How do mountains like these disappear? The process begins with rain. As it rains, water seeps through cracks and joints in the stone. Chemicals in the water dissolve small grains of rock. Later on, the water freezes and thaws, prying loose bigger pieces of rock. These rocks grind against other rocks as they slide downhill. The wind carries away particles of dust behind by these grinding rocks. In the end it can be said that wind, water, and gravity have hauled away these mountains.