Braziel Creek hike this Saturday

[Uncle Wayne]

I hate to be a contrarian, but aren't there less potentially destructive (to the carving) ways to make them stand out? I've heard several complains about regular chalkings ruining stone carvings at Kinlock Shelter, gravesides, etc... Considering trees are softer than rock... Not to mention that chalk can stain surfaces.

A side lit photograph, using a bright flash unit at a shallow angle or parallel to the surface of the carving should make it stand out fairly well.

The chalk I use is the type kids use on sidewalks etc.  It washes off very easily and leaves no stain.  It's the number of people that visit Kinlock Shelter that cause the damage, not the chalk.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Actually, according to what I've heard from the tombstone tracing folks, sidewalk chalk is harder and more likely to stain than blackboard chalk, since it is made for use on a rough surface. Here is what Crayola wrote in response to an inquiry by somebody who traces tombstones...

"Crayola sidewalk chalk contains plaster of paris which has a gritty texture. Plaster of paris is not considered to be biodegradable, nor are most of the pigments contained in Crayola sidewalk chalk. Also, product packaging warns of colorants that may stain. This could be a good factor depending on the exact nature of what you are trying to do. While packaging does warn of colorants that may stain, chalk used outside generally washes away because of extreme weather conditions and excessive rain. Again, this could vary depending on the surface it is applied to."

I know licensed tour guides do it at Gettysburg, so it can't be that bad, although they are usually working with flat surfaces that get rained on. I imagine vertical surfaces wash off more slowly.


I'm not saying it is more destructive than over visitation, or that you shouldn't do it if it isn't specifically banned, but I do think alternatives merit consideration. Considering the historic nature of most carvings, you should at least be aware of what can happen if you do chalk.

[Joshua Szulecki]

But as with most things, I'm a use your own judgment type, so if you aren't worried about it, go ahead and do it if it is allowed. I doubt it will cause any serious damage if one person chalks something once every few months at the most often. I just figured I'd point out that there are other ways.

[weathermansam]

I'd forgotten and left the chalk in the car again as I usually do.  I'll see if I can find an art store around here that sells something that would be less harmful to the trees. 

[Bankheadboy]

Oh my goodness!  :'( Some folks just need something to complain about! Ban this Ban that! Call the Ranger and Ban chalk! No more chalk in Bankhead! Sorry Sam! use the chalk you got!

[Uncle Wayne]

Actually, according to what I've heard from the tombstone tracing folks, sidewalk chalk is harder and more likely to stain than blackboard chalk, since it is made for use on a rough surface. Here is what Crayola wrote in response to an inquiry by somebody who traces tombstones...

"Crayola sidewalk chalk contains plaster of paris which has a gritty texture. Plaster of paris is not considered to be biodegradable, nor are most of the pigments contained in Crayola sidewalk chalk. Also, product packaging warns of colorants that may stain. This could be a good factor depending on the exact nature of what you are trying to do. While packaging does warn of colorants that may stain, chalk used outside generally washes away because of extreme weather conditions and excessive rain. Again, this could vary depending on the surface it is applied to."

That is very interesting.  The multicolored sidewalk chalk, not Crayola, I bought at Wal-Mart in Moulton says "environmentally friendly"  on the packaging.  That was one reason i bought it. I took it to mean the chalk. Since you brought this up, it may have been talking about the packaging itself.  I'll check and see if it list the ingredients or make up of the chalk.

But it washes off very easily.  In fact, even a light sprinkle will dissolve it from any surface our 2 year old granddaughter has been pleased to draw on.

[Joshua Szulecki]

I'd forgotten and left the chalk in the car again as I usually do.  I'll see if I can find an art store around here that sells something that would be less harmful to the trees. 

The trees should be fine with chalk. Even sidewalk chalk is just gypsum based. Environmentally, chalk is nothing. My concern is whether chalking might degrade the carving over time, since it abrasive, or cause a stain that alters the carving.

That said, I would expect it would take a serious number of chalkings before the carving would degrade. I was just suggesting chalk might not be the best option available. I know archeaologists have used side lighting and stereoscopic photographs to image carvings. A flash unit can be purchased for almost nothing these days used, put on a cable, and attached to any camera with a hotshoe, including decades old film gear. Stereoscopic cameras are more expensive, but still pretty common on the used market. Rather than wear, I think the archeologists are usually concerned with the chalk screwing up their radiocarbon dating.

When I get the chance, I do some side lit photos of rock or tree carvings and see how difficult they are to pull off. I suspect it will be more difficult than chalk.

Again, I serious doubt rare chalkings will damage anything seriously, but I would recommend soft chalk that washes off even vertical surfaces quickly. I personally wouldn't chalk because I follow museum rules (look, don't touch) when I deal with historical artifacts. Made a trip to the National Archives a few years back very uncomfortable when I was handed a box of documents with pressed flowers between many of the pages! But... I would never push to have chalking banned, and as far as I know, it is allowed.

 

[weathermansam]

An alternative I may try is charcoal and paper next time I'm out there, which won't be soon.  Considering the Walls of Jericho, Savage Gulf or Little River with all this rain if my parents don't come up this weekend.