The rock piles in the row going up the hill get smaller and smaller near the top. This one is near letter N from the map that is in the part 1 post:
It is wet up there, too, even though the elevation is above 1900 feet, water runs out of the ground.Swinging around to the north and right at the border of state and private land is this view. You might have to click on the photo to see a standing stone to the far left. The stone wall is at the border, which is O on the map. Then there is another standing stone at the back end of the stone wall:
Here is a close up of the standing stone at the back of the stone wall; P on the map:
Rounding back down the hill and at H on the map, the stone row that touches one run in branch to the swamp is barely visible here. This view is looking off in the direction to where this stone row meets the rock piles.
Back at the head of the swamp, there is a split wedge in the rocky area, within view of the rock pile at K. Although the photo doesn't show it, my notes are that there are 2 rocks or wedges inside this split:
Then, these three "rocks on boulders". I apologize, they are not marked on the map, but they are roughly southwest of the trail, across from J. This first one is lower in elevation, near the trail:
The two in this photo are high up above the trail, overlooking the swamp, not far from the top of the mountain that is 2097 feet in elevation on the map. If you click on the image, you can see the 2nd pile just up the hill.
How thick is that standing stone in the third image from the top?
ReplyDeleteI'll take your word that it is a standing stone, but from the angle at which it was photographed, it simply looks like a big boulder.
I did photograph it from the side, but I didn't measure it. Looking back at my photo, I'd say about 8 to 10 inches thick. The thickness is uniform and, although it is thicker than other standing stones I've seen, this is also a bigger (taller) stone than most that I find. Those little rocks all around it also seem to be placed, but I don't know that for certain. I could be wrong.
ReplyDeleteI came across this blog while searching "rock piles".
ReplyDeleteI went on a hike today with my sister and there were tons of little rock piles along the trail. Not like most of the ones on your site which were large rocks and large arrangements, but they do seem to be artistically arranged. What are your thoughts? Is it something that people tend to do, just leave their little natural artistic mark on the trail or do you think it has some kind of hidden meaning? Or do you think they were placed just to make people like me ask questions?
I can provide you with a link to my Flickr picture page if you wish, however the name of the mountain is mentioned, and I noticed in one of your posts, that maybe the name of the site shouldn't be mentioned?
Thanks for any insight, I'll check back later :)
Mentioning or not mentioning is at the individual's discretion.
ReplyDeleteLittle piles by the trail sound like a natural expression but not a ceremonial one.
http://flickr.com/photos/akeepersjackpot/sets/72157604866382779/
ReplyDeleteI guess since they are all over the marked trail, its ok to mention then?
The link above is to the photo set for the whole hike, but there are several pictures of the rock piles if you care to look :)
Nice photos "jackpot". Those are modern rock "stacks" like what Bill Dan makes. They are not Indian.
ReplyDeleteThank you pwax. I just Googled Bill Dan, found his blog, amazing pictures.
ReplyDeleteI figured that they were either someone leaving a creative personal mark in the woods or maybe since the trail was poorly marked, to help guide future hikers.
I don't know why my sudden interest in rock piles, but I can't wait to do a post on them in my blog :)
There are probably lots of great places to search near you, if you live near Spruce Mtn. Wet, swampy areas at high elevations are good places to look around. Happy rock pile hunting!
ReplyDelete