THE PORTALS IN THE SUNWHEEL

The Sunwheel has stone portals in both the East and the West directions. In the absence of hills on the horizon, the Sun would be seen to rise in the East and set in the West on only 2 days of the year -- the Vernal Equinox (first day of spring) and the Autumnal Equinox (first day of fall). Because of the hills on the horizon, the Sun appears to rise slightly south of East and set slightly south of West for those of us at northern latitudes. The purpose of the stone portals is to provide a window through which to see the Sun rise and set on the equinoxes.

Bonnie Krotkov and Gene Stewart standing where the stones for the West portal will be, afternoon of Nov. 7, 2000.

Looking through the West portal toward the summer solstice sunrise direction, December 2000.

Looking through the West portal toward the East portal. The tall stones in the Su nwheel stand out in the snow in December 2000. The winter of 2000-2001 has brought to Amherst the deepest snows in 22 years.

The portals just after sunset, January 2001.

The East portal just after it is completed, November 8, 2000.

The East portal just before sunset, January 2001, with long shadows cast across the snow.

The East portal in late afternoon, November 8, 2000, with Laura's (my daughter) and my shadows cast on the stones.