The Sierra Nevada mountains, spanning California and western Nevada, reached their current elevations only in the last six million years, relatively recent in geological terms. This period follows the Nevadan orogeny, which started about 156 million years ago during the Late Jurassic Epoch, marking the onset of significant mountain-building in western North America. The region has also undergone dramatic geological transformations, including the Basin and Range extension beginning about 30 to 40 million years ago, which is still active today. This extension is responsible for the formation of the valleys and mountain ranges across Nevada, influenced by volcanic and tectonic activity, and shaped by subduction and crustal movement. Numerous Nevada deposits; gold, silver, and copper ores near Battle Mountain, formed during this time. Gypsum deposits also resulted from the evaporation of the southern Nevada lakes. Fast forward; +10 Pressure, +10 Minerals and eventually the beautiful myriad of creamy pink and fiery red sandstone formed. Over time erosion carved the varying landscape that I am so grateful that I was able to witness.
I can't stop Googling pictures and watching videos. I wish I could pick up and go back right now. I've never stepped foot in a desert prior. The creamy pinks, soft yellows, and brilliant reds against the truest of blue skies decorated with flecks of clouds left me with my mouth gaping in awe.
Being March, the temperatures were on the colder side so probably not as much foot traffic as this place normally gets. If not, then this state park is highly underrated or maybe I'm just used to the terrible person per square footage ratio that O'ahu has.
Of course I read up on the Ancestral Puebloans and the Basketweaver culture that preceded them. Naturally, I also went into a rabbit hole of the geological history as I just shared the plethora of nerd shit above. NATURE IS AMAZING. Just 10,000 years ago the landscape was drastically different, being the site of Lake Lahontan which covered majority of the state. This ancient lake, once covering much of northwestern Nevada during the last ice age, reached its peak around 12,700 years ago with a vast expanse of over 8,500 square miles. However, climate change at the end of the Pleistocene epoch led to its gradual drying about 9,000 years ago. The lake left behind smaller bodies of water such as the Pyramid and Walker Lakes, and several playas i.e. the Black Rock Desert, and the Carson and Humboldt Sinks. These remnants and the visible high water marks serve as reminders and paint an image of the landscape that these ancient natives once inhabited.
Walking through, especially in the more remote areas I felt incredibly overwhelmed with emotions. Again, I found myself humbled and reminded that the Earth, the universe has been through so many transformations and our lives could not even equate to the figurative expression of a breath in what we understand to be the entirety of its existence of 13.8 billion years. My mind can not even fathom the staggering greatness of that length of time. 10/10 would recommend the Valley of Fire.
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Entrance.
Entrance.
Big Horn Sheep, serving hunty.
Peekaboo.
More rocks with holes.
Jointing, Erosion, Faulting? Idk, but cool square rocks.
+5 agility
Monkey lion rock? Lol. Idk
One of many arches in the park.
More beauty.
Atlatl.
Even the sand is beautiful!
The desert is not deserted.
Teleporting to Mars, brb k baiii.
Approximately 3km of deposits have been lost to erosion.
Mesozoic rock.
She's giving onion.
Unreal pastels.
Just unreal.
UN-FUCKING-REEEEEEEEEAL.
On the left side, if you zoom in there are some petroglyphs.
Erosion.
Look at the ants.
Can't get over the palettes of the sandstone strata.
The reptile heads. I think people say they look like snakes but I think they look like 3 Galapagos Giant Turtles.
The Pink or Pastel Canyon.
This isn't THE Elephant Rock, but I thought this looked like a cute elephant.
She's giving J-Lo in The Cell riding on a horse in Namibia.
If I could carry one of these giant boulders and take it home, I fucking would.
Although I like to use this as a platform to combine any history or knowledge I can find regarding the place or topic I'm discussing I think it's important to remember that the only way to obtain true knowledge is through experience of the real world. I live my life in a state of constant skepticism, always seeking answers to my questions firsthand. Many have grown into a habit of vicariously fetishizing experiences online, especially with the advent of social media. The photos or videos I post and descriptions I provide are indignant of seeing these sights for yourself, if you are able, and there is nothing that compares to the satisfaction of forming your own axioms.
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