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Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Teepee Rock


That's what I call it. Apparently the rocks slid down the mountain and landed in the river (George, is this the South Fork of the Potomac?) to form this unusual shape.


I look for the rocks whenever I visit my oldest son because the formation is right beside the highway. Saturday I saw the rocks in a new way--the sun was coming through an opening in the top of the rocks and illuminating them inside. The light reflected from the rocks and was dancing on the water and on the rock walls. It was so beautiful.
I tried to capture the light in a photo but some things just can't be put into a still picture--like rippling, glinting water and rock.

12 comments:

  1. Susanna,
    This is in Pendleton County, right before you cross the county line into Grant. It is on the North Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac. It is right across the road from the little community of Dollytown. This is about 10 minutes north of Seneca Rocks on Route 28.

    An interesting tidbit, one time some government people came in and tried to find where the cave went, and they stuck red dye and sawdust into the water further back in the cave. Well, the red dye/sawdust mixture showed up in the South Branch of the Potomac across the mountain in Smoke Hole, WV.

    Matthew

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  2. Susanna,
    I was so excited to see my home county, and very close to where I am from, that I forgot to add. This rock is actualyl part of an entire rock cliff. It was folded in the ancient past when a great earthquake pulled apart the North Fork Valley (that is why we have cliffs on both sides). There are many outcroppings like this. One of the most similar is Eagle Rock in Smoke Hole, WV (Pendleton County). This is technically still part of the North Fork rocks that run behind our house, and where many of our old legends are based.

    I believe these rocks are Oriskany Sandstone.

    Matthew

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  3. Neat rock formation and interesting history from Matthew.

    Loved your 2 new poems-perfect for this time of the year.

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  4. Wow - It's just beautiful. I love rock formations. That would be an awesome little place to tuck in if it started to rain while you were out canoeing.

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  5. This is actually right at the end of Dolly Town road, on the Grant/Pendleton County line. There's usually a huge flock of Canada geese there and fish in the deep pool by the cave. It's also a popular swimming hole.

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  6. Wow, how awesome, thank you for sharing!

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  7. Thank you, Jason and Matthew, for all the information! I am always confused about the north fork of the south branch of the eastern twig...just kidding, but I do get those rivers mixed up.

    I posted photos last fallof Smoke Hole and I think Eagle Rock. That was my first trip into the Smoke Hole and I want to go back. It's beautiful back there. I especially was interested in the grave of the soldier who is buried under the tree beside the road.

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  8. The grave of the Revolutionary War soldier buried by the road is that of William Eagle, namesake of Eagle Rock, which is just up the road a few hundred yards.

    Smoke Hole is a very neat place. If you haven't, you need to read "A Place Called Smoke Hole" by the Shreve Brothers (D. Bardon & Estyl). They also wrote a follow-up book called, "More About Smoke Hole". The books are very good and give insights to life in Smoke Hole from about 1900-1980. They also tells several family stories and folksy stuff.

    Matthew

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  9. I had to go find my post about Smoke Hole, Matthew; here are the photos of the grave, Eagle Rock and other sights at Smoke Hole:

    http://grannysu.blogspot.com/2007/11/weekend-post-5-smoke-hole.html

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  10. Beautiful picture - unusual. Teepee Rock is a perfect name because that's what it looks like.

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  11. Not only do I see wonderful photos of this neat rock formation, I get all this fascinating information about it and about the area, and well, it was a great read through the comments as well as the post! Thanks each of you!
    Marie

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  12. Yes, my oldest son calls it "back in Smoke Hole," referring to whole region by that one term. I think his wfie, whose family has lived in the area from 'way back (German descent) refer to it the same way. It is so beautiful there, I agree, very peaceful and remote. A lot of fishing camps, but the sense of tranquility is preserved, or at least it was so during our visit there.

    I wanted to go back there because my son told me I'd like it--he fishes all up and down that river, and does an annual canoe/fishing trip with friends. We ended up taking a 2-hour detour out of our way, but it was worth the trip. I want to go back in spring--I bet it's lovely then.

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