JD-0278
Foggy Sea Cliffs at Bodega Head, Sonoma Coast, California
© 2004 Jerry Dodrill

I have been fascinated by granite since 1987 when I made my first rock climb in the Wichita Mountains of Oklahoma. Generally I think of this dense stone occurring in the Sierra and other high mountain ranges. However, due to the geological wonder of plate tectonics, we have granite here on California's North Coast. The Pacific Plate is racing Northeast and subducting under the North American plate along the San Andreas Fault at a rate of about half an inch per year. The decomposing granite cliffs at Bodega Head in Sonoma Coast State Park originated near Tehachipi in Southern California. The granite forms tall, strong cliffs which protect the land from the oceans incessant beatings. This image was made at sunrise during one of our spring photography workshops.