Music Welcome to snoozecast. The podcast is designed to help you fall asleep. Find us at snoozecast.com and if you enjoy our show, please share us with a friend. This episode is brought to you by rock solid bonds. Tonight we'll read a newscast original story about the friendship between two boulders on a mountain slope. In this gentle tale, you will meet mighty nice, an ancient and steadfast rock and little rock, a curious and enthusiastic granite boulder. Their bond grows through shared experiences and geological lessons, highlighting themes of connection, change, and the enduring nature of friendship. As you listen, you'll be transported to a high altitude land where the ancient and the ephemeral coexist. The teetalln range, known for its rugged peaks and stunning vistas, rises sharply above the Jackson

Hole Valley in Wyoming. The Grand Teton is the highest peak within the range, standing at 13,775 feet

or 4,199 meters. Let's get cozy. Close your eyes. Relax your body into the softness of your bed.

Now, take a few deep breaths. One crisp morning, high on the steep slopes of the Grand Titon, a striking boulder named Mighty Nice stood solid and unmoved. It had stood there in that spot for eons and expected too for many eons more. The early sunlight cast long shadows across the rocket landscape as it streamed through jagged peaks in the rocky mountains that run through Wyoming. mighty nice, with its ancient banded surface shimmering in the light, absorbed the sun's fresh rays. The ground on this slope is to this day covered with loose stones and boulders, scattered amidst patches of hearty vegetation. The rocks tell stories of ancient geological processes. Their surfaces marked by the passage of time. Mighty Nice, with its distinctive bandit patterns of light and dark layers, formed in immense heat and pressure billions of years ago. The Teton range is primarily composed of ancient pre-Cambrian rocks. Mighty Nice, being one of these ancient rocks called Nice, has witnessed the slow march of geological time. Formed within the Earth's crust, it was pushed upwards by tectonic forces, eventually exposed by erosion. alternating bands of minerals in mighty nice tell of the tumultuous past with each layer representing a different period of formation under intense conditions. Surrounding the hulking mass of nice is an ecosystem adapted to the harsh conditions of high altitude. Clumps of alpine grasses and wildflowers grow in the thin soil that has accumulated in the crevices of the rocks. These hearty plants, like the delicate blue Columbine and the vibrant paintbrush, are specially adapted to survive in the extreme environment. Their deep roots anchoring them firmly to the rocky ground. Any patches of moss clinging to the shaded sides of the rocks, adding splashes of green and gray to the otherwise stark landscape. These simple organisms are pioneers in the process of soil formation, slowly breaking down the rock into the beginnings of soil that will one day support larger plants. Sparse, stunted pine, and spruce trees managed to take root in the more sheltered spots. Their neural trunks and twisted branches are shaped by the relentless wind, growing slowly but steadily over the years. These trees, though few in number, add a sense of persistence and resilience to the landscape. The fauna of this high altitude environment is equally hardy. Small mammals like beacons and marmots scurry among the rocks, gathering food and seeking shelter in the crevices. Gold in eagles and hawks soar on the thermals above, their keen eyes scanning the ground for prey. Birds like mountain blue birds and juncos flit among the sparse trees. Their songs adding a cheerful note to the otherwise quiet mountain side. In the warmer months, butterflies and bees are drawn to the wildflowers. Their delicate wings adding movement and color to the landscape. The grand expanse of the mountain range, to the intricate details of the flora and fauna, is a place where the ancient and the ephemeral coexist, each playing a role in the ongoing story of the rocky mountain range. But on this serene spring morning, change was a foot farther up the mountain. The ground was still damp from the recent snow melt. The soil was loose and rocks were slightly unstable. The freeze-thaw cycle had been hard at work. During the day, water from melting snow seeped into the tiny cracks in the rocks. At night, as temperatures dropped, this water froze and expanded, slowly widening the cracks. Over time, this relentless cycle weakened the rocks, making them more prone to breaking free. A sudden powerful gust of wind swept across the slope, stirring the quiet air. The gust was followed by another even stronger, causing small pebbles and stones to shift and tumble. The wind howled through the peaks, rattling the sparse trees and sending a shiver through the flora, clinging to the rocks. Mighty-nice sensed the vibrations in the ground, a familiar sensation that often preceded a rock slide. The ancient boulder remained indifferent, confident in its stability. the sound of smaller rocks clinking and clattering down the slope grew louder. The rock slide started with a faint rumble. As the wind gusted again, larger rocks began to break free. And there was Little Rock, who, for ages, had nestled comfortably among all the other rocks higher up the slope. Little Rock felt the ground give way beneath it. It started to slide slowly at first. Then gaining speed as gravity took hold. The clatter of stones, the cracking of rocks, and the scraping of boulders against the ground filled the air. As little rock tumbled galley and habhazardly down the slope, it bounced off other rocks, dislodging more stone and debris. The descent was rough and relentless. Mighty Nice felt the impact as Little Rock and other rocks struck its base. There was a dull thud, and for a brief moment, the ground seemed to shake more intensely. Despite the force, Mighty Nice remained unmoved. It's immense size and weight, anchoring it firmly to the slope. The rock slide ended as abruptly as it had begun. The little rock settled snugly against mighty nice, finding a resting place in the shadow of the larger boulder. The cacophony of the slide faded, replaced by the gentle rustling of the breeze and the distant calls of birds. The morning light continued to climb, casting a warm glow over the mountain side. The Thorock, now resting beside mighty nice, began its journey in the depths of the earth millions of years ago. Unlike Mighty Nice, which formed over 2.5 billion years ago, Little Rock is a much younger boulder, formed about 50 million years ago. It started as molten magma, slowly cooling beneath the earth's surface, solidifying into the coarse-grained rock, known as granite. Granite forms deep underground from the slow cooling of magma, allowing large crystals of quartz, weld spar, and mica to develop. These crystals give granite its distinctive speckled appearance. Little rock, with its light gray and white surface, dotted with black and gray mineral grains, is a perfect example of this beautiful,

durable rock. The quartz crystals add a subtle sparkle, catching the sunlight and making little rock glisten faintly in the daylight. With its diminutive name, you would think little rock might fit in the palm of your hand. However, it is as large as a big furry mountain dog, like the St. Bernard, standing roughly three feet tall and spanning about four feet in width and length. Its compact size and solid structure make it a sturdy presence on the mountain slope. The slow but steady action of wind, rain and ice chipped away at the surrounding rock, eventually freeing little rock from its larger mass and sending it on its slow descent down the mountain. The process of erosion has left its mark on little rock. The freeze-thaw cycle, a constant presence on the high slopes of the Grand Titon, has caused tiny cracks to form in its surface. the day, water from melting snow seeps into these cracks.

At night, the water freezes and expands, gradually widening the cracks and causing small fragments to break off. This cycle has smoothed some of little rocks edges, giving it a slightly rounded, weathered appearance, while other areas remain rough and jagged. Despite its youth compared to mighty nice, Little Rock has witnessed significant changes. It has seen the seasons change, felt the rush of melting snow and rainwater, and endured the force of relentless winter wind. Each of these experiences has shaped its current form. In the days following the rock slide, little rock settled comfortably beside my teenice. From its new vantage point, Little Rock couldn't help but be curious about its massive neighbor. The ancient boulder seemed so steadfast and stoic. What's it like to have been here for so long? Little rock ventured one morning? What have you seen? My denies remained silent. Its focus seemingly unshaken by the smaller rock's presence. It had grown accustomed to its solitude, and the endless questions from Little Rock were a new and somewhat annoying disturbance. Undeterred, Little Rock continued, you have such beautiful layers, how did you get those? whitey-nice took ages, but finally responded.

These layers were formed billions of years ago under immense heat and pressure deep within the Earth's crust. I am nice, a metamorphic rock. These bands are the result minerals recrystallizing under intense conditions. Little Rock listened intently, fascinated by the story. And what about me? How did I form? Mighty nice side, but explained. Yes, you are granite, you are formed from the slow cooling of magma beneath the earth's surface, you are much younger than I am, but still ancient compared to the animate creatures that pass us. As days turned into weeks and into seasons and decades, Little Rock continued to pepper mighty nice with questions. Why do some rocks have sharp edges while others are smooth? causes the colors in different rocks? How do rocks change over time? Mighty Nights began to appreciate little rocks' curiosity. Each question reminded it of the dynamic geological processes that shaped the Teton range. It started to share more, explaining about erosion and the free's thaw cycle. Little Rock was particularly fascinated by the variety of rocks found in the range. Might be nice described the shist, with its flaky texture formed under moderate pressure in the range. Mighty Nice described the shist with its flaky texture formed under moderate pressure in the ancient granite, like little rock, with its coarse-grained texture. It talked about quartzite, a hard metamorphic rock formed from sandstone, and how each type of rock contributed to the unique geology of the area. Through these conversations, Mighty Nice started to see little rocks' questions not as interruptions, but as opportunities to share the vast knowledge and history it never realized was a treasure of its own.

One evening, as the sun set behind the peaks casting long shadows across the slope, Little Rock asked, Might be nice.

Do you ever feel lonely up here?

Might be nice paused, contemplating the question. It had always prided itself on its independence, on its ability to withstand the passage of time alone. But now, with little rock by its side, it realized that companionship brought a different kind of strength. Perhaps in my solitude, I never realized what I was missing. Little Rock, though a rock, felt the softening of its hard edges towards the colossal ancient boulder, as if eons of rushing river water had smoothed it down. Over centuries a routine formed. In the morning little rock eagerly awaited the chance to learn from Mighty Nice.

Tell me more about how you were formed, that the rock requested one sunny morning. Mighty Nice obliged, even though it felt that it had already gone over this many, many, many times. It's deep, resonant voice filled with patience. One afternoon, as the sun cast a warm glow over the mountain slope, Nathorak asked, how does weathering shape the landscape? Weathering is the process that breaks down rocks at the Earth's surface. Mighty NICE explained, there are two types, mechanical weathering and chemical weathering. Mechanical weathering, like the freeze-thaw cycle, physically breaks rocks into smaller pieces. Chemical weathering involves the reaction of rock minerals with water, air, or other chemicals which can dissolve or alter the minerals. Little Rock Listened Everything is connected, it mused. The rocks, the plants, the animals. We all depend on each other. Indeed, mighty nice agreed. Even the smallest changes can have significant impacts over time. Good morning. Little Rock noticed a family of marmots playing near their base. Look, mighty nice. The marmots seemed to enjoy being around us, too. Mighty nice observed the playful creatures with a newfound sense of connection. Yes, they find safety in the crevices, and shelter from the wind behind us. We are part of their world, just as they are part of ours. Their conversations often turn to the geological history of the Teton range. Mighty Night shared stories of the ancient times when glaciers carved the valleys and little rock listened with wrapped attention. During the last ice age, Mighty Nye explained, massive glaciers moved through this area, the rugged landscape. The weight and movement of the ice carved out deep valleys and left behind sharp peaks and ridges. Late one evening, a Rock asked, Do you think we'll always be together, mighty nice? Mighty nice, reflecting on the companionship they had found, replied, In this world nothing is permanent. but for now we are here, sharing this moment. That is what matters. Dark clouds began to gather over the grand titan on a cool autumn afternoon. The air grew heavy, and a chill swept across the mountain slope, where mighty nice and little rock rested. The birds fell silent, and even the marmots scurry to find shelter. Mighty nice sensed the impending storm. As the storm approached, the sky darkened, and the first rain drops began to fall. What started as a gentle drizzle quickly turned into a torrential downpour. pound at the rocky terrain, turning the ground into a slick, unstable surface. Mighty Nice anchored firmly in its place, felt the vibrations of the storm through its solid form. The wind held, whipping through the sparse trees, and sending a shiver through the alpine grasses, lightning flashed, the force of the storm intensified, and soon the rain was mixed with hail, pelting everything in its path. Little rock, though sturdy, was not as removable as mighty nice. The relentless rainwater began to wash over it, seeping into the tiny cracks and crevices. The once stable ground beneath it turned into a slippery slope. A particularly strong gust of wind sent Little Rock sliding, its surface scraping against the ground as it was carried away from its larger companion. Mighty Nice felt the sudden absence of Little Rock's presence, but remained steadfast as the storm raged on. The howling wind and relentless rain continued through the night. Pubbles and smaller stones were dislodged and carried down the slope. When the storm finally subsided, the first light of dawn began to break through the clouds. The mountain slope was a scene of calm after the chaos. Small stones and debris were scattered across the slope, carried by the force of the water and wind. trickled the rocks, and the air was crisp and clean, carrying the scent of wet earth and pine. Mighty nice stood tall and unmoved, glistening with raindrops, but alone. At first, Mighty nice felt a sense of relief. The return to solitude was familiar. It had spent Eon standing alone, enduring the passage of time without needing companionship. Yet, as time wore on, an emptiness that Mighty Nice had never felt before drew. The mountain slope now seemed oddly silent. Mighty Nice held on to the impossible hope that Little Rock would defy gravity and tumble upwards again. Little Rock, after being swept down the slope by the storm, found itself nestled among a group of smaller stones. As decades and centuries passed, the initial sharpness of loss began to erode and smooth out into something different. Mighty Nice and Little Rock both found solace in the enduring memories of their time together. And perhaps things would have continued on that way for another eon. With little rock farther down the slope and mighty nice, where he had always been. If it wasn't for the realization that mighty nice came to, as he watched the sunset one evening, thinking to himself that Little Rock must be enjoying this sunset as well. He thought that Little Rock might find it interesting to learn that the sun is really just ionized plasma. So beyond the forces of nature, he decided himself that he might just roll down the mountain. And he did. And when he came upon Little Rock's resting spot, he stopped. And Little Rock was so happy to see him. He forgot to ask, how mighty nice did that in the first place. Yn yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n y