ALIGNING THE SUMMER SOLSTICE SUNRISE STONE
Nov. 8, 2000

After 2 days of work -- digging 12 holes, filling them with gravel, wrapping the gravel in Geotextile, and finally, placing and leveling the stone foundation slabs in the holes on top of the gravel -- the ground was prepared for the addition of the tall standing stones.

The Summer Solstice Sunrise stone was located among the stones on the ground by Shawn, and was picked up in a sling by the crawler excavator.

The stone was carried around the Sunhweel to its proper location, where it was lowered onto the ground, directed by Allen Williams and helper Shawn from Chester Granite.

Allen Williams and Kevin Moore work to protect this 10' tall stone with a quilt, so the process of aligning the stone will not damage it.

The hitch was reattached so the stone was hanging essentially vertically. This helped facilitate the process of lowering the stone onto the stainless steel pin without bending the pin.

After the hole is drilled in the stone slab at the proper location, and the stainless steel pin is inserted, the standing stone is lowered onto the pin, with guides telling the crawler excavator driver exactly where to place the stone.

The stone is then lowered onto the stainless steel pin, until it sits 1" above the stone slab on 4 wooden wedges. This will allow the sling to be removed and epoxy to be placed on the base of the stone. The final step in the process is to use a crowbar to lift the stone next to each wedge to enable the removal of the wooden wedges.

The Summer Solstice Sunrise stone is standing (leftmost stone), with onlookers examining the site.

Laura Young climbing on the Summer Solstice Sunrise stone.