Wild Signs and Star Paths: Key #9, The Pink Compass

This series is an exploration of the works of Tristan Gooley. I’ll document my efforts to learn to read nature’s signs. If you enjoy reading, I encourage you to support the author by purchasing a copy of Wild Sings and Star Paths (UK) or The Nature Instinct (US). I’m in no way affiliated with the author, nor do I profit from sales of the book.

Last Week’s Work

To observe the ramp—the way the wind shapes everything from sand to snow to rock in a series of ramps with a shallow windward side and a precipitous lee.

New World

I failed to observe this sign, but I’ve seen it many times on other occasions. It’s one of the easier signs to spot, and can be found in any medium that the wind has the time and power to shape. That mean a gentle breeze can form little ramps in dry sand, and a fierce prevailing wind can shape rock. I imagine if we could see the great dunes of the Sahara on a time lapse, we would see that these ramps move forward like waves, as a little debris from the bottom rolls up and slides over the edge. The greater the size and more enduring the material, the stronger and more consistent the wind. That means a small ramp effect could form in parking lot dust, but it may be of little use for getting your bearings, as the win will change soon. ( Read more... )