Revisiting a marker pile site in Bolton

Several years ago, Bruce McAleer and I explored south of Rt 117 and East of Rt 495 in the patch of woods between Camp Resolute and those highways. We saw a minor rock pile site and I realized, recently, it might be worth exploring a bit further south. Heading out, I passed through the familiar territory on the way to the new. I think you can actually glimpse some of the piles in this site, on the right, as you head north on Rt 495 just before the 117 exit. Anyway, the site is nicer than I remembered. Here is the approach with a boulder at the upper left: [Note the path/old road in the foreground].

Taking a look at that boulder (facing back the way I came in) , it is adjacent and parallel to a long thin pile:A nice little structure I do not remember from the previous visit.

There were a number of nice little piles in the snow, probably damaged and a bit smeared out: Several un-damaged vertical sided piles: Piles in lines, and evenly spaced:These characteristics of vertical sided piles, in lines, are what I call "marker piles". Another characteristic I see occasionally at such sites is one pile at the edge - possibly at the end of one of the lines of pile - with a nice chunk of quartz in the center. I found that kind of pile here: Closer:[For those who appreciate the turtle, lets look even closer:] A pretty piece of quartz, maybe even deliberately shaped.