Extra
:: Pilgrimage to Vasquez Rocks ::
by Alastriona
On June 18, 2001, I had the opportunity to visit Vasquez Rocks County Park, which is about 30 miles north east of downtown Los Angeles. Lying not far from the San Andreas fault, Vasquez Rocks are
one of the most distinctive formations in Southern California. Vasquez Rocks got their name as the hide out of Tiburco Vasquez, a bandit leader in the mid 1800s.
Situated near the world's film making capital, Vasquez Rocks have been a favorite location from films and television. Blazing Saddles, Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey, The Flintstone's
Movie, The Planet of the Apes (2001), Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, The original Star Trek episodes, and countless westerns have all been shot at Vasquez Rocks, not to
mention our favorite; Roswell.
In Roswell Vasquez Rocks are the site of the Pod Chamber where the Royal Four incubated and hatched. Vasquez Rocks first appeared on Roswell in season one in the episode 'The
Balance' during Michael's hallucination.
The day I went to Vasquez Rocks County Park it was quite hot. It was about 90F by the time I arrived at 9.30am. Vasquez Rocks are high desert and are very dry. The park itself is unimproved meaning
that the road is unpaved and there is no water or restrooms in the park. I got lucky, the day I visited a production crew was videoing something Biblical and they let me use the port-a-potty they
brought.
When I arrived at Vasquez Rocks I parked my car in the flat dirt area where Michael had his vision and where later Michael and Isabel shared dreams in 'Four Square'. You have to drive past the Rocks
themselves to get to this location. When I arrived someone on the production crew had parked a red Honda in almost the exact spot Maria parked the Jetta in 'Departure'. I had brought a one-time use
camera and I quickly used up my 9 photos.
The great thing about the Rocks is the unrestricted public access. Anyone is free to climb anywhere on the Rocks, limited only by their own bravery and/or stupidity. The Rocks are comprised of a
coarse grain yellowish-gray sand stone, compressed, folded and tilted as much as 50 degrees. The rocks rise to up to nearly 150 feet above surrounding area. The Rocks have three main tiers. The
entrance to the Pod Chamber is in the middle tier. Vasquez Rocks are relatively easy to climb with wide natural paths up each tier. About half way up each tier the way gets sharply steeper. I
am frankly amazed and baffled how Katherine Heigl (Isabel) got to the top of the middle tier in floor length evening dress in 'Four Square'. Getting to the Pod Chamber in jeans and walking shoes over
the loose gravel was enough of a challenge for me.
The fun thing for me is when I reached the approximate location of the Pod Chamber I knock on the rock wall.
It sounded hollow. It wasn't really hollow it is just the nature of the rock formation. That bit of rock is about to exfoliate (fall off).
Interestingly the Pod Chamber is located at about the same approximate location where Captain Kirk fought the Gorn in the Star Trek episode 'Arena'.
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