole whose base is not protected by a pile of rocks can be cut down by wind erosion in just a few years.

Changes in temperature cause a rock to expand and contract which produces cracks. Blowing salt packs into the cracks and pores of the rock. Rain dissolves the slat carrying deeper into the cracks. As it dries, crystals form and exert tremendous pressure, chipping off particles of rock. In 1956 natural forces caused a large section of the cap of Mushroom Rock to break off.”

(http://www.adventureroad.com/Parks/Death%20Valley/Death_Valley.htm)

According to an anonymous ranger, it broke when some Boy Scouts climbed on it for a picture in the 50′s, or was broken by high winds. You can read the thread on deathvalley.com here.

I think my favorite explanation was that the rock had been chipped away and pulverized, then snorted for hallucinogen properties. Yeah, right. Damn hippies. No, I’m not going to link to that one, you go find it!

As Connie and I drove south along Badwater Road to Artiste’s Pallet, I saw this formation and exclaimed “What the **** was that?!”

Can any of my readers help me out with this? It’s about 7′ tall (rough guesstimate) and on the eastern side of Badwater road between Golden Canyon Parking and the northern end of Artist’s Road. I could be wrong about being between Artist’s road and Golden Canyon parking lot. But it is north of the outlet end of Artist’s Drive.

Does it have a name? My best guess is that it’s volcanic. Can anyone confirm?

The view from Zabriskie Point at the wrong time of day.

One of the things I’d grabbed on Friday before heading out the door was a largish bottle of home made mead, given to me by some wonderful folks I’d met several years ago at the Ahwahnee. Suzie and George, you’ll be glad to know that Connie and I toasted the first light on Mt. Whitney with a shared glass of that mead. After a full night of driving, helped by Connie’s killer coffee, I would need something to put me on my back for some shut eye. After going through the Alabama Hills, Connie took over driving. Our destination this time was Artist’s drive, to see Artiste’s Pallet. I finished the best portion of the bottle of mead. I was soon out like a light. We made a couple of stops to stretch our legs, and at one point, Connie stopped to photograph a field of yellow flowers.

And then I really woke up. We arrived at Zabriskie Point, and all I can say is that I was gobsmacked by the view. I hope to return this coming Saturday. Connie confessed that she’d missed the turn to Artist’s Drive, but decided to keep going when she saw the sign for the point. So between her missed turn and mine, I thing we did all right.

“I’m thinking of taking a road trip to Death Valley, leave Friday after work, drive all night and be in place for sunrise.”

That was Wednesday, over a lunch of lamb stew with my friend Connie, my LRT benefactress. “Would you like to come with me?” “Sure! I’d love to go to the desert!”

We left at about 6 pm, heading south to Tehachapi Pass, at the extreme southern end of the Sierra Nevada. By 2 am we passed the “Welcome to Death Valley” sign. Neither of us knew where Zabriskie Pt. was, our erstwhile destination. I’d wanted to visit the walking rocks of the Race Track, and so we headed west along 190.

At 4 AM I realized we had driven all the way to Lone Pine. We took advantage of our predicament and headed up Whitney Portal road to catch the sunrise light on the tallest peak in the lower 48 states. We found a good vantage point at the end of the drivable road and waited. We were not disappointed.

Watch for tales of my trip to Death Valley, coming soon!