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 Spring. 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.
