East of Fallon on Hwy. 50, we stopped at a couple of interesting places and saw a great message. First was Grimes Point Archeological Area, one of the largest and most accessible rock art sites in the U.S. Around 10,000 years ago during the ice age, this area was under water known as Lake Lahontan.
Don’t know if you can see it, but the mountain range in the distance has horizontal lines indicating the changes in water levels over the years.
But back to our rocks. Grimes Point is a field of volcanic rock of basalt boulders that were an ideal surface for the Indians to create images called petroglyphs. Several styles are in the area and may have been painted around 6000 years ago. Some signs said they were religious symbols, and other signs said they were for hunting. The rocks are dark chocolate brown in color, showcasing the artwork nicely.
more art work
This other view from Grimes Point looks down on another of the sinks in the area.
a mountain of sand
A little further east on Hwy. 50, just by the Sand Springs Pony Express stop, is Sand Mountain. We read that these are 1 of 3 “singing mountains” in the country because the sand is rounded, unlike beach sand or salt sand. The noise comes when the grains of sands shift against each other, creating a low moan. This is best heard when coming down the mountain. The eerie rushing, roaring, booming sound begins when the grains of sand start to move against each other. We didn’t hear anything though.
The dune is 2 miles long and 600 feet high. Huge.
The mountain was formed from the sands of ancient Lake Lahontan.
messages along the road
As we drove to these sites, we noticed smaller dark stones along the road spelling out words. We were finally able to get pictures of one group of rocks that intrigued us. Recognize what the writer was saying?
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence [sic], promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” The Preamble of the Constitution
Great reminder; thanks!
