It's stile time again. The stiles may look the same but do not be fooled, many many hikers have passed by these little piles of rock in the eight weeks since our last trip. Just think of how many might have lost their way without these. Please, please, don't tip over existing stiles or build others that lead to false paths. It's not nice and could result in death or seriouse injury.
OK! So now that that's out of the way, back to stiles. For those of you who are too silly to remember or too lazy to go through the first hike FIRST, I'll brief you on why these little piles are so special.
Native Americans used small piles of rocks like this to the side of a hidden trail to identify it for other friends who might be straggling behind. It was also a sign of water source. Today it marks the proper trail throughout the subway hike and believe me if you don't use them there are 102 slot canyons that you could find yourself in and most are just as beautiful but far less fun. Let me explain, you could find yourself walking for days looking for the end of the hike, find yourself stranded on a mountain side with an impassible cliff above you and a treacherouse hike back to the bottom (as we did our FIRST time) or stranded above a 100 foot rapel with only 50 feet of rope and no way to get back up to your car.
Tradition is the first stile you pass you should place a stone atop the stile. if you knock another stone off or cause the whole thing to fall the spirits curse you with bad luck for cursing other travellers who may lose their way because of your incompetence. If you pass without placing a rock on the stile, the sacrifice has not been made and the spirits will send represent to follow you until you comply in some form.
Moving on!
So the first picture was of Michelle complying with the spirits while Heather watched on in suspicion, the second is of Heather complying while Roger watched on and the third...
...a satisfied party moving along down the trail.
