Just located off of highway 395- this spot is well worth the stop. A short walk to a time capsule to the past. The last geologically, geographically and culturally!
If this is a part of history you want to know more of- there are often guided field trips to the Coso Mountain Petroglyphs (which is on the military base) where they drive you out to one of the largest collections of these drawings!
Summer list?! It’s great any time of the year! Remember- the rocks are black, with low albedo- so during the summer they absorb more radiation and can be hot!
I had never searched youtube for this area, which I often visited over more than a decade. While prof. Jeremy made a rather short video, it is a rather small canyoned area. Far to the north, one finds small places where the ancient peoples, (I think very likely the same, Paiute - water Ute, and Western Shoshone, those who did not adopt horses following Coronado expedition's having brought the Spanish mustang herds in his long journey far to the east into New Mexico (wild herds still exist , or rather feral,, East of Mono Lake). But the name Paiute, indicates how those people found all the great palatable water in the Great Basin, settling and moving around seasonally. The natives called Mono, who would seasonally move between their fly net protein by Mono Lake, up through to meet the high western SIerra tribes in warm seasons, being one of the many, many, who knew how to harvest the fire-dependent Pinyon nut cones, and of course, the ungulate populations who themselves migrated seasonally up and down in the Sierras. In that volcanic long valley, I would find the tools used to strike obsidian; the tools so perfectly comfortably fit the hand, that it was easy to se how patient extraction of fine cutting edges was promoted. I ALWAYS put the tools and obsidian back. what was INTERESTING was that CLEARLY, the toolmakers would choose some beautiful vista knoll, and do their work, even if it were near toxic hot springs - so it was not present immediate water through which they made their choices. Obsidian breaks so sharply that it has been used for scalpel blades. Unfortunately, a long-time Mammoth resident used his free time to collect hundreds of marvelous arrow/spear heads, and those are lost to both the natives and to the researchers. . This was over 30 years ago when i observed his collection. But the long Owens river, passing through the lake and down the Los Angeles DWP reservoirs - which are fenced off denying entry, although the translocated endangered Tule Elk have managed to thinly populate that Eastern Sierra valley, as their original habitat, the vast Central Valley, and the coastal valleys of mid-California, other than Point Reyes have been completely taken over and the species extirpated. (bth mountain bighorn and the desert and valley adapted pronghorn, Antilocapra are largely wiped out also by the gold seekers of 130-170 yeqrs ago. As you know, gold is inedible, a meaningless ornament useful solely for electronic conducting materials, and once, because it was malleable and near the right hardness, for teeth fillings. Where i live now, far Northwest, there were once more goldminers in the region than are normal humans now! The stories of ill treatment, and of outright murder of the indigenous on sight throughout much of Alta California should be familiar to all. I wish i had reason to travel the Californias again, so that camping and passage of the astonishing geological terrains and immensely varied rocks and mountains, gorges, valleys, would be home for 1/2 the year, as was the seasonal migration of others, from Bighorn to Paiute and Shoshone, to ungulate, bear, and the immense bird flyway that was shaped by the long chain of lakes, and water from East of the Oregon Cascades into Mojave all the way to Colorado River delta. I see the hummingbird today, whose kind travels from as far north as they go, nesting, to deep in Mexico, following the desert blossoming seasons north, then the higher land blossoming later this month, south, farther than many humans ever do, especially in the latters' minds. The entire N-S region was rather lush, until the Los Angeles dept of Water and Power arrogated, channeled, and tunneled the water from Mono and Tioga throughout the entire Eastern Sierra south, dessicating it all by over a century ago.
This might be my favorite video we have made up to this point! The weather was perfect, the location was stunning and peaceful! And that camerawork- excellence!
I think it’s really great to explore the history of fossils and how they have been going through other lakes. It’s a geological experience a d history especially when the first Indians used special rocks to create their own tools.
@@Jeremy.Patrich There is a deposit of obsidian with large vugs just East on the dirt road access to Fossil Falls. One problem, one must climb over the fence with the sign saying "we will shoot you if you climb over this fence (or something similar from the China Lake Weapons Testing Center). Dr. Gray from SBCC made arrangements to get his mineralogy class to visit the site.
Thank you for sharing! You inspired me to read more into that, and its believed that there could be up to 7 different sources for the obsidian found in the area!
That area is really fascinating. In addition to the rock formations and the petroglyphs, in the monsoon season, rainfall spawns all kinds of animal life in the pools. (Sea monkeys, shrimp, etc.)
What are the orange marks on the basalt right around the 3:40-3:50 mark? Hopefully something natural and not vandalism. Unrelated, the video quality is mesmerizing, I feel like the rock is here in front of me. 🙂
How funny! I actually completed be undergraduate research on the Olancaha Dunes... and my graduate research on the Keeler Dunes! I better dust off those presentations and post them! In the meantime, let me know what questions you have, and I can address them here!
Randall Carlson is in interesting fellow- I have been looking at some of his work- I know he appeared on Joe Rogans show- but was basing global climates from just the ice core data from Iceland- but uses the scale of the last 10,000 years to try to balance the changes we are seeing today. Things I with he had brought up: Yellowstone, Milankovitch Cycles... mass excisions etc!
I hope you have fun- almost sold out, only 7 seats left for the workshop! I was a little surprised at the cost, but it still seems like an interesting event!
Not quite- the drainage of fossil falls dates back to Lake Manley- being part of the spillover of the late Pleistocene. So this river was seasonally flowing at best pre mulholland.
@@Jeremy.Patrich it's along the route of the Owens river which of still flowing today and which was diverted when the building of the Los Angeles aqueduct was completed.
Not quite. Owens lake was a terminal lake, so it would have been impossible for water to have been in that river bed at that time. Also; with the archaeological sites built into the river; it proves that great amounts of water in that river must have been before early California peoples. Also, the River that feeds fossil falls is mostly done by drainage from the Coso Range- it’s quite visible on a map.
@@Jeremy.Patrich yes it flowed thousands of years ago when California was wet and I have looked at maps and the water from Owens lake drains south passing to fossil falls also
The channels are still there- from when the lake spilled over into Fossil Falls and then to Searles Lake. If you visit Fossil Falls, there are archeological sites that date over 2k years old, which is additional evidence that early peoples lived in that river bed, which implies that there could not have been water consistently flowing in it at that time. Another thing that you can look at is the shore line markings on the north and south end of the lake, to see where the lake levels used to be. Those shore lines date back pre 1900, and still show that there was not enough water in the lake to provide water to run through the Fossil Falls area.
That’s just it- there isn’t that much water. The entire area received very little rainfall compared to its evaporation rate. That explains the lack of vegetation and climate in the region. Indian Wells gets its name from the subsurface water found in the area.
Fossil Falls itself is a seasonal stream system that only has water when there is significant precipitation. It’s mostly surface drainage at this point due to the climate conditions of the area- which is why we rarely even see any water in it. When Owens Lake was at its max capacity over 5000+ years ago, Fossil Falls likely would have held the overflow
some asshole went and broke as many bridges in the fossil falls as he could with a hammer. there's hammer marks where the lava created bridges, heartbreaking, wish i woulda caught who it was
In future, maybe mention the places people can go to get obsidian and broken arrowheads nearby, as most states have areas where it is permitted, but protect the more culturally significant areas.
Great point, but in California, all artifacts found on public lands are protected by state and federal laws, meaning that it is illegal and unethical to collect artifacts on public lands. Artifacts include anything made or used by humans including arrowheads and flakes, pottery, basketry, rock art, bottles, coins, metal pieces, and even old cans. If you own the property, the rules are a bit gray, as you technically should contact an archeologist... it just gets complicated, so if you want arrowheads, I would buy 'after market' ones online!
@@Jeremy.Patrich oh, right, California. Where u can legally do drug, poo on the street and shoplift under $500 but heaven forbid u take a scrap of ancient Indian trash they likely never would find or would be just like the 10 million others out there. There are places it is allowed though, just like trilobite fossils.
![Megan Thee Stallion - Neva Play (feat. RM) [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/TpYTyAaTRts/mqdefault.jpg)
Looks like a neat place. May have to stop on the way back from Sequoia for our family vacation next week! Great video!
Thank you! It is worth the stop. Also, it’s only a few minutes from the Coso Rest Area- which has bathrooms... a must do for long road trips LOL
I agree, I’m definitely adding it to my summer road trip list.
It just takes minuets to get to- and will provide a lifetime of memories.
Just located off of highway 395- this spot is well worth the stop. A short walk to a time capsule to the past. The last geologically, geographically and culturally!
The geology is impressive! Looks like it’s straight out of a space movie!
I agree- I wonder if any movies were filmed there... hmmm
The preservation of the petroglyphs is quite impressive! To think they were carved over 2000+ years ago really blows my mind!
If this is a part of history you want to know more of- there are often guided field trips to the Coso Mountain Petroglyphs (which is on the military base) where they drive you out to one of the largest collections of these drawings!
I had no idea that was even an option! I’ll have to look into that. Would love to book a tour.
Pre Covid, they were doing a huge festival in Ridgecrest. I think it was around November.
Something that can’t been seen, is down stream are some columnar basalts- or basalts that crystallized into huge geometric columns!
Such an amazing place! Definitely on my summer to-do list.
Summer list?! It’s great any time of the year! Remember- the rocks are black, with low albedo- so during the summer they absorb more radiation and can be hot!
Thank you for the insights. I’ll definitely make a note of that.
Thanks I need to get up that way in the spring ...
Been going on a Geology kick
Last few years !
You should! There is so much to see in California, especially alone the Eastern Sierra!
I had never searched youtube for this area, which I often visited over more than a decade. While prof. Jeremy made a rather short video, it is a rather small canyoned area.
Far to the north, one finds small places where the ancient peoples, (I think very likely the same, Paiute - water Ute, and Western Shoshone, those who did not adopt horses following Coronado expedition's having brought the Spanish mustang herds in his long journey far to the east into New Mexico (wild herds still exist , or rather feral,, East of Mono Lake).
But the name Paiute, indicates how those people found all the great palatable water in the Great Basin, settling and moving around seasonally.
The natives called Mono, who would seasonally move between their fly net protein by Mono Lake, up through to meet the high western SIerra tribes in warm seasons, being one of the many, many, who knew how to harvest the fire-dependent Pinyon nut cones, and of course, the ungulate populations who themselves migrated seasonally up and down in the Sierras.
In that volcanic long valley, I would find the tools used to strike obsidian; the tools so perfectly comfortably fit the hand, that it was easy to se how patient extraction of fine cutting edges was promoted. I ALWAYS put the tools and obsidian back. what was INTERESTING was that CLEARLY, the toolmakers would choose some beautiful vista knoll, and do their work, even if it were near toxic hot springs - so it was not present immediate water through which they made their choices.
Obsidian breaks so sharply that it has been used for scalpel blades.
Unfortunately, a long-time Mammoth resident used his free time to collect hundreds of marvelous arrow/spear heads, and those are lost to both the natives and to the researchers. . This was over 30 years ago when i observed his collection.
But the long Owens river, passing through the lake and down the Los Angeles DWP reservoirs - which are fenced off denying entry, although the translocated endangered Tule Elk have managed to thinly populate that Eastern Sierra valley, as their original habitat, the vast Central Valley, and the coastal valleys of mid-California, other than Point Reyes have been completely taken over and the species extirpated.
(bth mountain bighorn and the desert and valley adapted pronghorn, Antilocapra are largely wiped out also by the gold seekers of 130-170 yeqrs ago.
As you know, gold is inedible, a meaningless ornament useful solely for electronic conducting materials, and once, because it was malleable and near the right hardness, for teeth fillings.
Where i live now, far Northwest, there were once more goldminers in the region than are normal humans now! The stories of ill treatment, and of outright murder of the indigenous on sight throughout much of Alta California should be familiar to all.
I wish i had reason to travel the Californias again, so that camping and passage of the astonishing geological terrains and immensely varied rocks and mountains, gorges, valleys, would be home for 1/2 the year, as was the seasonal migration of others, from Bighorn to Paiute and Shoshone, to ungulate, bear, and the immense bird flyway that was shaped by the long chain of lakes, and water from East of the Oregon Cascades into Mojave all the way to Colorado River delta.
I see the hummingbird today, whose kind travels from as far north as they go, nesting, to deep in Mexico, following the desert blossoming seasons north, then the higher land blossoming later this month, south, farther than many humans ever do, especially in the latters' minds.
The entire N-S region was rather lush, until the Los Angeles dept of Water and Power arrogated, channeled, and tunneled the water from Mono and Tioga throughout the entire Eastern Sierra south, dessicating it all by over a century ago.
fantastic video. you packed a lot of information into it, but it felt very well organized and digestible.
I appreciate that! Thank you!
This might be my favorite video we have made up to this point! The weather was perfect, the location was stunning and peaceful! And that camerawork- excellence!
Which was perfect since @LA36 was on the scene!
@@Jeremy.Patrich we were on our best behavior
For once... lol
@@Jeremy.Patrich ONLY FOR SAMMY haha
Only if she knew lol
I think it’s really great to explore the history of fossils and how they have been going through other lakes. It’s a geological experience a d history especially when the first Indians used special rocks to create their own tools.
I agree- its sometimes unbelievable what our Earth can create. Erosion... Transportaion and Deposition!
Thank you
Thank you for joining me on another adventure!
@@Jeremy.Patrich There is a deposit of obsidian with large vugs just East on the dirt road access to Fossil Falls. One problem, one must climb over the fence with the sign saying "we will shoot you if you climb over this fence (or something similar from the China Lake Weapons Testing Center). Dr. Gray from SBCC made arrangements to get his mineralogy class to visit the site.
Thank you for sharing! You inspired me to read more into that, and its believed that there could be up to 7 different sources for the obsidian found in the area!
In South Africa we have Burke's Luck and the Blyde River Canyon. This is a feature of similar holes.
Thank you for sharing!
Very nice presentation of Fossils of California volcanoes👍👍
Thanks!
Prehistoric lava flows love it interesting fossils
It does! The best part is that this location is so close to home!
We’ve been here a couple of times - love everything about it. Saw loads of obsidian chips on our last explore. So, so interesting!
It's such a beautiful location, smack dab in the middle of the valley, with so much geologic diversity in every direction!
I was there this summer wish I knew what i know now to have apreciated it more
We are coming up on Fall, which is another great time of year to visit!
I need to go back !! This was my favorite stop
You should! It was so exciting to get out!
So beautiful and amazing place
It really is!
That area is really fascinating. In addition to the rock formations and the petroglyphs, in the monsoon season, rainfall spawns all kinds of animal life in the pools. (Sea monkeys, shrimp, etc.)
Awesome glad I found this channel
Welcome aboard!
@@Jeremy.Patrich Thanks looking forward to learning more about places where I can take my family.
I am working on a few more, but I hope you got to check out my Death Valley playlist- weather will be great this Spring!
@@Jeremy.Patrich awesome, I have not checked that video yet. Will look for it. Have you done anything on King's canyon yet??
Cheers
Not yet- but its on my list!
I've stopped there numerous times, but thanks to you and your video I now know much more about it.
Thank you! I hope you get to check out some of the other eastern Sierra trips I shared!
@@Jeremy.Patrich I will indeed. I use to live in Bishop. It's a great area.
I love Bishop! Not just for the Jerky and the Choo Choo Swap meet! lol
@@Jeremy.Patrich I use to spend a lot of time in the Buttermilk area.
Beautiful country up there- I’m in need of a trip!
You were part of an archeological dig?!
That is a dream of mine! Thank you so much for talking about preservation.
I was- and I was able to keep some of the bone... I will have to show you sometime!
Another great lesson! Thank you prof.!!
Glad you liked it! I hope you get a chance to visit there soon!
A superb presentation! Thank you
So nice of you! Thank you!
Thank you, and good history on the native Americans of time immemorial. Preservation is key. Hieroglyphs are threatened and you put it very well.
Well said! Thank you for taking the time to go on an adventure with me!
Nice presentation 🤗 thank you.
Most welcome! Thank you so much for taking the time join me on an adventure!
Great presentation, I love the way you present the knowledge. Thanks
My pleasure!I hope you get inspired with some of my other videos for some amazing places to take photos!
I just discovered your channel and I love it. Thank you.
M. Ruiz
(budding amateur geologist in Bakersfield)
Thanks for watching neighbor! Speaking of Bakersfield.... have you ever been to Shark Tooth Hill?!
Many years ago when it was more open to the public. I still have a couple fossils I found.
I have not been yet- its on my list! I had booked if for 2020, and well, that didnt end up working!
Drop a line if you re-book. I’d love to pick your brain.
Sounds good to me!
What are the orange marks on the basalt right around the 3:40-3:50 mark? Hopefully something natural and not vandalism. Unrelated, the video quality is mesmerizing, I feel like the rock is here in front of me. 🙂
Great question! That is oxidation (rusting) from the iron found within the basalt!
That place was so cool to visit! Can you talk about the sand dunes ?
How funny! I actually completed be undergraduate research on the Olancaha Dunes... and my graduate research on the Keeler Dunes! I better dust off those presentations and post them! In the meantime, let me know what questions you have, and I can address them here!
I think this was part of the flood caused by the comet at the end of the younger dryas. See Randall Carlson for reference. This is incredible.
Randall Carlson is in interesting fellow- I have been looking at some of his work- I know he appeared on Joe Rogans show- but was basing global climates from just the ice core data from Iceland- but uses the scale of the last 10,000 years to try to balance the changes we are seeing today. Things I with he had brought up: Yellowstone, Milankovitch Cycles... mass excisions etc!
@@Jeremy.Patrich I'm heading to a sacred geometry workshop with Randal this weekend in Sedona....I'll ask him for you!
I hope you have fun- almost sold out, only 7 seats left for the workshop! I was a little surprised at the cost, but it still seems like an interesting event!
The falls would still be flowing there if Los Angeles stopped hogging water from Owens river.
Not quite- the drainage of fossil falls dates back to Lake Manley- being part of the spillover of the late Pleistocene. So this river was seasonally flowing at best pre mulholland.
@@Jeremy.Patrich it's along the route of the Owens river which of still flowing today and which was diverted when the building of the Los Angeles aqueduct was completed.
Not quite. Owens lake was a terminal lake, so it would have been impossible for water to have been in that river bed at that time. Also; with the archaeological sites built into the river; it proves that great amounts of water in that river must have been before early California peoples. Also, the River that feeds fossil falls is mostly done by drainage from the Coso Range- it’s quite visible on a map.
@@Jeremy.Patrich yes it flowed thousands of years ago when California was wet and I have looked at maps and the water from Owens lake drains south passing to fossil falls also
The channels are still there- from when the lake spilled over into Fossil Falls and then to Searles Lake. If you visit Fossil Falls, there are archeological sites that date over 2k years old, which is additional evidence that early peoples lived in that river bed, which implies that there could not have been water consistently flowing in it at that time. Another thing that you can look at is the shore line markings on the north and south end of the lake, to see where the lake levels used to be. Those shore lines date back pre 1900, and still show that there was not enough water in the lake to provide water to run through the Fossil Falls area.
I want to take this course in April 8 to June but I’m not sure if it is a good timing specially online course 😭
I know... but I am keeping in contact with everyone for when we can do a field trip!
What happened in Younger-Dryas?
With so much water why don’t we see flow through Indian wells valley then?
That’s just it- there isn’t that much water. The entire area received very little rainfall compared to its evaporation rate. That explains the lack of vegetation and climate in the region. Indian Wells gets its name from the subsurface water found in the area.
Looking for new ways to have you jump out of holes now...
Guess we gotta go to the Mojave Lava Tubes next!
@@Jeremy.Patrich DON'T THREATEN ME WITH A GOOD TIME
It’s not a threat! It’s an idea!
You should edit him to look like a wack-a-mole. That be hilarious!!!
LOL don’t give her ideas!
Hi, add online sources of good quality geography and Geology 🗺️ of world
We will try!
Where’s evidence of the inlet?
Fossil Falls itself is a seasonal stream system that only has water when there is significant precipitation. It’s mostly surface drainage at this point due to the climate conditions of the area- which is why we rarely even see any water in it. When Owens Lake was at its max capacity over 5000+ years ago, Fossil Falls likely would have held the overflow
some asshole went and broke as many bridges in the fossil falls as he could with a hammer. there's hammer marks where the lava created bridges, heartbreaking, wish i woulda caught who it was
That’s terrible! I did not notice last time in was up there- early October, but will have to stop and see it before winter is in full force.
In future, maybe mention the places people can go to get obsidian and broken arrowheads nearby, as most states have areas where it is permitted, but protect the more culturally significant areas.
Great point, but in California, all artifacts found on public lands are protected by state and federal laws, meaning that it is illegal and unethical to collect artifacts on public lands. Artifacts include anything made or used by humans including arrowheads and flakes, pottery, basketry, rock art, bottles, coins, metal pieces, and even old cans.
If you own the property, the rules are a bit gray, as you technically should contact an archeologist... it just gets complicated, so if you want arrowheads, I would buy 'after market' ones online!
@@Jeremy.Patrich oh, right, California. Where u can legally do drug, poo on the street and shoplift under $500 but heaven forbid u take a scrap of ancient Indian trash they likely never would find or would be just like the 10 million others out there. There are places it is allowed though, just like trilobite fossils.