This is not a positive posting so to avoid depression close this immediately. We had a major set back last week. Because only 4 1/2 feet of the rock were exposed and we needed at least 7 feet deep. I called in Burt Cox again, the blaster, he, David, Lane and I had a meeting with him and told him what we would like removed some right by the head and then some of the mountain that was protruding out to far to be able to see the monument very well from below. We figured we'd have him do it too as long as we had him there. He explained how he'd use a light charge and pop off the close areas and a bigger one for the other parts. Not sure how it all happened exactly but he blew everything up. David and Lane were very apprehensive about having him back because all his blasts up too that point had been too big but that was when they were searching for a needle in a hay stack but now that he had direction and therefore  thought he would be more careful now. However there are a few things to consider.  Burt said that the cause of the rock splitting was a natural fracture that ran down the center of the rock and there for releasing the dirt on the side released the pressure holding it together and caused the split. David was on the ranch when it happened and he said the blast was enormous not just a little pop. You can see this by how huge the rocks are in the picture. He had also drilled directly into the rock in order to pop off the right corner to help us get the round of her head and did use a lighter charge for that. You can see the black powder marks on the  rock in the picture. This too may have been just enough force to crack the rocks natural fracture. Grandpa and Ralph went up and inspected and they felt it had been a natural fracture and whatever the cause forced the rock to break through it. Grandpa felt however that it may have actually been a blessing because if it didn't break right then it may have done it down the road while we were working on it and someone could have been seriously hurt or worse. Grandpa didn't feel it was entirely Burts fault.
     So here we are back to square one. Grandpa says we've learned a lesson. If we are able to find another suitable rock we need to immediately drill several holes directly into it and epoxy rebar 10 to 12 feet into the mountain to secure it before we start.
     So the big question right now is...Is the rock in these parts suitable for a monument of this size. It seems that all of them have several natural fractures? Do we put the time and expense into locating another rock and hope that it will hold together enough or do we try another route? Should we create a man made made rock? You've seen them...around swimming pools and around Disneyland.
     Grandpa would like to still try and locate a natural stone. I would too but if this begins to prove to be unfeasible the later may be our next best option. Any thoughts?

All these rocks were part of the rock wall that David had exposed with the Excavator. All you can see is the top of the monument... the rest it buried beneath all the rubble. This had been a level bench.