This stage of the Circumambulation was originally at Rock
Spring. About the time the spring was capped, Grandfather David
found this spot and it became a stop on the walk.
Gary Snyder:
Rock springs. A trickle even now—
The Sarasvatî Mantra
Dhâranî for Removing Disasters
—in the shade of a big oak spreading out the map on a
picnic table. Then up the Benstein Trail to Rifle Camp, old
food-cache boxes hanging from wires. A bit north, in the oak woods
and rocks, a neat little saddhu hut built of dry natural bits of
wood and parts of old crates; roofed with shakes and black plastic.
A book called Harmony left there. Lunch by the stream, too tiny a
trickle, we drink water from our bota. The food offerings are swiss
cheese sandwiches, swede bread with liverwurst, salami, jack
cheese, olives, gomoku-no-moto from a can, grapes, panettoni with
apple-currant jelly and sweet butter, oranges, and
soujouki—greek walnuts in grape-juice paste. All in the
shade, at Rifle Camp.
Philip Whalen:
Rock Springs music for Sarasvati
Remember tea with Mike and Joann years ago
Fresh water in late dry season
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This stage can be a short walk from the Rock Spring parking
area, or a longer hike continuing up the Old Mine Trail from
Pantoll. From here, the route takes you up to Rifle Camp and
Serpentine Cairn.
