Google Earth Community: Racetrack Playa

My friend Jim & I know how the rocks move.

On February 15th & 16th 2003 we were camped out about 80' above and maybe 500' away from the area that they move in. When we arrived it was a day or so after rains had flooded the valley floor. As the day went on all of the water moved slowly south and became concentrated on the southern half of the valley - very beautiful. We could see the rocks on the floor and then, as the water moved south, sticking up out of the water. I would guess that it was no deeper than 8" and mostly less. That night there were VERY strong winds coming from the south. In the morning the water was all pushed up to the north end of the valley - again - very beautiful.

We walked out onto the playa and sure enough you could see the brand new tracks leading from the older tracks where the rocks had been sitting the day before.

We both took lots of pictures. We are both very experienced hikers and can distinguish newly churned earth from earth churned in the past (it was obvious) - and it was obvious where they had started because the direction of the channel changed and all of the new channels went in the same general direction.

The silty clay soil is very slippery when wet.

SO: Strong unidirectional winds when the valley floor is flooded several inches deep cause the rocks to move.

Myles

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