Chiricahua National Monument -Arizona

LAND OF STANDING ROCKS

This adventure took us down to Arizona's south-eastern corner to the sky islands of the Chiricahua Mountains. We spent a week camping and hiking in this wonderful wonderland of the balancing rocks.

The rock formations were made by volcanic ash from the Turkey Creek Volcano some 27 million years ago. The volcanic ash filled in the area up to a couple thousand feet thick. These super-heated ash particles milted together, forming layers of gray rock called rhyolite. Eons of weathering and erosion enlarged the cracks. Weaker material washed away, leaving behind an endless variety of spires, balanced rocks and other shapes.

I'm in the Grotto on the Echo Canyon Trail

The rocks are covered with Lichen, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lichen a kind of algae.

Looking over the valley of thousands of standing rocks

Organ Pipe formation

A small Claret Cup Cactus

Mushroom Rock

Looking down Rhyolite Canyon

Pinnacle Balanced Rock

Camels head

Punch and Judy

Duck on a Rock

Kissing Rocks

Thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed my adventure through the Land of the Standing Rocks!

!steemitworldmap 32.00569 lat -109.35672 long 'Chiricahua National Monument' d3scr