On Kawaiisu and Newe tribes lands the Trona Pinnacles rise from an ancient lake bed. During the day you can hear the winds swirling and playing among the pinnacles. Bees and flys buzzing in search of any available liquid that isn't poisoned by the nearby chemical plant. The occasional wren skirting and skipping from shadow to shade among the bushes and pinnacles. Among your feet harvester ants patrol and build thier empires. If you don't wish to taste the calcium and chalky dust you cover your face, for the natural furnace blows ever constant. The camera on its tripod shakes and vibrates even when weighted by hand and pack. On a more dry informational note, the pinnacles are primarily made of calcium carbonate (tufa). It is striking and different on close up. Ridges, picks and bone like texture reminds me of dried coral more than stone. These pinnacles were formed around 10k to 100k years ago when a chain of inland seas/lakes spread from mono lake to death valley.
Because I love this land, I hesitate to show it. To not show is to leave those who don't see, don't seek or don't care to continue not to. It allows this small spot to stay less molested than it already has been by those who think these places are not damaged under tread. To not show it dooms it to erasure by those who quietly and subtly take our public lands for their profit leaving destruction and use in their wake. Everytime I come to the desert I see off trail usage, plants and bio crust destroyed. Those who do not know what they tread on or roll over do not understand how long these take to grow. Not realizing that they may not return if left in damaged in time for even thier children to see. The desert is not lifeless, it is not void, it is not a desolate land we can destroy not worrying what it'll cause in the future.
