Station 10 Pickelhaube

Pickelhaube 

A pickelhaube is an erosional remnant of a case-hardened surface that protects the softer rock beneath from eroding as quickly or evenly. A spike-like protuberance on or near the summit of a pinnacle results. The very top of many pickelhauben are coatedwith bird droppings from raptors, rock doves, and other birds that frequently use them as perches. This hard coating may play anadditional role in protecting the pickelhaube from weathering. Arguably the most famous pickelhaube within the Reserve sits atop the monolith named Kaiser’s Helmet, located south of Treasure Rock along the City of Rocks Back Country Byway.