The stones jutting from the earth like skeletal fragments from some long forgotten titan range in color from deep purple to fiery red along with the expected ivory of sun-bleached bones depending where you look. These color variations can occur in the very same stone in intermittent layers or will dominate the entire form depending on the composition of the stone. Eons have gone into the formation of these beauties and their stacked layers tell tales of our planet's history for those with the eyes and ears to listen. Personally, my understanding of mineralogy and geology are pretty limited, but growing up I would hear how oceans once dominated the desert and marvel at images of trilobites that had through a confluence of fortuitous factors found their way through the weathers of time to leave their shape for us to find. It's not hard to imagine this as some alien world with the bizarre and preposterous shapes and shades some of the stones have found themselves in...that is, of course, until you find some trash some jackass left behind or some other detritus of human activity. We found several examples, from a discarded silk glove (ponderous) to oodles of trash...all of it shameful. A sacred rule for any outdoor activity is LEAVE NO TRACE! We always carry a bag with us, whether it be my purse or a backpack, and take our trash with us so as not to sully the landscape for others. This isn't just practical environmental stewardship- there are hefty fines if you're caught littering or otherwise defacing the environment. Valley of Fire is a state park, after all, and these grounds are under protection. As I've said, there's a lot of history throughout the 40,000 plus acres here and please be respectful of that when visiting. Enjoy your stay and take lots of photos, but take your trash with you when you leave. Let's keep these places photogenic for the future generations who may someday visit and witness the vestiges of our civilisation.
More photos after the cut!
Until next time!
XOXO,
NAU
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