[Rockhounds] Death Valley's Racing Rocks

[Alan Silverstein]

Yup, the Racetrack Playa is a very interesting place, one of a handful
of known "playa racetracks" on the planet.  I've been out there a couple
of times.  It's a long drive (26 miles?) on a gravel road that is
either terribly slow due to relentless washboards, or else a breeze if
it's been graded recently.

Death Valley in general is a remote place.  Out at the Racetrack it
feels even moreso.  The second time, I happened to have a rented 4WD
vehicle, so we continued down the rough 4WD road into Saline Valley --
now THAT is remote!

There's been debate for years about how the rocks move.  Placing stakes
around them, but they moved anyway, ruled out large ice sheets.  So if
ice is involved, it's a small amount, or comes into play only after the
rock is moving.

During my first visit, I hiked up Ubehebe Peak, overlooking the playa,
for a fabulous view down...  Eerie and lonely.  No one has ever seen the
rocks moved, but as I arrived back at my car in fading twilight, near
one edge of the playa and maybe a mile from the end where the rocks
start, the wind started howling and it rained.  For a moment I thought I
was going to get very lucky.  But it didn't rain long enough.

During my second visit, my willing companions allowed me to walk from
the Grandstand to the north end where the rocks start, while they drove
to meet me, about two miles and nearly and hour if I recall right.  A
weird experience.  I could walk for long distances with my eyes closed,
as long as I didn't trip over any of the occasional racetrack rocks!

Alan Silverstein