A Mystery Tunnel to where?
When I was a child, learning of a secret was always very exciting and I have
never outgrown that thrill. One of the things I love most when I am out
photo-exploring is being drawn to look beyond what I might be focusing on. I
believe at times like this a secret is about to be revealed, if I stop and
take notice. This was certainly the experience on a mild winter day in February
when I was venturing toward the Singatse Ridge, west of Yerington, Nevada.
I had stopped to photograph an unusual outcropping of rocks that reminded me of a Dimetrodon, the dinosaur with the large sail and elongated spines on its back.
I had stopped to photograph an unusual outcropping of rocks that reminded me of a Dimetrodon, the dinosaur with the large sail and elongated spines on its back.
Just as I was returning to my car, in the distance I saw what appeared to be the opening
to a large cave.
However, when I walked closer to the opening, I realized it
was a not a cave but a tunnel cut through the base of the mountain.
Entering
the opening, I reflected on what it must have taken to tunnel out this 40 foot
long, 10 foot diameter space through the massive rocks. There was no evidence
of signs or markings about this tunnel, just present day graffiti. The tunnel
was wide enough for a car or small truck but I saw no evidence of any road.
Since the settlers moved in, this area known as the Yerington district has been a rich source of copper mining and I began to think that the tunnel had been constructed for usage with the mining or some type of flood control.
An interesting granodiorite boulder, an intrusive igneous rock produced from lava flows lies toward the south entrance of the tunnel.
Walking through the north end of the tunnel, what came to view was an intriguing outcropping of tan colored rocks. These artistic creations of nature must have been emplaced from the Jurassic era and were just amazing. A feeling of antiquity came over me as my eyes gazed at the lines and cracks etched by nature over eons of time.
A family of raptors have been taking advantage of the overhangs and depressions in the rocks as was visible by their numerous white droppings.
The white paste that oozed out from the rock's edges
took on interesting artistic shapes and designs.
Lichens on a granodiorite bolder facing north create an array of abstract designs with the colors of the rock.
As I turned to go back through the tunnel, I noticed a sediment line in the bank rising up to the east. Could this layer have been deposited from ancient Lake Lahontan during the Pleistocene epoch?
To some, the desert may seem harsh and inhabitable, but the feeling of mystery is what draws me and when I walk quietly, the desert's secrets are often revealed. Standing and quietly watching, I began to see shapes in the rocks and then the slightest breeze lingers on my face as if the ancients are letting me know they are welcoming me to this mysterious area.
What
an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been. I love
it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get
treated to new experiences.
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Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.
"Reflecting Nature's Artistry"
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