Cathedral Gorge in Southeastern Nevada is an unusual place. The tan, clay walls surrounding the gorge are weathered and shaped into mysterious spires and hidden caves. I went into the gorge just ahead of sunset when shadows were beginning to give definition to the spires. My first reaction was, “What a wonderful set this would have made for the Star Trek TV series.” There were places where the landscape definitely could pass for an alien planet. My next reaction was to look for something that wanted to be a photograph. Then I looked up and there just peaking over the edge was a full moon.
Twelve thousand years ago ancient Lake Lahontan covered this gorge, along with much of eastern Nevada. An aerial view would have shown a huge fresh water lake with multiple islands that are today mountain ranges. Many streams flowed into the portion of the lake that would eventually become Cathedral Gorge, bringing with them tons of silt and clay that slowly, ever so slowly covered the floor with an estimated 1500 feet of sediment. Lake Lahontan eventually dried up, exposing the sediment to the elements. Wind, rain, ice and snow carved and shaped inch by inch, forming the badlands, the spires and caves we see today. Just like the gorge is not really a gorge, well, the caves aren’t really caves. Actually they are narrow passageways between spires. Local people seeing the spires thought of cathedrals, thus the name.
I explored several “corridors” walking between the towering spires and winding my way through mazes. I began to feel like the proverbial mouse trying to find the cheese. There were places that if I had had an extra pancake for breakfast, I wouldn’t have been able to squeeze through. If you’re a little claustrophobic, as I am, you won’t want to spend too much time exploring.
I have it on good authority that according to the strictest definition Cathedral Gorge is not deep enough to be a gorge and that’s where I always get confused. When does a ditch become a trench, a trench become a gully, a gully become a ravine, a ravine become a gorge and a gorge become a canyon? Then I find out that a canyon is nothing but a steep gorge?! Then on top of all that there’s a barranca, a wash and a wadi to have to deal with! Tis a puzzlement!
Q
