Some friends and I took, what for me, was a second trip to the sprial jetty the sunday before last. It occured to me that Robert Smithson's idea is working, so far as the jetty goes. I guess he has some eight or nine of what he called, 'earthworks' spread out in different places from Rome to Manhattan to Texas. The idea of getting people to come to unusual places in nature, i think, is a good one. Because, I would normally probably stop at the golden spike monument if I even got that far. The jetty is not an easy visit. From Korin it takes about 30 minutes to get to golden spike and from there it is 23 miles of dirt road to the north rim of the salk lake where the jetty is located.
Both times I've been there, I haven't been alone. by that I mean our group hasn't been exclusive. Other people were there to check it out. The jetty itself is impressive but not nearly so as the north rim of the lake. Out their where the saltwater meets the basalt rock from the ridges behind, you feel like you're on the moon or better than the moon. I don't know that ethereal or extraterrestrial describes it either. It's almost--holy. Gazing across the lake it's difficult to tell where earth ends and heaven begins. It's liminal space at its best.
ps. All those in favor of straitening the jetty please leave your comments in the affirmative here.
