Chalk Pyramids in the Middle of a Prairie: Monument Rocks, Oakley, KS

It's been about 10 years since we last stopped at Monument Rocks. Last time all our kids were with us and we were driving Jonathan's Ford Escape. This year it's just me and Nancy driving our Toyota RAV4, so needless to say this place brought back a lot of memories.
It's always so quiet there. I know there's lots of wind, lots of birds, people walking around, so how can it be quiet. Quiet doesn't always mean an absence of noise. But to me it means an absence of noise clutter. It's a place people whisper and walk, not shout and run. It's a place where you can get away from crowds, traffic, radio and TV, and just de-clutter ones mind and senses.
Kansas' first National Natural Monument, Monument Rocks (Chalk Pyramids) is one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas. The carbonate chalk formation, rich in fossils, some reaching up to 50 feet high and extending 300 feet below ground, helped guide the travelers along the Smoky Hill Trail. No services available, and road is impassable in inclement weather. Please adhere to property signs as this landmark is on private land: No Camping, No Climbing, No Littering, No Restrooms, No Picnic Tables, Not Handicap Accessible.
Monument Rocks are on unpaved roads in Gove County, 20 miles south of Oakley off Hwy 83. GPS Coordinates: N 38º 44.578' W 100º 76.236
Monument Rocks plays an important role in the history of the Smoky Hill Valley area. In the 1860's, The Butterfield Overland Despatch (BOD) trail, also known as the Smoky Hill Trail, used these rocks as a landmark to guide travelers through the region along the trail. Fort Monument (1865-1868) was established about one mile southwest to protect the trail, but there are no remains of the "fort" today.
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Equipment:
iPhone 13
Akaso EK7000 Camera
GoPro Hero 9 Black
Bcway Phone All-in-One Travel Tripod with Remote
onn. Wireless Selfie Stick
Trekking Poles, Insulated Bottles, and Backpack are Ozark Trail
Hiking hat is a Tilley
Music:
Rain Fuse by French Fuse
We travel in a 2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE front-wheel drive with over 176,000 miles. We are still praying for a small Casita camper to tow behind it.
Recorded June 3, 2024 at Monument Rocks, Gove County, KS