In an earlier post HERE I said the Stiperstones ridge has to be one of Shropshire’s most compellingly strange landscapes. And that its cragginess was wrought by the scything, crushing and cracking action of ice during the last glacial period some 150,000 – 11,000 years ago. Periods of alternating thaw and freeze also made their mark. But now I’m also noticing another striking feature – the way the geology is so determinedly set on the diagonal, the outcrops’ pitch a piece of ‘set-in-stone’ evidence attesting to recent epic earth forces.
When I say ‘recent’ I am of course wearing my prehistorian’s hat. Also I should make clear that the word ‘last’ as in ‘the last glacial period’ does not mean ‘final’, or that we have seen the end of ice ages. We are currently in an interglacial period, otherwise known as the Holocene. In the past, ice ages have occurred in regular cycles, beginning in the Quaternary about 2.5 million years ago, coinciding with the formation of the Arctic ice sheet. There is no reason to suppose that that this cycle has stopped. Today’s sudden drop in temperature is also giving me pause for thought. Thank goodness for alpaca leg warmers and woolly socks is all I can say (and that’s in the house).
Now for more Stiperstones diagonals:
Lens-Artists: diagonals This week Patti sets the challenge and provides an inspiring photo-essay on making the most of diagonal vistas and subjects.
Tish Farrell 
Oh Tish, you have some fun photos 😀
Thank you, Cee.
Beautiful photos of amazing geology.
Thank you, Rebecca.
Awesome rock formations Tish, and beautifully photographed. Funny how nature creates diagonals.
That is interesting, isn’t it 🙂
😊
Such interesting formations Tish, definitely on the diagonal
Thanks, Pauline. It is a very strange part of Shropshire.
Love the images, Tish. No Ice Age yet, I don’t think. It was only weeks ago that folks were protesting (enjoying?) the heat.
Hm. We only had 2 and a bit days’ of heat. Otherwise it was a rather ho-hum summer here in Wenlock. So maybe no cooling yet, but then even glacial periods have warm interludes. Cunning stuff on planet earth.
These are amazing rock formations Tish. And amazing photos . thanks Anita
Many thanks, Anita.
Beautiful diagonals in nature!
Thanks, Agata.
Doesn’t feel like late fall or early winter here. It’s back to summer temps which sometimes means there is a storm out there . I hope not
Oh gosh. Warm weather! We have a heavy hoar frost this morning. But also some bright sunshine to go with it. All is sparkling.
Rocks are something else. Sooo strange. My anthropomorphism, anyway. 🤷♂️ Good post.
I certainly think we need to treat rocks with some respect, John. Not always what they seem 🙂
Beautiful selections, Tish. I chuckled at the name. It reminded my of my m-i-l once saying something about “the slipper slope.” We still use that expression today.
I love the slipper slope, Janet.
Great dramatic shots. The devil would have approved.
I think you’re right about the devil, Margaret. One always gets the sense that he’s hanging around up there.
Definitely …
That is a beautiful piece of property and a fine collection of photos.
Cheers, Thom. Does it spur you to write a moody yarn? The devil with all his witch folk are thought to hang out there, especially when the fog comes down.
I can believe the evil, but I could also believe the opposite!
Yes, now you’ve said it. Mysterious definitely but more Gandalf than Sauron 😉
Great information. And alpaca leg warmers sound pretty nice. My favorite photo was of the single person at the foot of the ridge. Thought provoking.
Ah, now that was my other half. He often walks into my photos. But in this one, he truly did make it a better shot 🙂 And yes, the alpaca leg warmers are brilliant.
Very Gandalfian!
It is, isn’t it. I reckon there’s a Stiperstones entry to the Mines of Moria. There are plenty of old mines shafts in the area, going back to Roman times.
There are places out west that have similar stones, though I doubt the Romans were around to muck with them. Still, all those areas that were originally volcanic have some amazing natural construction. Utah especially.
Wow. This is a stunning geological feature. Great choice for the diagonals theme, Tish.
Many thanks, Patti. It’s been a thought-provoking challenge.
Your geology is amazing Tish – so very different from our flat oceanfront but what a beautiful world we live in at either end! Had to laugh at your mention of leg warmers and socks IN the house!! And BTW my favorite is your image just below that. Terrific!!
What a beautiful world, indeed, Tina. And thank you for the ‘terrific’ 🙂