Google Earth Community: Racetrack Playa

"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."

Yeah, but I am still not personally convinced of this theory.

sure, many of the rocks have long straight tracks, but there are some that have VERY unusual tracks.

One rock that comes to mind was about 2 and a half feet high and wide, big enough to comftorably sit on, and must weigh around 200+ pounds. It seemed that it would be a bit heavy and too rounded in shape for the wind to push it around.

If it was wind moving that rock, my guess is that it would have been spun around several times along its journey.

This particular rock had tracks that went back and forth in a semi-circle probably about 5 feet in diameter. From the look of the tracks, this particular rock seemed to have made that same general journey about 5 times back and forth.

"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."

UMMM... you did WHAT!!

Personally, if I had seen you out there on the wet playa I would have DEFINATELY reported you to a ranger. That is, if I was able to restrain myself from beating you senseless in the first place!

PLEASE do EVERYONE a favor and keep off of the playas when they are wet! Not only is it dangerous to be out there in those conditions, but you also leave your tracks behind in the mud!!! Personally, I do not want to see these beautiful places defiled by people, whether intentionally or unintentionally. I have already seen too many tracks (footprints and tire tracks) out on the playas in this region, The Racetrack included!

P.S. Please also do not mark/spraypain on the rocks, this is just stupid!

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